Genesis 9:3 kjv

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Genesis 9:3 nkjv

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.

Genesis 9:3 niv

Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

Genesis 9:3 esv

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.

Genesis 9:3 nlt

I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables.

Genesis 9 verses

Genesis 9 3 Meaning

God grants humanity universal permission to consume all living creatures for food, fundamentally altering the pre-Flood vegetarian diet. This act parallels His earlier provision of green plants, affirming meat as an equally valid divine gift and sustenance for humankind after the Great Flood. It marks a significant shift in the human-animal relationship and God's provision for a changed world.

Genesis 9 3 Context

Genesis 9:3 occurs immediately following the global deluge, marking a new beginning for humanity and the earth. Chapters 6-8 detail the pervasive corruption, God's sorrow, and the subsequent judgment of the Flood, followed by Noah's preservation. Chapter 8 concludes with Noah's burnt offering, God's gracious promise never to curse the ground again because of man, and a commitment to maintain the natural order (seasons, day/night). Chapter 9 begins with God blessing Noah and his sons, echoing the original creation mandate to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (Gen 9:1). It also establishes that the "fear and dread" of humanity will now rest upon all animals (Gen 9:2), indicating a new relationship. Genesis 9:3, therefore, builds directly on these new parameters, specifically granting dietary freedom that was not present in the original creation account, preparing humanity for life in a world irrevocably altered by sin and judgment.

Genesis 9 3 Word analysis

• Every: Hebrew kol (כֹּ֖ל). Signifies universality and totality. The grant is not partial but complete in its scope regarding types of creatures, establishing a broad permission.
• moving thing: Hebrew remes (רֶ֥מֶשׂ). Generally refers to creeping or swarming creatures. However, in this broader context with "that lives," and compared to Gen 1:30's more specific use for smaller creatures, it's understood here expansively as "any moving, living creature" fit for consumption, indicating all kinds of terrestrial and perhaps aquatic animals.
• that lives: Hebrew asher hu-chai (אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוּא־חַ֔י). Emphasizes the animate nature of the food source. This distinction implicitly sets the stage for the following prohibition in verse 4 regarding consuming blood, which is equated with life itself.
• shall be food: Hebrew yihyeh lakhem l'okhlah (יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לְאָכְלָ֑ה). This phrase clearly expresses divine permission and provision. It's a statement of God's direct authorization for a new dietary norm.
• for you: Hebrew lakhem (לָכֶ֖ם). Explicitly to Noah and his descendants, meaning all of humanity. This is a personal grant from God to man.
• And as I gave you: Hebrew k'yereq esev (כְּיֶ֣רֶק עֵ֔שֶׂב). The prefix k' (כְּ) means "as" or "like," making a direct comparison to the original vegetarian diet in Gen 1:29. It elevates animal food to the same status as plant food – both are God-given and good.
• the green plants: Hebrew yereq esev (יֶ֣רֶק עֵ֔שֶׂב). References the plant life previously granted as food (Gen 1:29), emphasizing the consistency of God as provider, even as the means of provision expands.
• I give you: Hebrew natatti lakhem (נָתַ֥תִּי לָכֶֽם). Reinforces the divine source of this new allowance. It is a gift, a gracious provision from God.
• everything: Hebrew kol (כֹּ֖ל). Repetition of "kol" (all, every) at the end, powerfully underscoring the completeness and universality of this dietary grant. It is an all-encompassing permission without initial limits within the category of living creatures, except those specified immediately thereafter concerning blood.

Word-Group Analysis

• "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you": This phrase marks the pivotal shift in humanity's diet from exclusively plant-based to including animal flesh. It signifies God's comprehensive provision for human survival in a changed world, acknowledging the likely scarcity of plant food or changed conditions post-Flood.
• "And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything": This critical comparison explicitly equates the consumption of animals with the original dietary provision of plants. It signifies that the new diet is not an exception or concession, but a legitimate, divine grant on par with the initial creation sustenance. This demonstrates God's consistent provision for humanity while adapting to a new global reality.

Genesis 9 3 Bonus section

• This grant of food comes immediately alongside God re-establishing humanity's rule over creation (Gen 9:1-2) but also sets the stage for the first post-Flood moral law concerning the sanctity of life (Gen 9:4-6), particularly in regard to not eating blood and the sacredness of human life. This shows a balanced view of liberty with responsibility.
• The phrase "every moving thing" contrasts sharply with later Mosaic Law's distinction, demonstrating a gradual unfolding of divine truth concerning dietary practices over different covenantal periods. It emphasizes God's sovereign right to determine human sustenance and rules.

Genesis 9 3 Commentary

Genesis 9:3 is a pivotal declaration of God's generous provision and His ongoing care for humanity after the cataclysmic Flood. Prior to the Flood, the created order was vegetarian, with both humans and animals consuming plants for sustenance (Gen 1:29-30). This verse marks a radical, divinely sanctioned change, expanding humanity's diet to include "every moving thing that lives." This permission likely addressed the realities of a post-Flood world, where global destruction could have significantly impacted plant growth and availability, making animal protein a vital component for survival.

The direct parallel drawn with "as I gave you the green plants" elevates animal meat to the status of a legitimate, good, and God-given food source, countering any notion that it is merely a second-best option. It affirms God's dominion over all creation and humanity's permitted dominion over it for sustenance. This broad, general permission in Genesis precedes the specific, nuanced dietary laws given under Moses (e.g., Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14), which would distinguish between "clean" and "unclean" animals. This indicates a progressive revelation of God's will and illustrates that while the foundational permission for meat-eating is universal, specific regulations might apply under particular covenants or dispensations. Ultimately, the New Testament confirms the abrogation of the Mosaic food laws, reiterating the principle that "all things are clean to the pure" (Titus 1:15) and that "God created" all foods "to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe" (1 Tim 4:3-5), harkening back to the fundamental principle established in Gen 9:3.