Genesis 1:29 kjv
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.
Genesis 1:29 nkjv
And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
Genesis 1:29 niv
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
Genesis 1:29 esv
And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
Genesis 1:29 nlt
Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.
Genesis 1 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:11-12 | And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed...". | Plants yielding seed are part of original creation. |
| Gen 1:28 | And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful... dominion.” | Dietary provision immediately follows the mandate. |
| Gen 1:31 | And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. | The diet is part of a "very good" creation. |
| Gen 2:9 | And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. | Emphasis on trees "good for food" in Eden. |
| Gen 2:16 | And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden...”. | Affirmation of the provided vegetarian diet in Eden. |
| Gen 3:18 | Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. | Shift to a more challenging food provision post-Fall. |
| Gen 9:3 | Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. As I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. | Permission to eat meat after the Flood, marking a change. |
| Deut 8:3 | He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna... that man does not live by bread alone. | God's continuous provision of sustenance. |
| Ps 8:6-8 | You have given him dominion over the works of your hands... sheep, cattle, birds, fish. | Humanity's dominion over creation, though not initially for food. |
| Ps 104:14-15 | You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth... | God provides plants for both humans and animals. |
| Ps 111:5 | He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. | God's enduring nature as provider. |
| Is 65:25 | "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together... dust shall be the serpent’s food." | Vision of renewed peace where animal diets are not predatory. |
| Ezek 47:12 | On the banks of the river, on both sides, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither... | Vision of abundant food in future paradise. |
| Joel 2:21-26 | "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice... the threshing floors shall be full of grain..." | God's blessing leading to abundant food and prosperity. |
| Matt 6:25-26 | "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat... Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap..." | Trust in God's provision for physical needs. |
| Luke 12:24 | Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap... and yet God feeds them. How much more value are you than birds! | Reiteration of God's care and provision. |
| Acts 14:17 | yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. | God's continued general provision for humanity. |
| Rom 14:2-3 | One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. | Discusses dietary choices and Christian liberty, acknowledging variety. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's promise to meet all needs, including food. |
| 1 Tim 4:3-4 | who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe... | God created foods to be received with thanksgiving, highlighting creation's goodness. |
| Rev 22:2 | On either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month... | Vision of renewed paradise with perennial food source. |
Genesis 1 verses
Genesis 1 29 Meaning
Genesis 1:29 reveals God's initial benevolent provision of food for humanity after creating them. It specifies a diet consisting solely of self-propagating vegetation: every seed-bearing plant and every tree yielding fruit with seed. This declaration establishes a foundational understanding of sustenance in the pristine, pre-Fall world, highlighting God as the gracious provider and outlining the original created order for human consumption.
Genesis 1 29 Context
Genesis 1:29 is situated on the sixth day of creation, immediately following God's creation of humanity (male and female) and His blessing and command for them to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion." This verse, therefore, directly addresses humanity's sustenance within their God-given role. It defines the initial perfect provision for life, underscoring the benevolence of the Creator and the abundance of a "very good" creation. The context contrasts sharply with ancient Near Eastern polytheistic myths, where gods were often dependent on humans for food or acted capriciously; here, God benevolently provides for humanity, establishing a relationship of gracious giving rather than human service to satisfy divine hunger.
Genesis 1 29 Word analysis
- And God said (wa-yo'mer 'Elohim): This phrase signals a divine decree, a powerful and authoritative declaration. The Hebrew 'Elohim denotes the supreme, singular God of creation, majestic and powerful, whose word brings reality into being and establishes order.
- "Behold, I have given you" (Hinnēh nātattī lāchem): Hinnēh is an interjection used to draw immediate attention, signifying the importance and solemnity of the following declaration. Nātattī (I have given) is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed, gracious, and unilateral act by God. The plural "you" (lāchem) refers to humankind (male and female) created in Genesis 1:27. This highlights God as the gracious, benevolent Giver.
- "every plant yielding seed" (kol-‘ēśeḇ zēra‘ zôrea‘): Kol means "all" or "every," emphasizing the comprehensiveness of the provision. ‘Ēśeḇ refers to green vegetation, herbs, or grasses. Zēra‘ means "seed," and zôrea‘ means "sowing" or "yielding." This phrase precisely defines vegetation that perpetuates itself through seeds, indicating a sustainable food source.
- "that is on the face of all the earth" (‘al-pĕnê ḵol-hā’āreṣ): This signifies the universal abundance and accessibility of this provision across the entire planet, ensuring that sustenance is readily available wherever humans are to inhabit.
- "and every tree" (wĕḵol-hā‘ēṣ): Broadens the scope beyond smaller plants to include larger arboreal sources of food. ‘Ēṣ refers to trees.
- "with seed in its fruit" (‘aśer-bô perî-zāra‘): Specifies fruit-bearing trees where the "seed" (zāra‘) is contained within the "fruit" (perî). This reiterates the self-propagating nature of the intended diet.
- "You shall have them for food" (lāchem yihiyye lemād-’oḵlâ): A direct and clear purpose statement. Lāchem ("to you" or "for you") reinforces it as a provision for humanity. Yihiyye is "it shall be," establishing a divine decree for their sustenance. Le-’oḵlâ means "for eating" or "for food," leaving no ambiguity about its intended use.
Words-group analysis:
- "And God said, 'Behold, I have given you... You shall have them for food'": This passage structure reveals a divine decree outlining a gracious provision. The action of "giving" immediately by God sets the tone for humanity's relationship with creation – one of receiving a gift from the Creator.
- "every plant yielding seed... and every tree with seed in its fruit": This group precisely defines the permitted diet. It points to a completely plant-based diet, highlighting self-replenishing natural food sources. The repetition of "seed" underscores the inherent design of creation for sustainable growth and reproduction. This initial command does not include animal consumption, suggesting a pre-Fall world devoid of violence for sustenance.
Genesis 1 29 Bonus section
The pre-Fall diet outlined in Gen 1:29 is significant in several ways. Firstly, it indicates a pristine ecosystem where life was sustained without predation or death for food, contributing to the "very good" nature of creation (Gen 1:31). This establishes an ideal of harmonious existence that resonates with prophecies of future peace where lion eats straw like an ox (Is 11:7). Secondly, it highlights God's sovereignty as the ultimate Provider, not merely a distant creator, but one actively sustaining His creation. Thirdly, it underscores a stewardship principle; humanity is to utilize the abundant provisions of the earth, acknowledging them as a gift from God. This diet, along with the dominion mandate of Gen 1:28, forms the core of humanity's initial interaction with creation. While dietary practices evolved through biblical history, Gen 1:29 serves as a theological baseline for understanding divine intention for life and provision in a perfect world.
Genesis 1 29 Commentary
Genesis 1:29 is a pivotal statement on God's foundational provision for humanity, establishing the original diet as entirely vegetarian. This generous act by God signifies His benevolence and foresight, ensuring the sustenance of humankind from the very beginning. The emphasis on "seed-bearing" plants and "fruit with seed" underscores the self-renewing, abundant, and sustainable nature of God's created order. This initial dietary command suggests a world of perfect peace and harmony where neither human nor animal life involved consumption of one another, a stark contrast to the conditions after the Fall (Gen 3) and particularly after the Flood when meat consumption was permitted (Gen 9:3). It reveals God's intent for humans to thrive through the goodness of creation directly provided by Him, emphasizing humanity's role as receivers of His grace and stewards of a life-sustaining earth.