And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
GENESIS 9:2KJVWhat does Genesis 9:2 mean?
Genesis 9:2 says that all animals—on land, in the air, and in the sea—will now fear and dread humans, and that these creatures are placed under human authority. This verse marks a change after the flood, showing that people are given a new relationship with the animal world, one marked by dominance and the animals’ instinctive fear.
In Genesis 9:2, God is speaking to Noah and his sons right after they leave the ark, following the flood. God is setting out new rules for life on earth, explaining how humans and animals will relate from this point forward. The verse emphasizes that humans are now given a special responsibility and authority over all living creatures, which is different from the harmony described in earlier chapters.
The Hebrew behind Genesis 9:2
- "Beast" (חַיָּה, ḥayyāh): This word refers broadly to living creatures, especially animals of the land. Its use here covers all kinds of animals, not just wild ones.
- "Earth" (אֶרֶץ, ʾereṣ): This word means "land" or "earth," and it sets the scope—every animal on the whole land is included.
- "Hand" (יָד, yād): In Hebrew, "hand" often means power or control. Saying animals are delivered "into your hand" highlights the authority and responsibility given to humans.
- "Delivered" (נָתַן, nātan): This word means "to give" or "to place." Here, it stresses that God is the one actively giving humans this new role over animals.
Why Genesis 9:2 matters
- Genesis 9:2 clarifies that the fear animals have of humans is not accidental but part of God’s arrangement after the flood, marking a shift from the earlier relationship in Eden.
- The verse shows that human authority over animals is not just about use or consumption but also about responsibility, since the creatures are "delivered" into human hands by God.
- This verse connects to the wider passage where God sets out the terms of the new world after the flood, including the permission for humans to eat animals (Genesis 9:3), and frames the ongoing relationship between people and the rest of creation.