Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” New Living Translation Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” English Standard Version And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” Berean Standard Bible Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” Berean Literal Bible And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the bird multiply in the earth.” King James Bible And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. New King James Version And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” New American Standard Bible God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” NASB 1995 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” NASB 1977 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” Legacy Standard Bible Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” Amplified Bible And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” Berean Annotated Bible Then God {Elohim} blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. Christian Standard Bible God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So God blessed them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” American Standard Version And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. Contemporary English Version Then he gave the living creatures his blessing--he told the ocean creatures to increase and live everywhere in the ocean and the birds to increase everywhere on earth. English Revised Version And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. GOD'S WORD® Translation God blessed them and said, "Be fertile, increase in number, fill the sea, and let there be many birds on the earth." Good News Translation He blessed them all and told the creatures that live in the water to reproduce and to fill the sea, and he told the birds to increase in number. International Standard Version God blessed them by saying, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the oceans. Let the birds multiply throughout the earth!" NET Bible God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth." New Heart English Bible And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the flying creatures multiply on the earth." Webster's Bible Translation And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” World English Bible God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd God blesses them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the bird multiply in the earth”: Berean Literal Bible And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the bird multiply in the earth.” Young's Literal Translation And God blesseth them, saying, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and the fowl let multiply in the earth:' Smith's Literal Translation And God will praise them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and birds shall multiply in the earth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied upon the earth. Catholic Public Domain Version And he blessed them, saying: “Increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea. And let the birds be multiplied above the land.” New American Bible and God blessed them, saying: Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth. New Revised Standard Version God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply on the earth. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters that are in the Seas, and the bird will increase in the earth.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And God blessed them, saying: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And God blessed them saying, Increase and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let the creatures that fly be multiplied on the earth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Fifth Day…21So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.… Cross References Then God blessed them Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Psalm 67:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah Psalm 115:15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. and said, “Be fruitful and multiply Genesis 9:7 But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out across the earth and multiply upon it.” Genesis 28:3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples. Exodus 1:7 but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. and fill the waters of the seas, Psalm 104:25-26 Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. / There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there. Ezekiel 47:9-10 Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish. / Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths, and let birds multiply on the earth.” Genesis 8:17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, and everything that crawls upon the ground—so that they can spread out over the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon it.” Genesis 7:3 and seven pairs of every kind of bird of the air, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of all the earth. Psalm 148:10 wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds, Genesis 8:17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, and everything that crawls upon the ground—so that they can spread out over the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon it.” Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Genesis 9:7 But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out across the earth and multiply upon it.” Psalm 104:24-30 How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. / Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. / There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there. … Treasury of Scripture And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. Genesis 1:28 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 8:17 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 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Jump to Previous Birds Blessed Blesseth Blessing Earth Fertile Fill Fowl Fruitful Full Increase Increased Making Multiply Seas Water WatersJump to Next Birds Blessed Blesseth Blessing Earth Fertile Fill Fowl Fruitful Full Increase Increased Making Multiply Seas Water WatersGenesis 1 1. God creates heaven and earth;3. the light; 6. the firmament; 9. separates the dry land; 14. forms the sun, moon, and stars; 20. fishes and fowls; 24. cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things; 26. creates man in his own image, blesses him; 29. grants the fruits of the earth for food. Then God blessed them This phrase indicates the divine favor and empowerment given by God to His creation. The concept of blessing in the Bible often involves the granting of life, prosperity, and success. In the context of Genesis, this blessing is foundational, setting the stage for the flourishing of life on earth. The act of blessing is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, seen in God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3) and the blessings pronounced by Jesus in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas and let birds multiply on the earth.” Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe Creator who blesses His creation, demonstrating His authority and benevolence. 