The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about animals being afraid of humans; it highlights a shift in the relationship between humanity and the animal kingdom after the Flood. While Adam initially had dominion based on love, Noah and his descendants now rule through a divinely instilled "fear and dread," a necessary consequence of humanity's fallen state, as they are given the animals for use.
The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Immediately after the Flood, God blesses Noah and his sons, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply to repopulate the earth. As part of this new beginning, God establishes the basis for humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom, granting them authority and dominion over all creatures, which includes their use for food. This divine decree also introduces an element of fear and dread from animals towards humans, a change from the pre-Flood era's relationship.
Before the Flood, Adam related to the animals with love and kindness. But after humanity's great rebellion and God's judgment, something shifted. What does Genesis 9:2 reveal about this new dynamic?
In the immediate aftermath of the flood, God establishes a new relationship between humanity and the animal kingdom. This is seen in the phrase "the fear of you and the dread of you."
Before the Fall
After the Fall and Flood
God's blessing on Noah and his sons in Genesis 9 includes more than just survival. What specific rights and responsibilities are granted here, and how do they connect to the animal kingdom?
Ask a follow-up
Genesis 9:2 grants humanity a twofold gift concerning the animal kingdom: dominion and provision.
Dominion Re-established
Provision for Humanity
Understand the original words
mora · Hebrew Noun
A state of being deeply intimidated or awestruck by someone's power; in this context, it refers to the God-ordained authority of humanity over the animal kingdom.
chittath · Hebrew Noun
A state of trembling or extreme agitation in the presence of someone; it emphasizes the heightened sense of awe or terror creatures feel toward humanity.
Genesis 9:2 marks a significant shift after the Flood. While earlier humanity ruled by love, the post-Flood era establishes dominion through a divinely ordained fear and dread in animals, a consequence of humanity's altered relationship with God and creation after sin.
c. 8500 BC
End of the Last Ice Age
Warming global temperatures lead to rising sea levels and significant geographical changes, marking the end of the Pleistocene epoch.
c. 3000 BC
Rise of Early Civilizations
Complex societies emerge in Mesopotamia and Egypt, characterized by agriculture, cities, and organized governance.
c. 2950 BC— this verse
Noahic Covenant Established
Following the Great Flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood. This covenant includes a new grant of dominion over the animals, marked by their fear and dread of humanity.
c. 2100 BC
Tower of Babel Incident
Humanity's attempt to build a tower to the heavens leads God to scatter people and confuse their languages, signifying a new phase of human dispersion.
c. 2000 BC
Abrahamic Covenant Begins
God calls Abraham, initiating a new covenant focused on a specific lineage through which redemption will come.
This passage directly echoes Genesis 9:2 by listing the dominion God has given humanity over the works of His hands, specifically mentioning beasts, birds, and fish, reinforcing the theme of human authority over creation.
Matthew 10:29This New Testament passage, while discussing God's care for even the smallest creatures, indirectly highlights the dominion granted to humans, as it notes that sparrows, which are 'fowls of the air,' are not forgotten by God. It implies a hierarchy where humans are of greater value than these creatures.
Colossians 1:16This verse speaks of all things being created through and for Christ, including 'thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.' While referring to spiritual realms, it connects to Genesis 9:2 by affirming the created order and the ultimate purpose of all creation, including the animal kingdom, being subject to a higher divine power.
1 Peter 3:20This passage references the flood, a context directly following Genesis 9:2, and speaks of a 'few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.' It connects by highlighting the preservation of humanity and the animal life within the ark during God's judgment, underscoring God's ongoing covenant with creation.
gillGenesis 9:2: "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."
And the fear or you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth,.... This is a renewal, at least in part, of the grant of dominion to Adam over all the creatures; these obeyed him cheerfully, and from love, but sinning, he in a good measure lost…
calvinGenesis 9:1-29: "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."
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.
Et timor vester et pavor vester erit super omnem bestiam terrae, et super omne volatile coeli, cum omnibus quae gradiuntur in terra, et omnibus pi…
This verse isn't just about animals being afraid of humans; it highlights a shift in the relationship between humanity and the animal kingdom after the Flood. While Adam initially had dominion based on love, Noah and his descendants now rule through a divinely instilled "fear and dread," a necessary consequence of humanity's fallen state, as they are given the animals for use.
Immediately after the Flood, God blesses Noah and his sons, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply to repopulate the earth. As part of this new beginning, God establishes the basis for humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom, granting them authority and dominion over all creatures, which includes their use for food. This divine decree also introduces an element of fear and dread from animals towards humans, a change from the pre-Flood era's relationship.
Immediately after the Flood, God blesses Noah and his sons, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply to repopulate the earth. As part of this new beginning, God establishes the basis for humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom, granting them authority and dominion over all creatures, which includes their use for food. This divine decree also introduces an element of fear and dread from animals towards humans, a change from the pre-Flood era's relationship.
"The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered." — This verse isn't just about animals being afraid of humans; it highlights a shift in the relationship between humanity and the animal kingdom after the Flood. While Adam initially had dominion based…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026