A New Beginning
Genesis 9:1–6 (NASB95)
1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2“The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given. 3“Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. 4“Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 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.
God blesses Noah and his sons with the command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. This blessing echoes the original creation blessing given to Adam and Eve, marking Noah’s family as the new humanity tasked with repopulating the earth. However, the blessing is adapted to a post-flood world. Unlike the original command to subdue the earth, the dominion given to humanity is now regulated. Animals will fear humans, reflecting a shift from the peaceful harmony of creation to a more cautious relationship.
Humans are now permitted to eat animals, a significant change from the original vegetarian diet. This concession acknowledges the fallen state of the world and human nature. Yet, God commands that no one eat meat with its lifeblood still in it, emphasizing the sacredness of life. Blood represents life itself and is reserved for God alone. This prohibition introduces a new ethical boundary that protects life and points to the holiness God requires.
The passage also affirms the value of human life created in God’s image. It establishes a principle of justice: whoever sheds human blood must have their blood shed in return. This divine law reflects God’s commitment to justice and the protection of life, contrasting with the violence that led to the flood.
The parallels to the creation account are clear. The blessing to multiply and fill the earth repeats God’s original command. Dominion over animals remains, but now with fear and regulation. The sanctity of life is emphasized through the prohibition of blood consumption and the call for justice. This section represents a new beginning, a reordering of creation under God’s sovereign rule after judgment.
The church must recognize that God’s blessing and call to stewardship continue despite human failure. We live in a broken world where violence and fear exist, but God’s order provides boundaries to protect life and promote justice. Believers are called to respect the sanctity of life and uphold justice in society. The command to fill the earth reminds us of our mission to be faithful stewards of creation and to live in obedience to God’s covenant.