Genesis 1:22

KJV

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

KJV (with Strong's)

And God {H430} blessed {H1288} them, saying {H559}, Be fruitful {H6509}, and multiply {H7235}, and fill {H4390} the waters {H4325} in the seas {H3220}, and let fowl {H5775} multiply {H7235} in the earth {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, multiply and fill the water of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

Berean Standard Bible

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

American Standard Version

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 1:22 records God's inaugural blessing upon the newly created aquatic and avian life, a profound act of divine favor and commissioning that imparts the inherent capacity for flourishing and propagation. This verse is not merely a biological command but a powerful declaration of God's active will for His creation to teem with life, multiply abundantly, and fill its designated realms, establishing a foundational pattern for all subsequent life and revealing His benevolent design for a world brimming with diverse and vibrant existence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This pivotal verse immediately follows God's masterful creation of the great sea creatures and every winged fowl on the fifth day, as detailed in [Genesis 1:21](/genesis/1-21 "Genesis 1:21 - Creation of Sea Creatures and Birds"). It marks the first instance in Scripture where the Creator directly addresses and bestows a blessing upon living beings, imparting to them the inherent capacity and divine mandate to propagate. This blessing anticipates the teeming abundance and diversity of life that would soon fill the earth's waters and skies, revealing God's immediate provision and purposeful design for His nascent creation. The blessing here parallels the subsequent blessing given to humanity in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - God's Blessing and Command to Humanity"), highlighting a common divine intention for all life to be fruitful and multiply, though humanity receives an additional mandate to subdue and have dominion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near Eastern world, the concept of a god blessing creation or bestowing fertility was common, but Genesis presents a unique monotheistic perspective. Unlike pagan deities who might be capricious or demand appeasement for fertility, the God of Genesis freely and benevolently bestows life and the capacity for its continuation. This blessing is not a magical incantation but an active divine decree, reflecting God's inherent goodness and His desire for the flourishing of His creation. The emphasis on "filling" the earth and seas speaks to a world that, at this stage, was still largely unpopulated by these specific life forms, underscoring the immediate need for proliferation to establish the full diversity of life.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 1:22 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the creation account. Foremost is the theme of **God's benevolent sovereignty**, demonstrating His complete control over creation and His desire for its good. It introduces the foundational theme of **procreation and abundance** as a divine mandate, establishing the means by which life will continue and flourish. This verse also reinforces the theme of **order and design** in creation, as specific commands are given for different realms ("waters in the seas" and "earth"). Furthermore, it foreshadows the broader biblical theme of **divine blessing** as an active impartation of power and potential, a concept that recurs throughout the Old Testament, such as in God's blessing of Abraham in [Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2-3 "God's Blessing to Abraham"), and ultimately culminates in the New Testament with the spiritual blessings found in Christ, as seen in [Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** From H430, this plural noun, often used with a singular verb, refers to the supreme God. In this context, it emphasizes the singular, transcendent Creator who possesses ultimate authority and power to bless and command. The use of 'Elohim' here underscores the majestic and powerful nature of the one who initiates life and its propagation.
* **blessed (Hebrew, _bârak'_):** From H1288, this primitive root means "to kneel" and, by implication, "to bless." When God blesses, it signifies an active impartation of divine favor, power, and enablement. It is not merely a wish but a performative utterance that grants the inherent capacity for flourishing, success, and fruitfulness. This blessing is foundational, underscoring God's benevolent disposition towards His creation and His desire for its thriving existence.
* **fruitful (Hebrew, _pârâh'_):** From H6509, this primitive root means "to bear fruit (literally or figuratively)." It is a divine imperative for life to be inherently generative, ensuring the continuation of their kind. This command emphasizes the intrinsic capacity and potential for reproduction embedded within the created beings.
* **multiply (Hebrew, _râbâh'_):** From H7235, this primitive root means "to increase (in whatever respect)." Paired with "be fruitful," it emphasizes exponential growth, proliferation, and becoming great in number. This dual command reveals God's design for life to not merely survive, but to expand, fill, and flourish within its designated habitats, reflecting His desire for abundance and active provision for the perpetuation of life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And God blessed them, saying,"**: This opening phrase highlights the direct, personal, and authoritative nature of God's interaction with His creation. The act of "blessing" is a divine bestowal of power and favor, indicating God's active involvement in enabling the flourishing of the creatures He has just made. The subsequent "saying" introduces the specific divine decree that follows.
* **"Be fruitful, and multiply,"**: This is a direct imperative, a command from the Creator to the newly formed aquatic and avian life. "Be fruitful" (pârâh) refers to the intrinsic capacity to produce offspring, while "multiply" (râbâh) refers to the increase in number, emphasizing exponential growth. Together, these commands establish the foundational principle of procreation and population growth for the animal kingdom, ensuring the perpetuation and abundance of species.
* **"and fill the waters in the seas,"**: This specific instruction underscores God's meticulous and orderly design for His creation. The command to "fill" (mâlêʼ) indicates the divine intention for the aquatic creatures to populate their vast, watery domains to their full potential. It speaks to the inherent capacity and divine mandate for the seas to teem with life, reflecting the Creator's boundless creativity and provision for specific habitats.
* **"and let fowl multiply in the earth."**: Echoing the earlier command, this phrase specifically directs the avian creatures to "multiply" (râbâh) and populate the terrestrial realm, particularly the skies and land. The repetition of the command for multiplication emphasizes its universal applicability to all living creatures capable of reproduction, reinforcing God's overarching purpose for a world brimming with diverse and abundant life, each thriving in its intended sphere.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Command** is central, as God issues direct imperatives ("Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill... and let fowl multiply"). This highlights His absolute authority and the performative nature of His word, where His declarations bring about the reality they describe. **Repetition** of the command to "multiply" (râbâh) for both aquatic and avian life emphasizes the universal importance of proliferation for all living creatures. This reinforces God's overarching desire for a world teeming with life. **Parallelism** is also evident in the structure "fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth," which balances the commands for two distinct realms of creation, underscoring the orderly and comprehensive nature of God's design for populating the world. Finally, **Divine Blessing** itself, while a theological concept, functions as a literary motif, signifying God's active favor and empowerment that enables the fulfillment of His commands.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 1:22 profoundly reveals God as the sovereign Sustainer and Benefactor of all life, not merely its originator. His blessing is an active impartation of power, demonstrating His ongoing care and benevolent will for His creation to thrive. This verse establishes the inherent goodness and purposefulness of creation, where life, as designed by God, is intended for abundance, propagation, and the fulfillment of its divinely ordained role within the cosmic order. The command to "be fruitful and multiply" introduces the theological principle of procreation as a divine mandate and a means by which God's creative power is continued through His creatures, laying a foundational understanding for the perpetuation of life and serving as a precursor to the similar blessing bestowed upon humanity. It underscores God's desire for a world teeming with life, reflecting His infinite creativity and generosity, with specific instructions highlighting His meticulous design and the orderly placement of diverse species within their respective habitats.

