Genesis 9:7

7 "As for you, ¹be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."

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 "Surely I will require your lifeblood ; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man.

6 "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

7 "As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,

9 "Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 9:1

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "Swarm in the earth"