Verse study - Genesis 1:28
This study considers Genesis 1:28 with a view to exploring the various words and phrases used.
Summary
The second phrase in Elohim's blessing does more than simply repeat the first one -
fill means more than simply
top up numerically, but rather has the idea of bringing to completion, an idea reinforced by the subsequent verb suggesting a directed, purposeful shaping of the world.
The vocabulary is in most cases very standard phrasing, but in two cases uses turns of phrase that are largely restricted to the Pentateuch.
The key phrases
This is the Qal plural imperative form of the verb pârâh,
bear fruit/be fruitful. It is related to the noun p
erîy,
fruit, and both words are used in both literal and figurative senses. Both the verb and noun are used quite extensively throughout the different portions of the Old Testament.
However, the combination here, p
erû ûr
ebû, is a characteristically Pentateuchal phrase, occurring just once outside these books. See the separate page "
A comparison of the vocabulary in the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants" for more details.
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This is the Qal plural imperative form of the verb râbab, meaning
be/become many/much, or
become great. Related words include the verbs
spread out or
expand, nouns
chief,
great one,
multitude, and related adjectives such as
abundant. They are all used quite extensively throughout the different portions of the Old Testament.
However, the combination here, p
erû ûr
ebû, is a characteristically Pentateuchal phrase, occurring just once outside these books. See the separate page "
A comparison of the vocabulary in the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants" for more details.
Return to the Hebrew passage
This is the Qal plural imperative form of the verb mâlê’. It frequently has the sense of simply
filling something (whether literally or figuratively). However, it also has the connotation of
filling something up,
accomplishing or
completing it (hence
fulfil in this rendering). Similarly, it can include the sense of
confirming or
satisfying a situation. Finally, it can suggest
being consecrated for a task, ie being
made fully ready and
officially installed for it. Related nouns include
fulness,
full produce (of a piece of land),
entire contents, the
setting of a jewel, or the
installation of a priest. A similar word is used in an architectual sense of
filled earthworks (eg the Millo at Jerusalem). These words are all used quite extensively throughout the different portions of the Old Testament.
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This is the Qal plural imperative form of the verb kâbash, with the additional feminine pronoun ending to refer the verb back to ’erets. It has an increasingly overtly aggressive meaning with later writings, moving from the idea of
tread down or
subdue in early books, through to
dominate or
bring into bondage sometimes in the prophetic writings, through to
assault in Esther. Related verbs suggest the idea of
kneading,
massaging, or
making a path as well as
forcing. The less aggressive and more creative sense of
bring into shape has been chosen here.
The noun for a
pottery or lime kiln is related, probably through the idea of forcibly reducing the ingredients. The verb form is not common, but is scattered through all parts of the Old Testament. The noun is only found in Genesis and Exodus, with other words used to indicate a furnace or crucible of various kinds in other books.
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This is the Qal plural imperative form of the verb râdâh,
have dominion,
rule or
dominate. It is related to verbs meaning
tread down,
prevail or
descend on, and a noun meaning
dominion. It is found scattered throughout all Old Testament books, but is unrelated to words relating to kingly rule or reign, viz. mâlakh or mâshal.
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The word for
fish can be found in both masculine and feminine forms, dâg and dâgâh. The phrase here,
fish of the sea, is found in numerous places through the Old Testament, again in both masculine (d
egêy hayyâm) and feminine (d
egath hayyâm, as here) forms.
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This is again a widely used phrase found throughout the Old Testament.
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The word used here to signify land animals, hârômeseth, is the plural participle Qal form of the verb râmas,
creep,
move lightly, or
move about. Its use is largely confined to the Pentateuch - ten times in Genesis, three in Leviticus and once in Deuteronomy - with only one use in each of Psalm 69, Psalm 104, and Ezekiel outside of these books. A related collective noun, remes,
creeping/moving things is also largely found in Genesis - ten times here with only six in all the remaining books. This noun typically refers specifically to creeping things in distinction from other kinds of life, only in Genesis 9 being used as a generic term for all animals.
There are other phrases used elsewhere to indicate animal life - for example kol-habbehêmâh ûkôl chayyath hassâdeh,
all domesticated animals and all creatures of the open country.
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