Genesis 1:30

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And to every beast {H2416} of the earth {H776}, and to every fowl {H5775} of the air {H8064}, and to every thing that creepeth {H7430} upon the earth {H776}, wherein there is life {H2416}{H5315}, I have given every green {H3418} herb {H6212} for meat {H402}: 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.

Commentary

### 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
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 1:30 serves as the concluding statement regarding divine provision on the sixth day of creation, immediately following the creation of land animals and humanity. Having established humanity's dominion and plant-based diet in [Genesis 1:29](/genesis/1-29 "God's Provision for Humanity"), God now extends this same generous provision to all other animate beings. This verse completes the picture of a fully provisioned and harmonious world, setting the stage for the climactic declaration in [Genesis 1:31](/genesis/1-31 "The "Very Good" Creation") that all God had made was "very good." It underscores the interconnectedness of creation, where all life forms are sustained by the same divine hand, before the introduction of sin fundamentally altered these relationships.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, creation accounts often depicted a struggle among deities or a world created for the benefit of the gods, with humanity serving as their laborers. Genesis, in stark contrast, presents a singular, sovereign God who creates by divine fiat, not out of necessity or conflict, but out of benevolent purpose. The emphasis on universal provision for all creatures, including those deemed "lesser" by human standards, highlights God's comprehensive care and challenges anthropocentric views of creation prevalent in other cultures. The concept of a universal vegetarian diet for all creatures (both human and animal) in the original creation distinguishes the biblical narrative from later post-Flood dietary changes found in [Genesis 9:3](/genesis/9-3 "Post-Flood Dietary Changes") and paints a unique picture of primeval peace and order, a stark departure from the often violent and chaotic cosmogonies of surrounding cultures.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "The Creation Account"): **Divine Providence and Sustenance**, demonstrating that God is not merely a Creator but also an active Sustainer who meticulously provides for the needs of all His creatures, ensuring their flourishing. It reinforces the theme of **Original Harmony and Peace**, depicting a world where predation and violence were absent, and all life coexisted in a state of universal vegetarianism, a foundational truth about God's original design for creation. Furthermore, the phrase "and it was so" reiterates the **Sovereignty and Efficacy of God's Word**, emphasizing that God's declarations are not mere suggestions but powerful, creative decrees that bring reality into being and maintain its order, reflecting His omnipotence and unwavering authority over all creation, as seen throughout the entire [creation narrative](/genesis/1 "The Genesis Creation Narrative").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **chay (Hebrew, _chay'_):** This word, translated as "life" or "living," derives from a root meaning "to live" or "to be alive." In Genesis 1:30, it refers to the inherent vitality and animation of all the creatures—beasts, fowl, and creeping things—to whom God provides sustenance. It signifies that these are not inanimate objects but beings endowed with God-given life, making them recipients of His direct and comprehensive care. The term underscores the dynamic, breathing nature of the animal kingdom, distinguishing them from the plant life that serves as their food.
* **yereq (Hebrew, _yereq'_):** Translated as "green herb," this term specifically denotes the verdant, often yellowish-green vegetation or tender shoots. It emphasizes the freshness and abundance of the plant life designated as food. The choice of "green herb" signifies a readily available, widespread, and nourishing source of sustenance, reflecting God's generous and complete provision for the dietary needs of all creatures in the original, pre-Fall world.
* **ʼoklâh (Hebrew, _ʼoklâh'_):** This feminine noun, translated as "meat" in the KJV, broadly means "food," "sustenance," or "that which is eaten." Crucially, in the context of Genesis 1:30, it refers specifically to "every green herb." This clarifies that the original diet for all creatures was plant-based, not animal flesh. The term highlights the purpose of the green herb as nourishment, underscoring God's intentional design for a peaceful, non-predatory ecosystem at creation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth":** This comprehensive enumeration highlights the universal scope of God's provision. It employs a **merism**, a literary device where two contrasting parts represent the whole, encompassing all categories of animate life—from the largest land mammals to birds flying in the sky and the smallest creatures that move along the ground. This demonstrates God's meticulous attention to detail and His sovereign oversight of the entire created order, ensuring that no creature is overlooked in His divine economy.
* **"wherein [there is] life":** This crucial qualifier, translating the Hebrew _nephesh chayyah_ (living soul/creature), clarifies that the provision is specifically for animate beings, distinguishing them from the plant life that serves as their sustenance. It emphasizes the inherent vitality and God-given animation of all creatures, making them recipients of divine care and marking them as distinct from inanimate objects. This phrase underscores the value God places on all living beings.
* **"[I have given] every green herb for meat":** This phrase reveals the nature of God's original provision. The divine initiative, "I have given," underscores God's generosity and active role as Sustainer. "Every green herb" specifies the universal plant-based diet for all creatures. The word "meat" translates the Hebrew _oklah_, meaning "food" or "sustenance," not animal flesh. This establishes a foundational truth about the pre-Fall world: it was a realm of perfect peace, where even creatures that would later become predators were herbivorous, reflecting God's original design for a non-violent creation.
* **"and it was so":** This concluding phrase, a recurring motif throughout the creation account, signifies the immediate and effective realization of God's decree. It attests to the power and infallibility of the divine Word. What God declares immediately comes into being and operates according to His perfect will, solidifying the reality of His universal provision and the harmonious nature of His original creation. This phrase underscores God's absolute authority and the certainty of His creative and sustaining commands.

#### 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](/genesis/1 "The Genesis Creation Account"), 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.

* [Psalm 104:27-28](/psalms/104-27-28 "God's Provision for All Creatures")
* [Isaiah 11:6-9](/isaiah/11-6-9 "The Peaceable Kingdom Prophecy")
* [Matthew 6:26](/matthew/6-26 "God Feeds the Birds")

### 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](/genesis/9-3 "Dietary Changes After the Flood"). 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
* **How does God's meticulous provision for all creatures in Genesis 1:30 deepen your trust in His provision for your own life?**
* **What does the original, pre-Fall harmony described in this verse teach us about God's ideal for creation, and how might this inform our view of environmental stewardship today?**
* **In what ways can we, as believers, reflect God's comprehensive care for all living things in our daily lives and actions?**
* **How does the concept of a "very good" creation, culminating in God's provision for all life, shape your understanding of God's character and His ongoing relationship with the world?**

### 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](/genesis/1-29-30 "God's Provision for Humans and Animals"), 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](/colossians/1-16-17 "Christ as Creator and Sustainer"). 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](/isaiah/11-6 "The Peaceable Kingdom")), 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](/revelation/21-5 "Behold, I Am Making All Things New")).

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

Psalms 104:14

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

Psalms 147:9

He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which cry.

Psalms 145:15

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Psalms 145:16

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Job 38:39

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

Job 38:41

Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Job 40:15

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