Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 9:4

4. But Flesh with the Life thereof , which is the blood thereof , shall you not eat .

(i. e.) Whilst it lives, or taken from the Creature before it be quite dead: Which was an antient practice and an effect either of luxury or cruelty.

(i. e.) Which life or soul hath its seat in, and its support from the blood, and the spirits contained in it. It is certain, Blood is the thing which is here principally minded and forbidden, and so the words may be thus translated and understood, but flesh, (i. e.) the Flesh of living Creatures hereby allowed you with the Life thereof, that is to say, with the blood thereof, wherein its life consists. Or, But Flesh whilst it hath in it its Life or Soul, or, which is all one, its Blood.

God thought fit to forbid this, partly that by this respect shewn to the blood of Beasts it might appear how sacred a thing the blood of man was, and how much God abhorred the sin of Murther; and principally because the Blood was reserved and consecrated to God, as was the means of atonement for man, which reason God himself gives, Levit. 17. 11, 12. and did in a special manner represent the Blood of Christ which was to be shed for the Redemption of mankind.

Marginal references: Levit. 17. 14. Deut. 12. 23. Act. 15. 20.; Heb. Soul.