TRV
Translation
King James Version
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
Complete Jewish Bible
And to every wild animal, bird in the air and creature crawling on the earth, in which there is a living soul, I am giving as food every kind of green plant.” And that is how it was.
Berean Standard Bible
And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
American Standard Version
and to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so.
World English Bible Messianic
To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Likewise to euery beast of the earth, and to euery foule of the heauen, and to euery thing that moueth vpon the earth, which hath life in it selfe, euery greene herbe shall be for meate. and it was so.
Young's Literal Translation
and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to every creeping thing on the earth, in which is breath of life, every green herb is for food:' and it is so.
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In the KJVVerse 30 of 31,102
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Commentary on Genesis 1 verses 29–30
29 ¶ 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.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
We have here the third part of the sixth day's work, which was not any new creation, but a gracious provision of food for all flesh, Psa 136:25. He that made man and beast thus took care to preserve both, Psa 36:6. Here is,
I. Food provided for man, Gen 1:29. Herbs and fruits must be his meat, including corn and all the products of the earth; these were allowed him, but (it should seem) not flesh, till after the flood, Gen 9:3. And before the earth was deluged, much more before it was cursed for man's sake, its fruits, no doubt, were more pleasing to the taste and more strengthening and nourishing to the body than marrow and fatness, and all the portion of the king's meat, are now. See here, 1. That which should make us humble. As we were made out of the earth, so we are maintained out of it. Once indeed men did eat angels' food, bread from heaven; but they died (Joh 6:49); it was to them but as food out of the earth, Psa 104:14. There is meat that endures to everlasting life; the Lord evermore give us this. 2. That which should make us thankful. The Lord is for the body; from him we receive all the supports and comforts of this life, and to him we must give thanks. He gives us all things richly to enjoy, not only for necessity, but plenty, plenty, dainties, and varieties, for ornament and delight. How much are we indebted! How careful should we be, as we live upon God's bounty, to live to his glory! 3. That which should make us temperate and content with our lot. Though Adam had dominion given him over fish and fowl, yet God confined him, in his food, to herbs and fruits; and he never complained of it. Though afterwards he coveted forbidden fruit, for the sake of the wisdom and knowledge he promised himself from it, yet we never read that he coveted forbidden flesh. If God give us food for our lives, let us not, with murmuring Israel, ask food for our lusts, Psa 78:18; see Dan 1:15.
II. Food provided for the beasts, Gen 1:30. Doth God take care for oxen? Yes, certainly, he provides food convenient for them, and not for oxen only, which were used in his sacrifices and man's service, but even the young lions and the young ravens are the care of his providence; they ask and have their meat from God. Let us give to God the glory of his bounty to the inferior creatures, that all are fed, as it were, at his table, every day. He is a great housekeeper, a very rich and bountiful one, that satisfies the desire of every living thing. Let this encourage God's people to cast their care upon him, and not to be solicitous respecting what they shall eat and what they shall drink. He that provided for Adam without his care, and still provides for all the creatures without their care, will not let those that trust him want any good thing, Mat 6:26. He that feeds his birds will not starve his babes.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 29–30. Public domain.
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NovatianAD 258
JEWISH FOODS 2.6
Man’s first food was solely fruit and produce from trees. Man’s guilt subsequently introduced the use of bread. The posture of his body shows forth the state of his conscience. As long as man’s conscience did not reproach him, innocence raised him up toward the heavens to pluck his food from the trees. Once sin had been committed, it bowed man down to the soil of the earth to get grain. Still later the use of meat was added.
