Genesis 8:17 kjv
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.
Genesis 8:17 nkjv
Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
Genesis 8:17 niv
Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you?the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground?so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it."
Genesis 8:17 esv
Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh ? birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth ? that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
Genesis 8:17 nlt
Release all the animals ? the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground ? so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth."
Genesis 8 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:22 | And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply… | Original command to sea creatures and birds to multiply |
| Gen 1:28 | And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth... | Original command to humanity to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth |
| Gen 6:19-20 | Of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive... | Pre-flood instruction to Noah regarding preserving animal life in the ark |
| Gen 7:3 | Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. | Purpose of bringing animals into the ark: to preserve their kind |
| Gen 9:1 | And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. | Post-flood blessing and command to Noah and sons, mirroring the original creation mandate and this verse |
| Gen 9:7 | And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. | Reinforcement of the mandate to Noah's descendants for repopulation |
| Gen 17:6 | And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. | God's promise of fruitfulness and multiplication to Abraham |
| Gen 28:3 | And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people. | Isaac blesses Jacob with the same divine blessing of fruitfulness |
| Gen 35:11 | And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee... | God reaffirms the fruitfulness blessing to Jacob (Israel) |
| Lev 26:9 | For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. | God's promise of blessing, including fruitfulness, for obedience to His covenant |
| Ps 8:6-8 | Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet... | Humanity's God-given dominion and stewardship over creation |
| Ps 104:24 | O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. | Acknowledgment of God's wise creation and the diversity of life on earth |
| Ps 107:38 | He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. | God's blessing causing increase and abundance |
| Ecc 1:4 | One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. | The enduring nature of the earth, fitting for sustained life |
| Isa 45:18 | For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens...he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. | God created the earth with the purpose of being inhabited |
| Hos 2:23 | And I will sow her unto me in the earth...and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy... | Prophetic language of God reseeding or replanting after judgment |
| Rom 1:20 | For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made... | God's nature is revealed through creation, including the diversity of life |
| Col 1:16 | For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible... | Christ's role in the creation of all things |
| Heb 11:7 | By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house... | Noah's obedience to God's commands regarding the ark and its purpose |
| Rev 21:1 | And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away... | Foreshadows future divine restoration and renewal |
Genesis 8 verses
Genesis 8 17 Meaning
Genesis 8:17 presents God's direct instruction to Noah following the receding of the floodwaters. It commands Noah to release all the animals from the ark so that they can breed prolifically, multiply, and once again fill the earth. This verse marks a divinely orchestrated new beginning, emphasizing God's plan for the repopulation and flourishing of life on earth after the universal judgment.
Genesis 8 17 Context
Genesis chapter 8 describes the progression of the flood's recession. After months afloat, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. Noah diligently monitored the earth's dryness by sending out a raven and then doves. Once the dove returned with an olive leaf, Noah knew that dry land was emerging. He then waited further until the earth was fully dried. It is at this critical juncture, where the earth is ready to support life again, that God gives this explicit command to Noah. This verse bridges the period of judgment and preservation with the new era of repopulation and covenant. Historically, it marks a post-diluvian reset, with life commencing anew under God’s direct command, laying the groundwork for a revitalized world.
Genesis 8 17 Word analysis
- Bring forth (הוֹצֵא - hotsē’): An imperative verb, "bring out" or "lead out." This is a direct, authoritative command from God, signifying Noah's active role in facilitating the release of the animals. It implies a purposeful and guided action, not merely opening a door.
- with thee (אִתְּךָ - itteka): "With you." This highlights Noah's immediate custody of the animals. They are currently with him in the ark, under his stewardship, before being released into the wider world.
- every living thing (כָּל־חַיּוֹת - kol-chayyah): Literally, "all living ones" or "all living creatures." This term emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's command, including all animal species that were preserved in the ark. It reflects God's care for every aspect of His creation.
- of all flesh (מִכָּל־בָּשָׂר - mikol-basar): "From all flesh." This reinforces the broad scope, denoting all kinds of animate beings with bodies. It's a general term encompassing terrestrial animal life, aligning with how the flood's scope was described.
