Genesis 9:2

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth [upon] the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

And the fear of you {H4172} and the dread of you {H2844} shall be upon every beast {H2416} of the earth {H776}, and upon every fowl {H5775} of the air {H8064}, upon all that moveth {H7430} upon the earth {H127}, and upon all the fishes {H1709} of the sea {H3220}; into your hand {H3027} are they delivered {H5414}.

The fear and dread of you will be upon every wild animal, every bird in the air, every creature populating the ground, and all the fish in the sea; they have been handed over to you.

The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand.

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens; with all wherewith the ground teemeth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered.

Commentary

Genesis 9:2 is a pivotal verse in the post-Flood narrative, detailing God's re-establishment of humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom. After the devastating flood, God grants Noah and his descendants a renewed blessing, which includes a specific decree concerning the natural world. This verse explains how all creatures—beasts, fowl, and fish—would now perceive humans with an innate "fear" and "dread," ensuring human dominion over them for sustenance and order.

Context

This verse follows immediately after God's blessing upon Noah and his sons in Genesis 9:1, echoing the original mandate given to Adam in Genesis 1:28. It marks a significant shift in the relationship between humans and animals from the pre-Flood world. Before the Flood, humanity's diet was primarily vegetarian, and there was no explicit mention of animals fearing humans. Now, as part of the Noahic Covenant established after the Great Flood, God permits the consumption of meat (Genesis 9:3) and institutes a natural order where animals would instinctively avoid humans, thus facilitating this new arrangement and maintaining a balance of power.

Key Themes

  • Human Dominion and Authority: The verse powerfully affirms humanity's divinely appointed authority over all living creatures. This is not a dominion earned but a gift from God, designed to ensure human survival and control in the post-Flood world. This re-establishment of human authority over the animal kingdom is a recurring theme, also highlighted in Psalm 8:6-8.
  • Divine Ordination of Fear: The "fear" and "dread" instilled in animals are not merely natural instincts but a direct, supernatural decree from God. This ensures that humans, though physically weaker than many large animals, can maintain their position of authority and safely interact with and utilize animal resources.
  • Provision and Stewardship: By delivering animals "into your hand," God provides for humanity's needs, including food and resources. This provision comes with an implicit responsibility for responsible stewardship of creation, not reckless exploitation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "fear" (mora') and "dread" (ḥittat) emphasize a deep, instinctive terror or awe that animals would have for humans. This is more than just natural caution; it signifies a divinely imposed psychological barrier that separates humanity from the rest of the animal kingdom. The phrase "into your hand are they delivered" uses the Hebrew word natan, meaning "given" or "placed," reinforcing that this authority is a direct gift from God, not something humanity achieved on its own.

Practical Application

Genesis 9:2 reminds us of our unique place in creation as stewards under God. While we have been given dominion and the ability to utilize creation for our needs, this verse also implies a responsibility to care for and respect the animal kingdom. It highlights the divine order and provision that sustains life on Earth. Understanding this verse encourages a balanced perspective on human-animal relationships, recognizing both our authority and our ethical obligation to treat animals with care and compassion, acknowledging them as part of God's intricate design.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 8:4 (9 votes)

    What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

  • Psalms 8:8 (9 votes)

    The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, [and whatsoever] passeth through the paths of the seas.

  • James 3:7 (7 votes)

    For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

  • Genesis 1:28 (7 votes)

    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.

  • Ezekiel 34:25 (6 votes)

    And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

  • Job 5:22 (6 votes)

    At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

  • Job 5:23 (6 votes)

    For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.