Genesis 9:7

7 But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it."^[a]

Genesis 9:7 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 9:7

And you, be ye fruitful and multiply
Instead of taking away the lives of men, the great concern should be to multiply them; and this indeed is one reason of the above law, to prevent the decrease and ruin of mankind; and which was peculiarly needful, when there were so few men in the world as only four, and therefore it is repeated in stronger terms:

bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein;
that the whole earth might be overspread with men, and repeopled sufficiently, as it was by the sons of Noah, see ( Genesis 9:19 ) ( 10:32 ) .

Genesis 9:7 In-Context

5 I will require the life of every animal and every man for your life and your blood. I will require the life of each man's brother for a man's life.

6 Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image.

7 But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it."

8 Then God said to Noah and his sons with him,

9 "Understand that I am confirming My covenant with you and your descendants after you,

Footnotes

• [a] Gn 1:28