And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares that all plants yielding seed and all trees with fruit are given for food. This isn't just a general permission to eat; it's a specific assignment of the entire plant kingdom, emphasizing the abundance and completeness of God's provision before any life was taken.
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes at the very end of God's creative work on the sixth day, right after He has formed all the animals. God is now giving humanity their instructions and provisions, showing them what they are to eat and establishing their role as stewards over the earth. This declaration sets the stage for the relationship between humanity, the created order, and their Creator before the Fall.
Imagine walking into a perfectly stocked pantry, with everything you could possibly need laid out before you. That's the picture God paints here. What does this 'blank check' from the Creator tell us about His heart?
God's very first word to humanity about food isn't a list of restrictions or a survival guide. It's a generous, abundant provision. Notice how broad the language is:
This wasn't just a minimal allowance; it was a complete allotment of the entire vegetable kingdom for human sustenance. It speaks to God's immediate care and His desire for humanity to thrive from the very beginning.
God didn't just give humans food; He established a specific relationship between humanity and the food He provided. What does this initial dietary assignment reveal about our place in creation?
This verse reveals a distinct positioning for humanity:
Ask a follow-up
This passage explicitly grants permission to eat meat after the flood, implying that before the flood (and before the Fall) the diet was restricted to plants, as stated in Genesis 1:29.
1 Timothy 4:3-4This New Testament passage speaks of certain foods being forbidden and others being created by God and to be received with thanksgiving, reinforcing the idea that God dictates what is proper for consumption and that His creations are good.
Psalm 104:14-15This psalm praises God for providing food from the earth for man and beast, directly paralleling the provision described in Genesis 1:29 and emphasizing God's role as the sustainer of all life.
Matthew 6:25-33Jesus teaches not to worry about what to eat or drink, pointing to God's care for the birds of the air and lilies of the field, and urging believers to seek His kingdom first, which aligns with the trust implied in God's provision for humanity in Genesis.
clarkeGenesis 1:29: "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."
I have given you every herb - for meat - It seems from this, says an eminent philosopher, that man was originally intended to live upon vegetables only; and as no change was made In the structure of men's bodies after the flood, it is not probable that any change was made in the ar…
calvinGenesis 1:1-31: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Terra autem erat informis et inanis; tenebraeque erant in superficie voraginis, et Spiritus Dei agitabat se in superficie aquarum.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Et dixit Deus, Sit lux. Et fuit lux.
And God saw the light, that it was good:…
God declares that all plants yielding seed and all trees with fruit are given for food. This isn't just a general permission to eat; it's a specific assignment of the entire plant kingdom, emphasizing the abundance and completeness of God's provision before any life was taken.
This verse comes at the very end of God's creative work on the sixth day, right after He has formed all the animals. God is now giving humanity their instructions and provisions, showing them what they are to eat and establishing their role as stewards over the earth. This declaration sets the stage for the relationship between humanity, the created order, and their Creator before the Fall.
This verse comes at the very end of God's creative work on the sixth day, right after He has formed all the animals. God is now giving humanity their instructions and provisions, showing them what they are to eat and establishing their role as stewards over the earth. This declaration sets the stage for the relationship between humanity, the created order, and their Creator before the Fall.
"And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food." — God declares that all plants yielding seed and all trees with fruit are given for food. This isn't just a general permission to eat; it's a specific assignment of the entire plant kingdom, emphas…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026