Genesis 9:7 kjv

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

Genesis 9:7 nkjv

And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it."

Genesis 9:7 niv

As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."

Genesis 9:7 esv

And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it."

Genesis 9:7 nlt

Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth."

Genesis 9 verses

Genesis 9 7 Meaning

Genesis 9:7 is a direct divine command to humanity, represented by Noah and his sons after the great flood, to propagate and fill the earth. It is a reissuing of the original creation mandate found in Genesis 1:28, underscoring God's continued design for human proliferation and global habitation despite the prior judgment. The verse emphasizes the necessity for humanity to recover numerically and expand across the entire world, signaling a new beginning for life on earth under God's continued blessing.

Genesis 9 7 Context

Genesis 9:7 follows the dramatic account of the global flood and God's covenant with Noah. Having cleansed the earth of its pervasive wickedness, God establishes a new beginning with Noah and his family, the sole human survivors. The immediate context, Gen 9:1-7, lays down the foundational principles for humanity's interaction with the renewed world and with each other. Verses 1-3 re-establish the dominion mandate over creation and expand dietary allowances to include meat. Verses 4-6 introduce laws regarding the sanctity of life, prohibiting the consumption of blood and establishing capital punishment for murder, reinforcing human dignity as created in God's image. Verse 7, by reiterating the command from 9:1 verbatim, emphasizes its paramount importance for the future of humanity. It functions as a foundational instruction for repopulating the earth, forming the basis for the various nations and peoples that would arise from Noah's lineage. This command underscores God's continuing faithfulness to His created order and His design for human life, despite humanity's fallen state.

Genesis 9 7 Word analysis

• And you: (וְאַתֶּם, v'attem) - The conjunction "And" connects this verse to the preceding divine pronouncements. "You" (אַתֶּם, attem) is plural and emphatic, specifically addressing Noah and his sons, representing all of post-Flood humanity. This direct address underscores the personal nature of the divine command to them.
• be fruitful: (פְּר֣וּ, p'ru) - This is a Qal imperative from the Hebrew verb פָּרָה (parah), meaning "to bear fruit, be productive, multiply offspring." It emphasizes the inherent capacity for biological productivity and the act of yielding descendants. It suggests an overflowing vitality.
• and multiply: (וּרְב֞וּ, u-r'vu) - This is a Qal imperative from the Hebrew verb רָבָה (rabah), meaning "to become many, increase, grow, multiply." It focuses on the quantitative increase in numbers, often used in conjunction with parah to express both quality (fruitfulness) and quantity (growth in number).
• swarm: (שִׁרְצ֣וּ, shir'tsu) - This is a Qal imperative from the Hebrew verb שָׁרַץ (sharats), meaning "to swarm, teem, abound with." This word is notably used elsewhere (e.g., Gen 1:20-21) to describe the abundant proliferation of fish and smaller creeping creatures. Its application here to humans is unusual and powerful, highlighting God's expectation for humanity to reproduce prolifically and rapidly, akin to the abundant life of the sea, completely filling the devastated earth. It conveys a sense of rapid, vigorous, and extensive reproduction.
• on the earth: (בָּאָ֤רֶץ, ba'aretz) - The preposition בְּ (be, "on" or "in") with "earth" (אָרֶץ, aretz) defines the scope and location of this commanded expansion. Humanity is not just to multiply, but to spread universally across the planet.
• and multiply in it: (וּרְבּוּ־בָ֑הּ, u-r'vu-vah) - This phrase is a reiteration and intensification of the "and multiply" command, linked specifically to the earth itself. The repetition emphasizes the divine will for comprehensive habitation, ensuring no part of the earth remains without human presence in due time. The suffix ה (-ah) refers back to the earth.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And you, be fruitful and multiply": This opening phrase directly confronts Noah and his sons with their primary divine mandate. It’s a foundational blessing and command for human existence, echoing and renewing God's original creative intent for humanity to thrive and proliferate. It is a promise of divine enablement for propagation after a time of destruction.
• "swarm on the earth and multiply in it": This second clause strengthens and broadens the scope of the command. The distinct word "swarm" indicates not just reproduction but vigorous, rapid, and widespread expansion, ensuring the entire earth would be filled. The repeated "multiply" emphasizes the ultimate goal of abundant habitation. This dual command emphasizes both internal vitality and external expansion.

Genesis 9 7 Bonus section

The deliberate repetition of the creation mandate in Genesis 9:1 and 9:7 immediately following the flood highlights its profound significance and non-negotiable nature. It functions not merely as permission but as a divine imperative for Noah's family, the new progenitor of all humanity, to embark on the task of refilling the emptied world. This mandate implies both the physical reproduction necessary for species survival and the inherent dignity given to humanity as God's image-bearers, entrusted with stewarding and populating the earth. The use of "swarm" (שָׁרַץ, sharats) which describes the abundance of sea creatures and other living things, elevates the expectation for human growth beyond mere sustenance to rapid and overwhelming increase, directly addressing the near extinction event that preceded it. This command lays the foundation for all future demographic history, migration, and the establishment of nations described later in Genesis, affirming God's continued involvement and providential care over humanity's destiny.

Genesis 9 7 Commentary

Genesis 9:7 is more than just a biological imperative; it's a theological statement about God's sustained blessing and plan for humanity post-judgment. After a global flood that wiped out nearly all life due to extreme wickedness, God renews His covenant and fundamental directive. By reiterating the "be fruitful and multiply" mandate, which dates back to creation (Gen 1:28), God signals that His original design for humanity's presence and propagation on earth remains unchanged. The inclusion of the unique word "swarm" emphasizes the urgency and thoroughness of this command, pointing to a teeming, abundant re-population. This command highlights divine grace—humanity, though fallen, is given a fresh start with a foundational purpose directly from God. It sets the stage for the growth of families into nations, ensuring the continued fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through chosen lines, ultimately leading to the Seed (Christ). Spiritually, it reflects the ongoing command for believers to be fruitful in their lives and for the church to grow and multiply as the Word of God spreads and transforms hearts, thereby "filling" the world with the knowledge of God.