Genesis 1:28-31
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.”
Meaning of Genesis 1:28-31
Genesis 1:28-31 reflect the moment when God created the first man and woman and gave them the responsibility to rule over the earth and its creatures. It signifies God’s intention for humanity to be fruitful, multiply, and take care of the world He created for us. These verses also highlight the goodness and completeness of God’s creation and His satisfaction with it.
Explanation and Commentary of Genesis 1:28-31
In Genesis 1:28-31, we see the pivotal moment where God bestows His blessing upon humanity, commanding us to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. This passage marks the culmination of the Creation story, emphasizing our role as stewards over the Earth and all its living creatures.
The phrase “be fruitful and multiply” signifies not only the propagation of humankind but also hints at the deeper spiritual sense of bearing fruit in our lives through righteous deeds and a flourishing relationship with God. It echoes throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of growth and abundance in both a physical and spiritual sense (Genesis 9:7, Psalm 127:3-5).
The command to “fill the earth and subdue it” grants us the responsibility to oversee and care for God’s creation. We are called to manage the resources of the Earth wisely, exercising dominion with care and respect rather than exploitation. This dominion reflects the divine image in which we are created, signifying our capacity for stewardship and accountability (Psalm 8:6-8).
God’s pronouncement of everything created as “very good” reaffirms His satisfaction with His creation. It underscores the inherent value of every aspect of creation and signifies the harmony and completeness present in God’s design. Our duty as stewards involves recognizing and preserving this inherent goodness in all of creation.
This passage in Genesis 1:28-31 serves as a foundational call for us, reminding us of our role in God’s grand design. It emphasizes our duty to care for the Earth and its inhabitants with wisdom, love, and respect, aligning our actions with God’s original intent for creation. It challenges us to embody God’s image by exercising responsible dominion and nurturing a harmonious relationship with the world around us.
Context of Genesis 1:28-31
Genesis 1:28-31 is situated within the broader narrative of the creation account in the book of Genesis, specifically in the opening chapter. In this section, God systematically creates the heavens, the earth, light, darkness, the sky, the seas, vegetation, celestial bodies, sea creatures, birds, land animals, and finally, humankind.
Genesis 1:28-31 specifically focuses on the creation of humanity and God’s mandate to them. After creating humans in His image, God blesses them and grants them authority over the earth and its living creatures. This section represents the pinnacle of God’s creative work, emphasizing the special role and responsibility given to humans in caring for the Earth and its inhabitants.
God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it” highlights the aspects of procreation, dominion, and stewardship entrusted to humanity. It establishes the foundation for human existence, setting the stage for their relationship with the Earth and all living things.
The passage emphasizes the goodness and completeness of God’s creation, culminating in His affirmation that everything He had made was “very good.” This statement signifies the perfect harmony and order present in God’s design, emphasizing the value and purpose inherent in all aspects of creation.
Overall, Genesis 1:28-31 serves as a significant moment in the creation narrative, outlining humanity’s unique role as stewards over creation and highlighting the divine intention for humans to nurture and care for the Earth in partnership with God.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Genesis 1:28-31
“God blessed them”: This signifies God’s favor and empowerment upon the first humans, bestowing His blessings upon them. It’s an act of divine grace and goodness, setting the stage for their purpose and responsibility in the world.
“Be fruitful and multiply”: This command speaks not only to physical reproduction but also to the broader idea of growth, abundance, and flourishing. It encompasses the idea of bearing fruit in various aspects of life, including relationships, spiritual development, and productivity (Genesis 9:7, Psalm 127:3-5).
“Fill the earth and subdue it”: This directive instructs humanity to populate the Earth and have dominion over it. It implies responsible stewardship and management rather than exploitation. The call is to care for the Earth and its resources, reflecting God’s image by wisely governing creation (Psalm 8:6-8).
“Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air”: This grants humans authority over the creatures of the sea and the sky. It underscores the idea of dominion and stewardship, where humans are tasked with responsibly managing and caring for God’s creation, including the animal kingdom.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”: This declaration reinforces the completeness and perfection of God’s creation. It emphasizes the inherent goodness in all aspects of creation and serves as a statement of divine satisfaction with His work.
Bible Study on Genesis 1:28-31
To understand these verses more deeply, we can explore related passages and themes throughout the Bible.
Firstly, the concept of stewardship is reflected in other biblical passages, such as Psalm 8:6-8, where it says, “You have given them [humanity] charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority.” This reveals that God has entrusted us with the care and governance of His creation.
Furthermore, Jesus teaches us to value and care for all life in Matthew 6:26, where He says, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” This reminds us that every aspect of creation is precious to God and should be treated with respect.
Also Read: Genesis 1:24-27 Meaning and Explanation
Biblical Translations of Genesis 1:28-31
Genesis 1:28-31 King James Version (KJV)
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.’ And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat:’ and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
Genesis 1:28-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
“And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
Genesis 1:28-31 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’ Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.’ And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.”
Genesis 1:28-31 The Message (MSG)
“God blessed them: ‘Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.’ Then God said, ‘I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.’ And there it was. God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning—Day Six.”
Genesis 1:28-31 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;’ and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
Genesis 1:28-31 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.’ God also said, ‘Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.”
Final Thoughts
Genesis 1:28-31 lays the foundation for understanding our purpose as human beings.
We are not here by chance or as a result of random processes, but as intentional creations of the loving God. These verses affirm our worth and responsibility as bearers of God’s image.
As we embrace our calling to multiply and steward the earth, let us remember that we are partners with God in His ongoing work of creation. May we fulfill our role with humility, love, and understanding, always seeking to honor God in all that we do.