King James Version

What Does Genesis 1:29 Mean?

Genesis 1:29 in the King James Version says “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree,... — study this verse from Genesis chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. bearing: Heb. seeding seed yielding: Heb. seeding seed

Genesis 1:29 · KJV


Context

27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. moveth: Heb. creepeth

29

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. bearing: Heb. seeding seed yielding: Heb. seeding seed

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. life: Heb. a living soul

31

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the ea... This verse is part of the creation account that establishes God's sovereign power and purposeful design. The structured pattern of the seven days reveals divine order, intentionality, and progressive development from formless void to a world prepared for human habitation.

The recurring phrases "And God said," "and it was so," "And God saw that it was good" create a liturgical rhythm emphasizing: (1) creation by divine decree, (2) immediate fulfillment of God's word, and (3) divine evaluation of creation's goodness. This pattern refutes both polytheistic chaos-and-conflict creation myths and modern materialistic chance-based origins.

Each stage builds toward the climax of human creation in God's image. The theological themes include divine transcendence and immanence, purposeful design, creation's inherent goodness, and humanity's unique role as God's image-bearers and stewards. The creation account provides the foundation for understanding work and rest (Sabbath), male and female relationships (marriage), human dominion (stewardship), and moral accountability to the Creator. These opening chapters establish the worldview framework for all subsequent biblical revelation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Genesis 1 stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern creation accounts like the Babylonian Enuma Elish, Egyptian creation myths, and Ugaritic texts. While these portrayed creation resulting from conflicts between deities or sexual generation of gods, Genesis presents a sovereign monotheistic God who creates effortlessly by divine decree. This would have been revolutionary to ancient readers accustomed to polytheistic cosmogonies.

The Hebrew text's literary structure (seven days, recurring formulas) suggests careful composition as theological proclamation rather than primitive mythology. Archaeological discoveries of creation tablets from Mesopotamia (2000-1500 BCE) reveal that Genesis addresses similar questions but provides radically different answers about the nature of God, humanity, and the cosmos. The absence of theogony (origin of gods) and theomachy (conflict between gods) distinguishes Genesis from its ancient Near Eastern context.

For Israelites emerging from Egyptian bondage or later facing Babylonian captivity, this truth that Yahweh created everything would have been profoundly liberating and countercultural. The gods of Egypt and Babylon were mere creations, not creators. Genesis 1 establishes that Israel's God alone is supreme, rendering pagan deities powerless and their worship futile.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. How does this passage challenge modern cultural assumptions about identity, purpose, or morality?
  3. How does understanding Christ as the ultimate fulfillment illuminate this passage's meaning?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 27

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֱלֹהִ֗ים2 of 27

And God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

הִנֵּה֩3 of 27

Behold

H2009

lo!

נָתַ֨תִּי4 of 27

I have given

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָכֶ֜ם5 of 27
H0
אֶת6 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל7 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

עֵ֣שֶׂב׀8 of 27

you every herb

H6212

grass (or any tender shoot)

זֹרֵ֣עַ9 of 27

bearing

H2232

to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify

זָ֑רַע10 of 27

seed

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

אֲשֶׁר֙11 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עַל12 of 27
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פְּנֵ֣י13 of 27

which is upon the face

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

כָל14 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָ֔רֶץ15 of 27

of all the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וְאֶת16 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל17 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

עֵ֖ץ18 of 27

and every tree

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

אֲשֶׁר19 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בּ֥וֹ20 of 27
H0
פְרִי21 of 27

in the which is the fruit

H6529

fruit (literally or figuratively)

עֵ֖ץ22 of 27

and every tree

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

זֹרֵ֣עַ23 of 27

bearing

H2232

to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify

זָ֑רַע24 of 27

seed

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

לָכֶ֥ם25 of 27
H0
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה26 of 27

to you it shall be

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לְאָכְלָֽה׃27 of 27

for meat

H402

food


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 1:29 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 1:29 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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