- both fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing (הָעוֹף וְהַבְּהֵמָה וְכָל־הָרֶמֶשׂ - ha'of v'habehemah v'kol-haremes): These terms categorize the diverse forms of animal life. "Fowl" (winged creatures), "cattle" (domesticated or larger wild beasts, usually land-dwellers), and "creeping things" (small animals that crawl or slither). This specific enumeration underscores God's meticulous concern for biodiversity.
- that creepeth upon the earth (הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל־הָאָרֶץ - haromes al ha'arets): Specifies the habitat for the "creeping things" – on the dry ground. It re-emphasizes the appropriate conditions for their release.
- that they may breed abundantly (וְשָׁרְצוּ בָאָרֶץ - v'shartsu ba'arets): From the root sharatz, meaning "to teem, swarm, bring forth abundantly." This vivid verb describes rapid, prolific generation and overwhelming numbers. It conveys a picture of immediate and dense proliferation upon the earth.
- and be fruitful (וּפָרוּ - u'paru): From parah, "to be fruitful, bear fruit." This verb frequently appears in divine blessings of fertility and growth, highlighting success in reproduction and increase.
- and multiply (וְרָבוּ - v'rabu): From rabah, "to increase, multiply in number." Often paired with "be fruitful," this term signifies an exponential increase in population size, covering the earth.
- upon the earth (עַל־הָאָרֶץ - al ha'arets): Specifies the locale where the reproduction and multiplication are to occur—the land that has now been cleansed and restored.
Words-group Analysis
- "Bring forth with thee every living thing... of all flesh... that they may breed abundantly...": This sequence of phrases encapsulates God's strategic directive for repopulation. Noah is an instrumental agent in this grand restorative plan, tasked with releasing the preserved life, ensuring not just survival but thriving and vigorous reproduction.
- "both fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing...": This inclusive list demonstrates God's intent for a complete restoration of all animal life categories. It highlights the divine valuing of ecological balance and biodiversity in His created order.
- "that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth": This triple emphasis on multiplication – through sharatz (teeming abundance), parah (fruitful production), and rabah (numerical increase) – conveys the powerful and extensive nature of God's post-flood blessing. It represents a full reversal of the destructive judgment, initiating a period of overwhelming life. This mirrors God's original creation mandate, establishing a new beginning rooted in His faithful character.
Genesis 8 17 Bonus section
- The divine command for the animals to "be fruitful and multiply" (פָּרוּ וְרָבוּ - paru v'rabu) is the same language used for humans in Genesis 1:28 and repeatedly for Noah and his sons in Genesis 9. This underscores a foundational principle of life established by God – a divine blessing of fertility intended for all viable creation to replenish and flourish.
- This instruction comes before Noah sacrifices burnt offerings (Gen 8:20) and before God establishes the formal covenant (Gen 9:8-17). This sequence reveals God's priority for the re-establishment of life itself before even worship or formalized promises are detailed.
- The meticulous classification of "fowl, cattle, and creeping things" reflects the systematic order and diversity within God's creation, demonstrating that even after a global catastrophe, every kind is important in His restorative plan.
- The flood demonstrated God's judgment over a fallen creation, but this verse, in tandem with chapter 9, showcases His ultimate purpose as a God of life, restoration, and steadfast love. He cleanses, then re-establishes and re-blesses.
Genesis 8 17 Commentary
Genesis 8:17 is a pivotal verse, articulating God's deliberate transition from judgment to renewed creation. After the earth has been cleansed by the flood, God does not leave Noah to merely survive; He commands active participation in a grand restorative act. The repetition of terms related to reproduction—"breed abundantly," "be fruitful," and "multiply"—emphatically reiterates God's enduring purpose for life on earth, echoing His original creation blessings in Genesis 1. This command is a powerful declaration of God’s intention to restore His design, not abandoning creation despite human sin, but providing a new opportunity for life to flourish. It lays the groundwork for the Noahic covenant, confirming God's commitment to the continuity of creation and emphasizing humanity's ongoing stewardship responsibility over all living creatures. This divine mandate is not merely permission, but a call to active propagation, ensuring the world is refilled with diverse and abundant life according to God's sovereign will.