I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.
Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.
Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
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Commentary for Genesis 9:3
**Themes:**
Genesis 9:3 is part of the passage that follows the account of Noah's Ark and the Great Flood, which symbolizes a new beginning for humanity. The verse reflects themes of divine provision and the establishment of a new covenantal relationship between God and all living creatures. It also introduces a shift in dietary habits, expanding human sustenance from a purely vegetarian diet to include meat. This reflects an expansion of human dominion over creation, with a divine mandate.
**Historical Context:**
Historically, this verse is situated in the postdiluvian world, after God has expressed regret for creating humanity because of its wickedness (Genesis 6:6). Noah and his family, who are deemed righteous, survive the flood and are charged with repopulating the earth. The covenant God establishes with Noah extends to all living creatures, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:11). The permission to eat meat, given in Genesis 9:3, marks a significant departure from the dietary restrictions implied in the creation account (Genesis 1:29-30), where humans and animals were to eat only plants. This shift may reflect the changed conditions of the post-flood world, where plant life would have been less abundant, necessitating a broader diet for human survival. It also sets the stage for later dietary laws, particularly those given to the Israelites in the Mosaic Law.
*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: H7431 There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: רֶמֶשׂ Transliteration: remes Pronunciation: reh'-mes Description: from רָמַשׂ; a reptile or any other rapidly moving animal; that creepeth, creeping (moving) thing.
Strong's Number: H2416 There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חַי Transliteration: chay Pronunciation: khah'-ee Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
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.
Strong's Number: H3418 There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יֶרֶק Transliteration: yereq Pronunciation: yeh'-rek Description: from יָרָק (in the sense of vacuity of color); properly, pallor, i.e. hence, the yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation; concretely, verdure, i.e. grass or vegetation; grass, green (thing).
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.
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.