Gregory of NyssaAD 395
ON THE ORIGIN OF MAN
We note, however, many wild beasts do not eat fruit. What fruit does the panther eat? What fruit makes the lion strong? But nevertheless these creatures, when submitting to the laws of nature, ate fruits. And likewise when the [first] man changed his way of life and voided the limits set upon him, the Lord, after the flood, knowing humans were wasteful, allowed them to use all foods: “Eat every food as if it were edible plants.” Since [humans] were allowed this [concession], the other animals [also] received the liberty to eat. So the lion is [now] a meat-eater, and the vulture looks for carrion.But vultures were not yet circling above the earth to find carrion when the animals originated; nothing created nor imagined had yet died in order to be food for the vultures. Nature had not yet been divided; everything was completely fresh. Hunters did not capture prey, since people did not yet practice this. The beasts did not yet tear apart prey, since they were not meat eaters yet.… So was the first creation, and to this creation will be restored after this [age]. Humans will return to their original creation, rejecting hostility, a life encumbered with care, the slavery of the world to daily worries. Once they have renounced all this, they will return to that utopian life which is not enslaved to the passions of the flesh, which is freedom, the closeness to God, a partaker of the life of the angels.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron)
And God said: Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed upon the earth, and all the trees which have in themselves the seed of their own kind, to be your food, and to all the beasts of the earth and every bird, and to all that move upon the earth, and in which there is a living soul, that you may have them to eat: It is now clear that before man's guilt the earth produced nothing harmful, no poisonous herb, no sterile tree, since it was clearly said that every herb and all trees were given to men and the birds, and to all the beasts of the earth for food, it is evident that even the birds did not live by snatching weak wings, nor did the wolf plot ambushes around the folds, nor was dust the snake's bread, but all ate in concord the green herbs and the fruits of the trees. Certainly among these must arise the question of how man was made immortal above other creatures, and nevertheless received common earthly nourishment with them. In which we must see that there is one kind of immortality of the flesh which we received in Adam's first state, and another which we hope to receive in the resurrection through Christ. Thus, he was made immortal in such a way that he could not die if he did not sin; but if he did sin, he would die. Thus the children of the resurrection will be immortal, when they will be equal to the angels of God, so that they will neither die anymore, nor be able to sin. Therefore our flesh after the resurrection will need no nourishment of food, as it will not be subject to deficiency from hunger, or weariness, or any other kind of weakness. But Adam's flesh before sin was created immortal in such a way that, helped by the supports of temporal nourishment, it existed free from death and pain, until, having been brought to that age which pleased the Creator through bodily growths; then having created much progeny of this kind, by the command of God, it would also partake of the tree of life, from which becoming perfectly immortal, it would no longer need the sustenance of bodily food. Thus, therefore, the flesh of the first humans is created immortal and incorruptible, so that they might retain the same immortality and incorruptibility through obedience to God's commandments; among which commandments was also this, that they should eat of the allowed trees of paradise, but refrain from the consumption of the forbidden one, preserving the gifts of immortality granted to them by the consumption of these, and in the touch of that find the ruin of death. Thus indeed our flesh will be incorruptible and immortal at the end; so that, like angelic splendour, it may remain always in the same state, unable to need bodily foods, since in the spiritual life there will be no need of them. For the fact that angels are read to have eaten with the patriarchs was done not out of need but out of kindness, so that by doing these things they might more sweetly adapt to the men to whom they appeared. The Lord also after the resurrection ate with the disciples, not because he needed nourishment but to show that he had indeed received true flesh after death.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron)
And it came to be so, that is, that man might rule over all that were created on land or in the waters, and that he might receive the faculty and power to eat from the fruits of the earth along with the birds of the sky and the creatures of the land.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 1:30 culminates the sixth day of creation by meticulously detailing God's benevolent and universal provision for all non-human life. This verse profoundly declares a comprehensive sustenance, portraying the original, pre-Fall harmony where every living creature—from the largest land beast to the smallest creeping thing and every fowl of the air—was sustained by the abundant vegetation of the earth, showcasing the Creator's meticulous and generous care for His entire cosmos.