Genesis 9:1-4
“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.'”
Genesis 9:1-4 Meaning
In Genesis 9:1-4, God is speaking to Noah and his family after the flood. He commands them to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth with more people. He also gives every living creature on earth into their hands, allowing them to have dominion over them. Additionally, God gives them permission to eat the plants and the animals, but with one crucial exception – they are not to eat the blood of any creature.
Explanation and Commentary on Genesis 9:1-4
In Genesis 9:1-4, the passage speaks to the aftermath of the flood and the new beginning for humanity. God blesses Noah and his sons, instructing them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. This mirrors the command given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28, emphasizing the continuity of God’s plan for humanity despite the flood’s cataclysmic events.
What’s particularly noteworthy in this passage is the explicit permission for humanity to eat meat. Before this, in Genesis 1:29-30, God had granted plants and fruits as food for both humans and animals. Here, there’s a significant shift, allowing the consumption of animals, but with a caveat: the prohibition against consuming blood. This respect for the sacredness of life and the essence of blood recurs in other biblical passages, like Leviticus 17:10-14, underscoring the significance of blood as a symbol of life and its connection to atonement.
The allowance to eat meat suggests a recognition of human needs and adaptation to a post-flood world where resources might have been scarce. It also highlights God’s willingness to accommodate the changing circumstances of His people while establishing guidelines to maintain reverence for life.
This passage invites reflection on the balance between human needs and ethical responsibilities towards creation. It underscores the idea of stewardship, where we are entrusted with the care of the Earth and its creatures. The respect for life, even in the act of consuming animals for sustenance, emphasizes the sanctity of creation and the importance of honoring God’s provisions within established boundaries.
Genesis 9:1-4, in its broader context, echoes themes of divine authority, continuity, stewardship, and respect for life, inviting us to ponder our relationship with creation and our responsibilities towards it.
Context of Genesis 9:1-4
Genesis 9 comes after the great flood that destroyed all living beings on earth, except for Noah, his family, and the animals that were saved in the ark.
After the floodwaters receded and the earth was dry, Noah and his family exited the ark. They offered sacrifices to God, and God made a covenant with Noah, symbolized by the rainbow in the sky. It is within this context that God gives Noah and his descendants these instructions for their future.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Genesis 9:1-4
“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth”: This command echoes God’s original instructions to Adam and Eve. It emphasizes the importance of procreation and the continuation of humanity.
“The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature”: God gives humans dominion over the animal kingdom. This dominion is not for exploitation but for responsible stewardship.
“I now give you everything”: God grants humanity the resources and provision needed for sustenance and survival. God’s provision is abundant, and it is our responsibility to use it wisely.
“But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it”: God forbids the consumption of blood, emphasizing the sacredness of life. The life is in the blood, and by refraining from eating blood, we recognize that all life belongs to God.
Bible Study on Genesis 9:1-4
These verses teach us several important lessons. Firstly, God values human life and desires humanity to flourish and multiply. As Christians, we should embrace this command to procreate within the context of marriage and be a blessing to future generations.
Secondly, we are called to be responsible stewards of the earth and all living creatures. While we have been given dominion, it is crucial to remember that this authority comes with the responsibility to care for and preserve God’s creation.
Thirdly, these verses remind us of God’s abundant provision. Just as He provided for Noah and his family after the flood, God continues to provide for us. We must be grateful for His provision and use it wisely, recognizing that all we have belongs to Him.
Lastly, the command to abstain from consuming blood speaks to the value God places on the sanctity of life. It reminds us that life belongs to God alone, and we must treat it with respect and reverence.
Also Read: Genesis 8:13-17 Meaning and Commentary
Biblical Translations of Genesis 9:1-4
Genesis 9:1-4 King James Version (KJV)
“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.'”
Genesis 9:1-4 English Standard Version (ESV)
“And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.'”
Genesis 9:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.'”
Genesis 9:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
“So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.'”
Genesis 9:1-4 The Message (MSG)
“God blessed Noah and his sons: He said, ‘Prosper! Reproduce! Fill the Earth! Every living creature—birds, animals, fish—will fall under your spell and be afraid of you. You’re responsible for them. All living creatures are yours for food; just as I gave you the plants, now I give you everything else. Except for meat with its lifeblood still in it—don’t eat that.'”
Genesis 9:1-4 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority. Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you; as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything. However, you must not eat meat with its lifeblood in it.'”
Final Thoughts
Genesis 9:1-4 lays the foundation for God’s covenant with Noah and his descendants, giving them instructions for their future. It teaches us the significance of procreation, responsible stewardship, God’s provision, and the sanctity of life.
As followers of Christ, may we embrace these principles in our own lives and reflect God’s intention for humanity in our actions and attitudes.