2. Creatures of the Sea The marine life created by God, which He commands to be fruitful and multiply. 3. Birds The avian creatures that God also commands to multiply on the earth. 4. The Seas The vast bodies of water that God fills with marine life. 5. The Earth The land where birds are to multiply, showcasing the diversity of God's creation. Teaching Points God's Blessing as EmpowermentGod's blessing is not just a wish but an empowerment for His creation to fulfill its purpose. We, too, are empowered by God's blessings to fulfill our God-given purposes. The Importance of Multiplication The command to be fruitful and multiply is foundational to God's design for life. In our lives, this can translate to spiritual multiplication—sharing our faith and nurturing others in their spiritual growth. Stewardship of Creation As God commands His creation to multiply, we are reminded of our role as stewards of the earth, responsible for caring for and preserving the environment. God's Provision and Care Just as God provides for the creatures of the sea and the birds of the air, He provides for us. Trusting in His provision is a key aspect of our faith journey. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 1:22?2. How does Genesis 1:22 demonstrate God's blessing and purpose for creation's multiplication? 3. What does "be fruitful and multiply" reveal about God's design for life? 4. How can we apply the principle of fruitfulness in our daily lives? 5. What other scriptures emphasize God's command to multiply and fill the earth? 6. How does understanding Genesis 1:22 enhance our appreciation of God's creative power? 7. How does Genesis 1:22 align with scientific understanding of species reproduction and multiplication? 8. What theological significance does God's blessing in Genesis 1:22 hold for creation? 9. How does Genesis 1:22 reflect God's intention for biodiversity? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 1? 11. What does the Bible say about blessing and cursing? 12. What does the Bible say about blessing and cursing? 13. What characteristics define living organisms? 14. Were birds created from water or from the ground? (Genesis 1:20-21 vs. Genesis 2:19) What Does Genesis 1:22 Mean Then God blessed themGod’s first spoken blessing lands on the living creatures He has just formed—every fish, whale, dolphin, and seabird (Genesis 1:21). Picture the Creator leaning in with favor, not merely permitting life but empowering it. Throughout Scripture, blessing always carries a tangible effect—look later at Genesis 1:28, where the same language propels humanity forward, and Genesis 9:1, where it restarts creation after the flood. Psalm 104:24-28 echoes this sustaining favor as God “gives them their food in season.” and said The blessing is delivered through God’s spoken word. In Genesis, every creative act flows from “God said” (Genesis 1:3, 1:6, 1:9). His voice is the engine of existence (Psalm 33:6). Hebrews 11:3 reminds us that “the universe was formed at God’s command.” Here, the words do more than communicate; they activate life’s capacity to multiply. Be fruitful and multiply This concise charge is both permission and mandate. • Fruitfulness—producing offspring—means each species continues as God originally designed. • Multiplication—expanding numbers—secures the stability of ecosystems. The same two verbs reappear with Noah (Genesis 8:17; 9:7) and again with Abraham’s line (Genesis 17:2), underscoring God’s ongoing plan to fill His world with life. and fill the waters of the seas The oceans, vast and dynamic, are divinely earmarked to teem with creatures (Psalm 104:25). God’s instruction ensures that every niche—coral reef, deep trench, rolling tide—will pulsate with created wonder. Isaiah 45:18 affirms that He “formed the earth… to be inhabited,” and that includes the watery realms. and let birds multiply on the earth While the waters are to be filled, the sky and land are to be enlivened by winged creatures. From soaring eagles to tiny sparrows, birds testify daily to God’s provision (Matthew 6:26) and ownership (Psalm 50:11). Their multiplication adds song, color, and motion to the planet, reflecting the Creator’s delight in variety. summary Genesis 1:22 records God’s first explicit blessing, actively empowering sea life and birds to reproduce and populate their respective domains. The verse showcases His favor, His authoritative word, and His purpose that the whole earth—oceans, skies, and land—would overflow with living testimony to His creative greatness. (22) Be fruitful, and multiply.--This blessing shows that the earth was replenished with animal life from a limited number of progenitors, and probably from a small number of centres, both for the flora and for the fauna.Verse 22. - And God blessed them. To bless is to wish well to (Genesis 27:4; Numbers 6:23). In the case of God blessing inanimate things, it signifies to make them to prosper and be abundant (Exodus 23:25; Job 1:10; Psalm 65:11). The nature of the blessing pronounced upon the animal creation had reference to their propagation and increase. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. The paronomastic combination, be fruitful and multiply, became a regular formula of blessing (cf. Genesis 24:60; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 48:4; Psalm 128:3, 4). The Divine benediction was not simply a wish; but, adds Calvin, "by the bare intimation of his purpose he effects what men seek by entreaty." Nor was it meaningless that the words of benediction were addressed to the creatures; it was designed to teach that the "force of the Divine word was not meant to be transient, but, being infused into their natures, to take root and constantly bear fruit" (Calvin).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative blessed וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ (way·ḇā·reḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse them אֹתָ֛ם (’ō·ṯām) Direct object marker | third person masculine plural Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case [and] said, לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say “Be fruitful פְּר֣וּ (pə·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 6509: To bear fruit, be fruitful and multiply וּרְב֗וּ (ū·rə·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great and fill וּמִלְא֤וּ (ū·mil·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of the waters הַמַּ֙יִם֙ (ham·ma·yim) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen of the seas, בַּיַּמִּ֔ים (bay·yam·mîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin and let birds וְהָע֖וֹף (wə·hā·‘ō·wp̄) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5775: Flying creatures multiply יִ֥רֶב (yi·reḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great on the earth.” בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (bā·’ā·reṣ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Links Genesis 1:22 NIVGenesis 1:22 NLT Genesis 1:22 ESV Genesis 1:22 NASB Genesis 1:22 KJV Genesis 1:22 BibleApps.com Genesis 1:22 Biblia Paralela Genesis 1:22 Chinese Bible Genesis 1:22 French Bible Genesis 1:22 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 1:22 God blessed them saying Be fruitful (Gen. Ge Gn) |
    |