Genesis 9:7

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

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

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

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

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

Commentary

Context

Genesis 9:7 is a pivotal verse in the biblical narrative, delivered by God to Noah and his sons immediately after the great flood. This command comes as part of the Noahic Covenant, a foundational agreement between God and all living creatures. It signifies a fresh start for humanity, with Noah's family representing the entirety of the human race. The verse directly reiterates and reinforces a divine mandate first given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, emphasizing God's enduring plan for the repopulation and flourishing of the earth.

Key Themes

  • Divine Mandate for Life: The primary message is God's explicit instruction for humanity to propagate. This command to "be fruitful, and multiply" is not merely a suggestion but a divine imperative, ensuring the continuation of life on earth after the cataclysmic flood. It underscores God's deep desire for a vibrant and flourishing creation.
  • Blessing and Restoration: This command functions as a profound blessing, signifying God's grace and His intent to restore and replenish the world through Noah's lineage. It demonstrates God's commitment to humanity's future despite past judgment.
  • Universal Scope: The phrase "bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein" highlights the global scope of this commission. Humanity is intended to spread out and fill the entire planet, establishing communities and extending God's presence across the renewed world.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words behind "be fruitful" (parah) and "multiply" (rabah) are rich in meaning. Parah conveys the idea of bearing fruit, being productive, and showing fertility, often associated with natural growth and abundance. Rabah means to become numerous, increase, or abound, implying extensive growth and expansion. Together, these terms express a comprehensive sense of flourishing, increasing in number, and filling the earth with life, aligning perfectly with God's design for humanity's presence.

Related Scriptures

This command strongly echoes God's initial blessing and instruction to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28, highlighting a consistent divine purpose for humanity across different epochs of biblical history. It also foreshadows later promises of numerous descendants given to patriarchs like Abraham, as seen in Genesis 17:6, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His covenant promises of fruitfulness and multiplication.

Practical Application

While Genesis 9:7 is fundamentally a literal command for procreation, its principles extend to broader applications for believers today:

  • Family and Generations: It reinforces the biblical importance of family, marriage, and raising children, contributing to the continuation of human society and the passing down of faith through generations.
  • Spiritual Fruitfulness: Beyond physical multiplication, Christians are called to bear spiritual fruit, manifesting the character of Christ (Galatians 5:22-23) and actively participating in the growth of God's kingdom. This includes sharing the Gospel message and making disciples.
  • Responsible Stewardship: The command to "bring forth abundantly in the earth" implies a responsibility to care for the creation God has entrusted to us. This includes wise stewardship of resources and ensuring a healthy environment for future generations, reflecting God's desire for abundance and order.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 1:28 (3 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.

  • Genesis 9:1 (3 votes)

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

  • Genesis 9:19 (2 votes)

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

  • Genesis 8:17 (2 votes)

    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.