Yes: after the flood, God commanded that murderers be put to death by civil government to protect the sanctity of human life made in His image.
In Genesis 9:5-6, God tells Noah and his sons that whoever sheds man's blood must have his own blood shed by man, because man is made in God's image. Les Feldick teaches this was God's institution of human government, giving man the authority to maintain law and order through capital punishment as a deterrent to murder.
Genesis 9:5-6 — This is the direct passage where God establishes the death penalty for murder after the flood, citing man's creation in God's image.
In Genesis 9:5-6, God says: "And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." These verses immediately follow God's permission for man to eat meat, establishing a new post-flood order. The Bible states that human life is sacred because man bears God's image, and it authorizes man himself to carry out the death penalty for murder.
Les Feldick explains that before the flood, man had no authority from God to control behavior through capital punishment or incarceration, and violence filled the earth because there was no deterrent. After the flood, God instituted human government and gave it authority to maintain law and order by executing murderers. Les emphasizes that this command in Genesis 9 has never been rescinded and still stands as God's law for the human race. He also teaches that capital punishment is a legitimate deterrent, pointing to nations that removed it and saw murder rates rise. At the same time, he acknowledges the serious concern about executing an innocent person, clarifying that the command applies to those who are without a shadow of a doubt guilty of murder.
Scripture gives the reason directly: "for in the image of God made he man" (Genesis 9:6). Les Feldick says God ordained that man was to be of intrinsic value and his life was not to be taken lightly, so if someone took the life of a fellow human being, that individual also had to be put to death by his fellow man.
Les Feldick teaches that before the flood man did not have this authority from God to control behavior by capital punishment or incarceration. Violence had filled the earth because there was no deterrent and no law against murder. After the flood, God gave man the responsibility to maintain law and order by instituting human government and capital punishment.
Les Feldick states that this aspect of God's law has never been rescinded throughout Scripture. While some things have changed, the command for capital punishment still stands as God's law for the human race.
According to Les Feldick, yes. He says that nations which practiced capital punishment had low crime rates until they removed it. He cites France as an example, noting that after France outlawed the guillotine, the murder rate went up. He concludes that capital punishment is a legitimate deterrent to murder and major crime.
Les Feldick acknowledges this concern, saying he shares the fear that an innocent person might be executed. But he says the Bible takes that into consideration: the command is about people who without a shadow of a doubt are guilty of murder.
Capital Punishment and Human Life
God made human life precious and protected it by giving civil government authority to set up capital punishment as a deterrent.
New Authority After the Flood
Before the flood man had no authority to use capital punishment, but after the flood God instituted it and it has never been rescinded.
Capital Punishment as Deterrent
Les teaches that capital punishment is a legitimate deterrent, citing rising murder rates when nations remove it.
The Problem of Pre-Flood Violence
Pre-flood violence filled the earth because there was no deterrent or law; God then instituted human government and capital punishment.
The Command in Genesis 9:5-6
God's command requires that a murderer be put to death by man under governmental authority because man was made in God's image.
Intrinsic Value of Human Life
God ordained that man's life is of intrinsic value and is not to be taken lightly; murder must be answered by the murderer's death.
Societal Protection Through Deterrence
Human government protects citizens and maintains law and order, and capital punishment is the deterrent God instituted for murder.
No Written Law Before the Flood
For about 1,600 years from Adam to the flood there was no written law, making God's post-flood instructions about capital punishment more significant.
Genesis 9:5: And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
God holds both animals and men accountable for taking human life.
Genesis 9:6: Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
This is the direct command that a murderer must be put to death by man, and it gives the reason: man is made in God's image.
God established capital punishment to protect human life, which was made in His image. He gave human government the authority to maintain law and order by putting murderers to death.
Yes. Genesis 9:6 says, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Les Feldick teaches this command has never been rescinded.
Les Feldick teaches that after the flood God gave man authority over fellow man and instituted human government to protect the lives of citizens through capital punishment.
Les Feldick says yes. He points to nations that practiced it having low crime rates and to murder rates rising after it was removed, such as in France.
Watch the Teaching: The Curse of Canaan & Origin of Races: Genesis 9 Bible Study