Who has the right to execute a murderer after the flood?
After the flood, God granted governmental authority the right to put a murderer to death. Scripture states that whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, because God made man in His own image. This established human government's role in capital punishment.
Les explains that this is a progression from the pre-flood civilization where there was no law and no government. Now, after the flood, God says that under a governmental authority, man shall have the right to put that murderer to death—his blood shall be shed. The reason given is that God had made man in the image of Himself. So the authority to execute a murderer is placed in the hands of human government, acting under God's directive.
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.