Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:29

What does Genesis 1:29 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:29 means

God provided all vegetation—seed-yielding herbs and fruit-bearing trees—as food for humanity. This demonstrates God's generous provision for His created beings, ensuring their sustenance and well-being. This initial dietary instruction indicates an original state of vegetarianism for humanity. It highlights that God has thoughtfully supplied all that is necessary for life, and that this provision is part of His good design, demonstrating His care and foresight for the physical needs of His image-bearers.

Genesis 1:29 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 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:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God said, See, I have given you every plant producing seed, on the face of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit producing seed: they will be for your food:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And God saith, `Lo, I have given to you every herb sowing seed, which <FI>is<Fi> upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which <FI>is<Fi> the fruit of a tree sowing seed, to you it is for food;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God said: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind, to be your meat:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you;

Context

Immediately after giving humanity the commands to multiply and exercise dominion, this verse details God's provision for their food. It specifies plants as the sole dietary source, establishing an original vegetarian diet. This act emphasizes God's benevolence and care for His creation, ensuring humanity's sustenance as they fulfill their mandate. This provision for humanity then extends to the animal kingdom in the very next verse.

v.28And 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.

v.29This passage

v.30and to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 104:27

    These wait all for thee, That thou mayest give them their food in due season.

  • Psalms 104:14

    He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, And herb for the service of man; That he may bring forth food out of the earth,

  • Acts 17:28

    for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

  • Psalms 147:9

    He giveth to the beast his food, Andto the young ravens which cry.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17

    Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

  • Psalms 145:15

    The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:29

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

  • What Genesis 1:29 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:29 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:29 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:29 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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