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 In establishing the principal of protecting life last time the  text moves from the subject of shedding animal blood to the shedding of human blood in verse 6. Which of course is talking about the taking of a human life.

“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.

(Gen 9: 6) 

In verse 3 we were told humanity had the authority to kill animals but we are also told that neither animals nor humans must ever kill a human being. So human blood is not to be shed, the general provision has been given to allow us to kill an animal for the purpose of food, but we must never kill a human being. In fact, it says, God will require that if anyone kills another human being it will have to be accounted for. Here in the Old Testament God is seen to requires the life of the one who takes a human life. God says this very clearly under the Old Testament Covenant. The Old Testament is clearly states that if you kill another human being then the punishment is you will forfeit your life. Human life it seems is special, valuable, in fact sacred, to the point that if you kill a fellow human, you too will be killed. 

Theologians have suggested that is the point at which the text says that God establishes human government. Up to this point God acted out his will sometimes intervening in events by raing down judgement or even using a worldwide flood. But from this point forward humanity have been given some authorly to carry out God’s. Prior to this there was no government, remember the law [the ten commandments] hasn’t even been given to Moses yet. From this point forward God is begins to establish some social dictates. By these words in, Genesis chapter 9, human, temporal government is established. 

A real problem in our society today is that because that people that don't have a biblical orientation and can't quite figure what all this means.. So, they come up with false ideas like all life is sacred you can't kill anything, at any time, for any reason. Some people today believe we should not kill animals, not even for food. but at the same time say elderly people or those who they determine have no long-term quality of life can be euthanized. So, what's the dividing line. It helps if we remember what it said in verse 6, God explains that humanity is made in the image of God, and it is that which makes life sacred. Human beings were created in the image of God, so humans are more than just animals. Human life is special because we are made in the image of God therefore human life is uniquely precious. 

However, there is this more to this passage. Let’s pick it up at verse 7-10

 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it. Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “As for me I will now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth.

(Gen 9: 7-10) 

In verse seven God says as for you be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, but now he says in verse 9, as for me I will make a covenant with Noah. The real point here is this God makes a promise, a covenant and then he tells us the content of that promise in verse 11 

“I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.

(Gen 9: 11)

God unconditionally promises that he will never again destroy all life on the earth by flood. There may be local natural catastrophises and events, but never again will there be a world-wide destruction but now in the verses that follow on from here God gives a sign of the covenant, a the we are very familiar with and we shall take a look at that sign and that promise and what it means in the next episode.