Genesis 9

Genesis 9:1

Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth

This is God's blessing. He told Noah and his family to produce more humans like themselves, so that there would be many of them. The word "multiply" explains how they are to be "fruitful." See how you translated these commands in Genesis 1:28.

Genesis 9:2

The fear of you and the dread of you will be upon every living thing ... and upon all the fish of the sea

"Every living thing ... and all the fish of the sea will be dreadfully afraid of you"

bird

This is a general term for things that fly.

upon everything that moves on the ground

This includes all types of small animals.

They are given into your hand

"They are given into your control" or "I have put them under your control"

Genesis 9:4

life ... blood

Translators may add a footnote such as this: "The blood is a symbol for life." They may also add a footnote that says something like this: "God was commanding people not to eat meat while the blood was still in it. They had to drain out the blood first."

Genesis 9:5

for your blood, the life that is in your blood

"if anyone causes your blood to pour out" or "if anyone spills your blood" or "if anyone kills you"

life

This refers to physical life.

I will require payment

"I will require anyone who kills you to pay"

From the hand of every animal I will require it

"I will require any animal that takes your life to pay"

From the hand of any man, that is, from the hand of one who has murdered his brother, I will require an accounting for the life of that man

"I will require anyone who takes the life of another person to pay"

From the hand of

"From that very man"

brother

Here "brother" is used as a general reference to relatives, such as members of the same tribe, clan, or people group.

Genesis 9:6

Whoever sheds man's blood, by man will his blood be shed

The shedding of blood is a metaphor for killing someone. This means that if a person murders someone, someone else must kill the murderer. However, "blood" is very significant in this passage and should be used in the translation if possible. Translate "sheds blood" with words that indicate a major loss of blood that causes death.

for it was in the image of God that he made man

"because God made people to be like him" or "because I made people in my own image"

Genesis 9:8

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him

"God continued speaking to Noah and his sons" or "Then God went on to say"

Genesis 9:9

As for me

This phrase is used in English to mark the change from God talking about what Noah and his sons must do to talking about what God would do.

confirm my covenant with you

"make a covenant between you and me."

Genesis 9:11

all flesh

Possible meanings for what "all flesh" represents are 1) all human beings or 2) all physical beings, including humans and animal.

Never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth

"There will never again be a flood that destroys the earth." There would be floods, but they would not destroy the whole earth.

Genesis 9:12

sign

This means a reminder of something that was promised.

covenant ... for all future generations

The covenant applies to Noah and his family and also to all generations that follow.

Genesis 9:14

It will come about when

"Whenever." It is something that would happen many times.

the rainbow is seen

"people and I see the rainbow"

rainbow

the colorful strip of light that appears in the rain when the sun shines from behind the viewer

Genesis 9:15

I will call to mind my covenant

"I will think about my covenant"

me and you

The word "you" is plural. God was speaking to Noah and Noah's sons.

every living creature of all flesh

"every kind of living being"

Genesis 9:16

between God and every living creature

"between me and every living creature"

every living creature of all flesh

"every kind of living being."

Genesis 9:17

Then God said to Noah

"God finished by saying to Noah" or "So God said to Noah"

Genesis 9:18

father

Ham was Canaan's true father.

Genesis 9:20

man of the soil

person who raises plants for food

Genesis 9:21

became drunk

"drank too much wine"

uncovered

The text does not specify how much of Noah's body was uncovered as he lay drunk. His sons' reactions show us that it was shameful.

Genesis 9:22

his father

This refers to Noah.

Genesis 9:24

awoke from his wine

He awoke after drinking wine and becoming drunk. He "became sober."

his youngest son

"his youngest son, Ham"

Genesis 9:25

Cursed be Canaan

"I curse Canaan" or "May bad things happen to Canaan"

Canaan

"Ham's son Canaan"

a servant to his brothers' servants

"the lowest servant of his brothers" or "the least important servant of his brothers"

his brothers

This could refer either to Canaan's brothers or to his relatives in general.

Genesis 9:26

May Yahweh, the God of Shem, be blessed

"Praised be Yahweh, the God of Shem," or "Yahweh, the God of Shem, is worthy of praise" or "I praise Yahweh, the God of Shem"

Genesis 9:27

May Canaan be his servant

"And let Canaan be Shem's servant." This includes Canaan's and Shem's descendants.

May God extend the territory of Japheth

Possible meanings are 1) "May God make Japheth's territory larger" or 2) "May God cause Japheth to have many descendants."

let him make his home in the tents of Shem

"let him leave peacefully with Shem." This includes Japheth's and Shem's descendants.

May Canaan be his servant

"Let Canaan be Japheth's servant." This includes Canaan's and Japheth's descendants.