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.
And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Have children and increase in number, and fill the earth and take care of it. Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and every living creature that moves on the earth.'
God is giving humans His blessing and the responsibility to populate the earth and care for all living things as His representatives.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes immediately after God created humans in His image, both male and female. It represents the first divine mandate given to humanity at the very beginning of creation. In ancient Near Eastern culture, being given dominion meant being appointed as caretakers and stewards, similar to how a king would appoint governors to manage his territory.
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