Genesis 1:30

30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Genesis 1:30 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
English Standard Version (ESV)
30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.
New Living Translation (NLT)
30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
The Message Bible (MSG)
30 To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food." And there it was.
American Standard Version (ASV)
30 and to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, [I have given] every green herb for food: and it was so.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
30 I have given all green plants as food to every land animal, every bird in the sky, and every animal that crawls on the earth--every living, breathing animal." And so it was.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth-everything having the breath of life in it. [I have given] every green plant for food." And it was so.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
30 "I am giving every green plant to all of the land animals and the birds of the air for food. I am also giving the plants to all of the creatures that move on the ground. I am giving them to every living thing that breathes." And that's exactly what happened.

Genesis 1:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 1:30

And to every beast of the earth
Wild or tame, the cattle on a thousand hills; God took care and provided for these, being all his creatures, and designed to answer some end or other by their creation:

and to every fowl of the air;
that flies in it;

and to every creeping thing upon the earth;
even the meanest and lowest insect:

wherein there is life;
or "a living soul"; that has an animal life, which is to be supported by food:

[I have given] every green herb for meat;
the leaves for some, and seed for others; and here is no mention made of flesh; and perhaps those creatures which are now carnivorous were not so at their first creation:

and it was so;
every creature, both man and beast, had food suitable to their nature and appetite, and a sufficiency of it.

(From ( Romans 5:12 ) , it is certain that up until the fall no animal ate other animals, otherwise there would have been death before Adam's first sin, which is said to be the cause of death. Ed.)

Genesis 1:30 In-Context

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Genesis 2:7; Genesis 7:22
  • 2. Job 38:41; Psalms 78:25; Psalms 104:14,27; Psalms 111:5; Psalms 136:25; Psalms 145:15; Psalms 147:9
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.