Genesis 1:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the earth brought forth grass, [and] herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed [was] in itself, after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The earth brought forth grass, plants each yielding its own kind of seed, and trees each producing its own kind of seed-bearing fruit; and God saw that it was good.

Berean Standard Bible:

The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

American Standard Version:

And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the earth^{H776} brought forth^{H3318} grass^{H1877}, and herb^{H6212} yielding^{H2232} seed^{H2233} after his kind^{H4327}, and the tree^{H6086} yielding^{H6213} fruit^{H6529}, whose seed^{H2233} was in itself, after his kind^{H4327}: and God^{H430} saw^{H7200} that it was good^{H2896}.

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Commentary for Genesis 1:12

**Themes:**

1. **Creation and Fertility:** The verse highlights the fruitfulness of the earth as a result of God's creative power. The emergence of plant life, including grasses, herbs, and fruit-bearing trees, emphasizes the productivity and abundance inherent in the created world.
2. **Order and Diversity:** The mention of plants yielding seed "after his kind" underscores the theme of ordered reproduction within distinct species, suggesting a divine blueprint for biodiversity.
3. **Divine Approval:** The recurring phrase "and God saw that it was good" reflects the idea of divine satisfaction with the created order, emphasizing the inherent goodness of the natural world as it functions according to God's design.

**Historical Context:**

Genesis 1:12 is part of the Priestly creation account found in the opening chapter of the Book of Genesis, which is traditionally attributed to the Priestly source in biblical scholarship. This source is thought to have been compiled during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE). The verse is set within the larger context of the seven days of creation, which describes the formation of the world in a structured, sequential manner.

During the time of composition, the Ancient Near Eastern world was populated with various creation myths, such as the Enuma Elish from Babylon. The Genesis account, while sharing some common motifs, distinctively presents a monotheistic perspective, emphasizing the singular power of God in contrast to the polytheistic pantheons and cosmic battles found in other contemporary narratives.

The verse reflects an agrarian society's appreciation for the cycles of nature and the importance of plant life for sustenance, which would have resonated with the lived experience of its original audience. It also serves to establish a theological foundation for the subsequent narratives in Genesis, including the role of humanity in the garden (Genesis 2) and the concept of stewardship over creation.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1877
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דֶּשֶׁא
   Transliteration: desheʼ
   Pronunciation: deh'-sheh
   Description: from דָּשָׁא; a sprout; by analogy, grass; (tender) grass, green, (tender) herb.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6212
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶשֶׂב
   Transliteration: ʻeseb
   Pronunciation: eh'seb
   Description: from an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green); grass (or any tender shoot); grass, herb.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2232
   There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָרַע
   Transliteration: zâraʻ
   Pronunciation: zaw-rah'
   Description: a primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify; bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2233
   There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֶרַע
   Transliteration: zeraʻ
   Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
   Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4327
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִין
   Transliteration: mîyn
   Pronunciation: meen
   Description: from an unused root meaning to portion out; a sort, i.e. species; kind. Compare מִן.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6086
   There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵץ
   Transliteration: ʻêts
   Pronunciation: ates
   Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
   
9. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
10. Strong's Number: H6529
    There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פְּרִי
    Transliteration: pᵉrîy
    Pronunciation: per-ee'
    Description: from פָּרָה; fruit (literally or figuratively); bough, (first-)fruit(-ful), reward.
    
11. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
    
12. Strong's Number: H7200
    There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָאָה
    Transliteration: râʼâh
    Pronunciation: raw-aw'
    Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
    
13. Strong's Number: H2896
    There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טוֹב
    Transliteration: ṭôwb
    Pronunciation: tobe
    Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).