Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:28

What does Genesis 1:28 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:28 means

God blessed humanity, commanding them to "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." This blessing includes the capacity for procreation, ensuring the spread of humanity across the globe. Furthermore, God granted them "dominion" over all other living creatures, reiterating their role as stewards and representatives of God's rule on earth. This command highlights humanity's unique responsibility to manage and care for creation, exercising authority with wisdom and foresight, reflecting God's own benevolent sovereignty.

Genesis 1:28 in context

Genesis 1 — The Six Days of Creation

The Bible opens not with an argument for the existence of God but with the announcement of his creative act. In six measured days God speaks the cosmos into being — light, sky, sea, land, plants, sun and moon, fish and birds, animals, and finally man and woman in his own image. Each act ends with the refrain, 'and God saw that it was good.' The chapter establishes God's sovereignty, the goodness of the material world, the dignity of humanity, and the rhythm of work and rest that will shape all of Scripture.

  • Creation ex nihilo
  • The image of God
  • The goodness of creation
  • Sabbath rhythm

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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 birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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 birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God gave them his blessing and said to them, Be fertile and have increase, and make the earth full and be masters of it; be rulers over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing moving on the earth.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And God blesseth them, and God saith to them, `Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over fish of the sea, and over fowl of the heavens, and over every living thing that is creeping upon the earth.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod blessed them; andGod 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 fowl of the heavens, and over every animal that moveth on the earth.

Context

Following the creation of humanity in God's image, this verse records God's blessing and specific commands given to them. This expands on the idea of dominion introduced in verse 26, detailing the responsibilities of procreation and stewardship over the earth and its creatures. This divine mandate establishes humanity's purpose and relationship with the rest of creation, setting the stage for their provision of food in the subsequent verses.

v.27And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

v.28This passage

v.29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Chronicles 4:10

    And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested.

  • Genesis 24:60

    And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.

  • Genesis 22:17

    that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

  • Leviticus 26:9

    And I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and will establish my covenant with you.

  • Genesis 26:3

    sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

  • Isaiah 45:18

    For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:28

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Genesis 1:28 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:28 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:28 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:28 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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