Genesis 1:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then God said, “Here! Throughout the whole earth I am giving you as food every seed-bearing plant and every tree with seed-bearing fruit.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food.

American Standard Version:

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 with Strong’s Numbers:

And God^{H430} said^{H559}, Behold^{H2009}, I have given^{H5414} you every herb^{H6212} bearing^{H2232} seed^{H2233}, which is upon the face^{H6440} of all the earth^{H776}, and every tree^{H6086}, in the which is the fruit^{H6529} of a tree^{H6086} yielding^{H2232} seed^{H2233}; to you it shall be^{H1961} for meat^{H402}.

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Commentary for Genesis 1:29

Genesis 1:29 is part of the creation narrative in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis, which is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. This verse is situated within the context of God's creation of the world and all living things. It occurs after God has created the first humans, Adam and Eve, and is a direct address from God to them.

In this verse, God grants humanity dominion over plants and trees for food. The themes present include the provision and abundance of God, the idea of stewardship over creation, and the original dietary plan for humans. God's instruction specifies that every plant and tree yielding seed is given to humans for sustenance, emphasizing a vegetarian diet before the Fall of Man, which is detailed later in Genesis. This reflects a world in a state of peace and harmony, where humans and animals are not depicted as eating each other, and where humans are to live off the fruit of the land.

Historically, this verse has been interpreted in various ways. Vegetarians and vegans often cite it as evidence of God's original intent for human dietary practices. Others see it as a reflection of the ancient Near Eastern context in which the text was written, where a vegetarian diet would have been common for many people. Theologically, it sets a foundation for understanding the relationship between humans and the natural world, suggesting that humans are to use the earth's resources responsibly and in a way that respects the life-giving properties of the plants God has provided. It also prefigures the later Christian concept of divine provision and care, as seen in Jesus' teachings about God's provision for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26-30).

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2009
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הִנֵּה
   Transliteration: hinnêh
   Pronunciation: hin-nay'
   Description: prolongation for הֵן; lo!; behold, lo, see.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
5. 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.
   
6. 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.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
9. 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.
   
10. 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.
    
11. 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.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1961
    There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הָיָה
    Transliteration: hâyâh
    Pronunciation: haw-yaw
    Description: a primitive root (compare הָוָא); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary); beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.
    
13. Strong's Number: H402
    There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אׇכְלָה
    Transliteration: ʼoklâh
    Pronunciation: ok-law'
    Description: feminine of אֻכָל; food; consume, devour, eat, food, meat.