* [Genesis 8:17](/genesis/8-17 "God's Command to Noah for Animals to Multiply")
* [Psalm 104:24-30](/psalm/104-24-30 "Psalm 104 - God as Creator and Sustainer")
* [Job 38:25-27](/job/38-25-27 "Job 38:25-27 - God's Provision for Creation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Reflecting on Genesis 1:22 calls believers to a profound appreciation for the divine source of all life and the inherent potential God has woven into creation. This verse challenges us to recognize God’s ongoing power in sustaining the natural world's cycles of reproduction and abundance, fostering a deep sense of reverence and responsible stewardship for the vibrant ecosystems He has so meticulously designed and blessed. It reminds us that life is a gift, intended for flourishing and multiplication, and that we, as image-bearers, are called to participate in God's ongoing work of care and cultivation, not exploitation. Furthermore, understanding God's initial blessing upon creation can inspire us to seek and promote fruitfulness in all areas of our lives—spiritually, relationally, and vocationally—as an echo of His original design for abundance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's blessing of the animals in Genesis 1:22 inform your understanding of His character and His relationship with creation?**
* **In what ways can we, as humans, honor God's command for fruitfulness and multiplication, not just biologically, but also in our spiritual lives and service?**
* **What responsibilities does this verse imply for our stewardship of the natural world and its diverse life forms?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of God "blessing" the animals in this verse?**

Answer: The act of God blessing the animals is more than a mere good wish; it is an active impartation of divine power and enablement. It signifies God granting them the inherent capacity and potential to thrive, be fruitful, and multiply according to His design. This demonstrates God's benevolent disposition and active involvement in sustaining His creation, ensuring that the life He creates has the means to continue and flourish.

**How do "be fruitful" and "multiply" differ in their meaning?**

Answer: While closely related, "be fruitful" (Hebrew: *pârâh*) emphasizes the intrinsic capacity to produce offspring, focusing on the generative potential within each creature to bear young. "Multiply" (Hebrew: *râbâh*) emphasizes the increase in number and exponential growth, referring to the proliferation of the species to fill their designated habitats. Together, they convey God's desire for both the continuation and the abundant expansion of life, ensuring the earth and seas would teem with diverse creatures.

**Does this blessing of fruitfulness and multiplication apply to humans as well?**

Answer: Yes, the same blessing and command to "be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth" is explicitly given to humanity in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - God's Command to Humanity"). This indicates a universal divine mandate for the propagation of life, highlighting the sacredness of procreation and the importance of filling the earth with life, both animal and human, according to God's purpose. It underscores a shared aspect of God's creative design for all living beings to reproduce and fill their respective domains.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Genesis 1:22 directly addresses animal life, the underlying principles of divine blessing, fruitfulness, and multiplication find their ultimate and spiritual fulfillment in Christ. As the Word through whom all things were made and are sustained ([Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Christ as Creator and Sustainer")), Christ is the very source of all life's capacity to flourish, both physically and spiritually. More profoundly, in the New Covenant, Christ enables a spiritual fruitfulness and multiplication within believers, empowering them to bear the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Fruit of the Spirit")). Through His redemptive work, He transforms barren lives into productive ones, multiplying His kingdom through the spiritual reproduction of disciples ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "The Great Commission")). The abundance of life commanded in creation foreshadows the superabundant life found in Christ, who declared, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Christ Gives Abundant Life")). Thus, the natural blessing of Genesis 1:22 points forward to the spiritual blessing and life-giving power of the resurrected Christ, who continues to fill the earth, not just with physical life, but with those who bear His image and multiply His grace.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Psalms 107:38

He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

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.

Job 40:15

¶ Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

Job 42:12

So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Genesis 9:1

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