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Genesis 1:30 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is Merism, seen in the comprehensive list "every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth." This technique uses two or more contrasting parts to represent a totality, effectively communicating that God's provision extends to all forms of animal life, from the largest to the smallest, across all habitats. The repeated phrase "and it was so" functions as a form of Repetition or Refrain, which serves to emphasize the immediate and undeniable efficacy of God's spoken word. Each time it appears, it reaffirms God's absolute authority and the perfect execution of His divine will. The verse also exhibits a Declarative tone, characteristic of the entire creation narrative, as God issues decrees that instantly bring reality into being, underscoring His omnipotence and sovereign control over His creation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 1:30 offers profound insights into God's character and His original design for creation. It powerfully illustrates God's active, comprehensive, and benevolent care for all His creatures, demonstrating that He is not merely a Creator who initiates, but a meticulous Sustainer who provides for the needs of every living thing. This verse paints a vivid picture of the original harmony and peace within creation, where all creatures, including humans, shared a plant-based diet, signifying a world devoid of violence, predation, or the struggle for survival. This pre-Fall state of universal vegetarianism contrasts sharply with the post-Fall reality and offers a hopeful glimpse of the messianic peace that is yet to come. The recurring phrase "and it was so" further underscores the absolute authority and efficacy of God's spoken word, reinforcing His omnipotence and the unwavering certainty of His creative and sustaining decrees.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 1:30 invites believers to a deeper appreciation of God's boundless generosity and meticulous design evident throughout creation. Recognizing that God meticulously provides for every living creature, from the smallest insect to the largest beast, should inspire profound trust in His faithful provision for our own lives, reminding us that if He cares for the sparrows, He will surely care for His children. This verse also fosters a greater sense of stewardship and responsibility for the world He has entrusted to our care, urging us to participate in the preservation and flourishing of His creation. Furthermore, this glimpse of original harmony offers a profound hope for the future restoration of creation, when peace will once again reign supreme, transcending the brokenness introduced by sin and the dietary changes recorded in Genesis 9:3. It calls us to live in anticipation of that day, striving for peace and reconciliation in our present interactions with both humanity and the natural world.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "meat" in Genesis 1:30 imply animal flesh for all creatures?
Answer: No, the Hebrew word translated as "meat" is oklah (אֹכְלָה), which broadly means "food" or "sustenance." In the context of Genesis 1:29-30, it specifically refers to "every green herb," indicating a plant-based diet for both humans and all other living creatures in the original creation. This establishes a pre-Fall world where predation was not part of God's design, highlighting a state of universal peace and harmony.
What is the significance of the phrase "wherein there is life" in this verse?
Answer: The phrase "wherein there is life" translates the Hebrew nephesh chayyah (נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה), meaning "living soul" or "living creature." This emphasizes that God's provision is specifically for animate beings, distinguishing them from plant life. It highlights that these creatures possess a God-given vitality and are therefore recipients of His direct and comprehensive care, underscoring their inherent value and dignity in the Creator's eyes, as they are endowed with the breath of life.
How does Genesis 1:30 describe the original diet of animals?
Answer: Genesis 1:30 explicitly states that God gave "every green herb for meat" to all beasts of the earth, fowl of the air, and every creeping thing. This indicates that in the original, pre-Fall creation, all animals, including those that would later become carnivorous, were herbivorous. This detail paints a picture of universal peace and harmony, where violence and predation were absent from the created order, reflecting God's perfect and peaceful design for His world before the Fall.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Genesis 1:30 speaks of God's universal provision in the original creation, it finds its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning in Christ, the one through whom all things were made and are sustained. As the eternal Word of God, Jesus is the very source of all life and true sustenance, both physical and spiritual, as affirmed in Colossians 1:16-17. The Edenic harmony and perfect provision described in this verse, though tragically marred by sin and the Fall, are ultimately restored and surpassed through Christ's redemptive work. He is the one who reconciles all things to Himself, bringing about a new creation where peace will reign supreme, echoing the original intent of God's provision and foreshadowing the eschatological peace of His eternal kingdom. This future reality, where the lion will once again lie down with the lamb (Isaiah 11:6), points to Christ as the ultimate provider and the one who will fully restore creation to its intended state of perfect harmony and abundant life, making all things new (Revelation 21:5).