Genesis 9:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

Complete Jewish Bible:

And you people, be fruitful, multiply, swarm on the earth and multiply on it.”

Berean Standard Bible:

But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out across the earth and multiply upon it.”

American Standard Version:

And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And you, be ye fruitful{H6509}, and multiply{H7235}; bring forth abundantly{H8317} in the earth{H776}, and multiply{H7235} therein.

Cross-References (KJV):

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 9:1

  • ¶ And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

Genesis 9:19

  • These [are] the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

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.

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Commentary for Genesis 9:7

Genesis 9:7 is part of the narrative following the Great Flood in the Bible. The verse contains a commandment from God to Noah and his sons after they disembarked from the Ark. The themes of this verse include procreation, stewardship over the earth, and the continuation of life.

**Historical Context:**
- **Post-Diluvian World:** The instruction is given after the floodwaters have receded, and Noah's family represents the new beginning for humanity.
- **Covenant with Noah:** This verse is part of a covenant God establishes with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again.
- **Divine Mandate:** The command echoes the creation mandate given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28, emphasizing humanity's role in populating and managing the earth.

**Themes:**
- **Fruitfulness and Multiplication:** Emphasizes the importance of human reproduction and the growth of populations to fill the earth.
- **Dominion over Earth:** Implies a responsibility to cultivate and care for the planet, suggesting that humans are to be stewards of creation.
- **Renewal and Hope:** Reflects a theme of hope and renewal after judgment, with humanity given a fresh start and a divine directive to thrive.

In summary, Genesis 9:7 is a restatement of the original command to humanity to be fruitful and multiply, given in the context of a new beginning after the Flood, and it underscores human responsibility to populate and steward the earth under God's providence.

*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: 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Strong's Number: H8317
    There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁרַץ
    Transliteration: shârats
    Pronunciation: shaw-rats'
    Description: a primitive root; to wriggle, i.e. (by implication) swarm or abound; breed (bring forth, increase) abundantly (in abundance), creep, move.
  4. 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.