King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
God blessed Noach and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth.
Berean Standard Bible:
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
American Standard Version:
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And God{H430} blessed{H1288} Noah{H5146} and his sons{H1121}, and said{H559} unto them, Be fruitful{H6509}, and multiply{H7235}, and replenish{H4390} the earth{H776}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 9:7
- And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
Genesis 1:28
- 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.
Genesis 8:17
- Bring forth with thee every living thing that [is] with thee, of all flesh, [both] of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
Genesis 1:22
- And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
Psalms 128:3
- Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Psalms 128:4
- Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
Isaiah 51:2
- Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
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Commentary for Genesis 9:1
Genesis 9:1 is a pivotal verse in the Bible that occurs immediately after the flood narrative, where God has just demonstrated His power and judgment by flooding the earth to cleanse it of wickedness. Noah, his family, and representatives of all animal species have survived in the ark. As the waters recede and the earth begins to renew itself, God speaks to Noah and his sons, marking a new beginning for humanity.
In this verse, God reiterates the command given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28, to "be fruitful and multiply," emphasizing the importance of procreation and the continuation of life on earth. The instruction to "replenish the earth" suggests a restoration of the world's population and a return to normalcy after the catastrophic event. This command also implies a mandate for stewardship, with humanity being tasked to manage and care for the creatures and resources of the earth responsibly.
The historical context of Genesis 9:1 is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern milieu, where the concepts of blessing and fertility were significant. The verse reflects a post-diluvian world where the survival of species and the sustenance of life are paramount. It also sets the stage for the covenant that God establishes with Noah in the following verses, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again and instituting the rainbow as a sign of this eternal covenant.
In summary, Genesis 9:1 encapsulates themes of divine blessing, human fertility, and the restoration of the earth after judgment. It signifies a fresh start for humanity under God's providential care and underscores the responsibilities that come with being stewards of creation. This verse is foundational in understanding the biblical narrative of redemption and the ongoing relationship between God and His creation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- 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. - Strong's Number: H1288
There are 289 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָרַךְ
Transliteration: bârak
Pronunciation: baw-rak'
Description: a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason); [idiom] abundantly, [idiom] altogether, [idiom] at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, [idiom] greatly, [idiom] indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, [idiom] still, thank. - Strong's Number: H5146
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֹחַ
Transliteration: Nôach
Pronunciation: no'-akh
Description: the same as נוּחַ; rest; Noach, the patriarch of the flood; Noah. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - 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. - Strong's Number: H6509
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרָה
Transliteration: pârâh
Pronunciation: paw-raw'
Description: a primitive root; to bear fruit (literally or figuratively); bear, bring forth (fruit), (be, cause to be, make) fruitful, grow, increase. - Strong's Number: H7235
There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבָה
Transliteration: râbâh
Pronunciation: raw-baw'
Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very. - Strong's Number: H4390
There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָלֵא
Transliteration: mâlêʼ
Pronunciation: maw-lay'
Description: or מָלָא; (Esther 7:5), a primitive root; to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively); accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. - 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.