Genesis 9:2 The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand.

◄ Genesis 9:2 ►

New International Version
The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.

New Living Translation
All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand.

New American Standard Bible
The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every animal of the earth and on every bird of the sky; on everything that crawls on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea. They are handed over to you.

NASB 1995
“The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.

NASB 1977
“And the fear of you and the terror of you shall be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.

Amplified Bible
The fear and the terror of you shall be [instinctive] in every animal of the land and in every bird of the air; and together with everything that moves on the ground, and with all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hand.

Christian Standard Bible
The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority.

American Standard Version
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens; with all wherewith the ground teemeth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered.

Contemporary English Version
All animals, birds, reptiles, and fish will be afraid of you. I have placed them under your control,

English Revised Version
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; with all wherewith the ground teemeth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the wild animals and all the birds will fear you and be terrified of you. Every creature that crawls on the ground and all the fish in the sea have been put under your control.

Good News Translation
All the animals, birds, and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power.

International Standard Version
All the living creatures of the earth will be filled with fear and terror of you from now on, including all the creatures that fly in the sky, everything that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the ocean. They've been assigned to live under your dominion.

Majority Standard Bible
The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand.

NET Bible
Every living creature of the earth and every bird of the sky will be terrified of you. Everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea are under your authority.

New Heart English Bible
The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every wild animal of the earth, and on every tame animal of the earth, and on every flying creature of the sky. Everything that the ground teems with, and all the fish of the sea are delivered into your hand.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 on the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

World English Bible
The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and your fear and your dread is on every beast of the earth, and on every bird of the heavens, on all that creeps on the ground, and on all fishes of the sea—into your hand they have been given.

Young's Literal Translation
and your fear and your dread is on every beast of the earth, and on every fowl of the heavens, on all that creepeth on the ground, and on all fishes of the sea -- into your hand they have been given.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every living thing of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens, upon every thing which shall creep along the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand they were given.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And let the fear and dread of you be upon all the beasts of the earth, and upon all the fowls of the air, and all that move upon the earth: all the fishes of the sea are delivered into your hand.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And let the fear and trembling of you be upon all the animals of the earth, and upon all the birds of the air, along with all that moves across the earth. All the fish of the sea have been delivered into your hand.

New American Bible
Fear and dread of you shall come upon all the animals of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon all the creatures that move about on the ground and all the fishes of the sea; into your power they are delivered.

New Revised Standard Version
The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
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 moves upon the earth, and all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the fear of you and the trembling of you will be on every animal of the Earth, and upon every bird of Heaven, and upon everything that crawls the Earth and all fish of the sea; they are given up into your hands.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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, and upon all wherewith the ground teemeth, and upon all the fishes of the sea: into your hand are they delivered.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the dread and the fear of you shall be upon all the wild beasts of the earth, on all the birds of the sky, and on all things moving upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea, I have placed them under you power.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Covenant of the Rainbow
1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand. 3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Psalm 8:6-8
You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet: / all sheep and oxen, and even the beasts of the field, / the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

James 3:7
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

Job 5:22-23
You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth. / For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

Hosea 2:18
On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and battle in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.

Romans 8:20-22
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. / We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.

Leviticus 26:6
And I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to fear. I will rid the land of dangerous animals, and no sword will pass through your land.

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. / The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. / The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. ...

Deuteronomy 11:25
No man will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the fear and dread of you upon all the land, wherever you set foot, as He has promised you.

Joshua 2:9
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.

1 Samuel 17:46
This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

Ezekiel 34:25
I will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.

Daniel 6:22
My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

Mark 16:15
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. / So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acts 10:12
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.

Treasury of Scripture

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, and on every fowl of the air, on all that moves on the earth, and on all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

Genesis 1:28
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.

Genesis 2:19
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Genesis 35:5
And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

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Genesis 9

1. God blesses Noah and his sons, and grants them flesh for food.
4. Blood and murder are forbidden.
8. God's covenant, of which the rainbow was constituted a pledge.
18. Noah's family replenishes the world.
20. Noah plants a vineyard,
21. Is drunken, and mocked by his son;
25. Curses Canaan;
26. Blesses Shem;
27. Prays for Japheth, and dies.

Berean Study Bible

The fear and dread of you
This phrase signifies a divinely instituted authority and dominion given to humanity over the animal kingdom. The Hebrew words for "fear" (מוֹרָא, mora) and "dread" (חִתָּה, chittah) suggest a profound respect and awe that animals will have towards humans. This is a continuation of the dominion mandate given in Genesis 1:28, but now it includes an element of fear, possibly due to the post-flood changes in the relationship between humans and animals. This fear ensures a balance in creation, allowing humans to fulfill their role as stewards of the earth.

will fall on every living creature on the earth
The phrase "will fall" (תִּהְיֶה, tihyeh) indicates a future certainty, a divine decree that establishes a new order in the post-flood world. "Every living creature" (כָּל־חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ, kol-chayat ha'aretz) encompasses all terrestrial animals, emphasizing the comprehensive scope of this divine mandate. This reflects the historical context of a renewed creation where God reaffirms His covenant with Noah and his descendants, ensuring the stability and continuity of life on earth.

every bird of the air
The inclusion of "every bird" (כָּל־עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, kol-oph hashamayim) highlights the totality of creation under human authority. Birds, often seen as symbols of freedom and transcendence, are also subject to this divine order. This phrase underscores the interconnectedness of all life and the responsibility humans have to care for and manage God's creation wisely.

every creature that crawls on the ground
This phrase (כָּל־רֶמֶשׂ הָאֲדָמָה, kol-remes ha'adamah) refers to all creeping things, including insects and reptiles. The Hebrew word "remes" suggests movement close to the ground, indicating the breadth of human dominion. This comprehensive authority calls for a stewardship that respects even the smallest of creatures, recognizing their role in the ecological balance.

and all the fish of the sea
The phrase "all the fish" (כָּל־דְּגֵי הַיָּם, kol-degei hayam) extends human dominion to aquatic life. The sea, often seen as a symbol of chaos and mystery in ancient Near Eastern cultures, is also brought under human authority. This reflects the historical understanding of the sea as a realm needing order and management, reinforcing the human role as caretakers of all creation.

They are delivered into your hand
The phrase "delivered into your hand" (בְּיֶדְכֶם נִתָּנוּ, beyedchem nittanu) signifies a transfer of authority and responsibility. The Hebrew root "נתן" (natan) means to give or deliver, indicating a divine bestowal of power. This echoes the covenantal relationship between God and humanity, where humans are entrusted with the care and governance of the earth. It is a call to exercise this authority with wisdom, compassion, and a sense of accountability to God, the ultimate Creator and Sustainer.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - And the fear of you and the dread of you. Not simply of Noah and his sons, but of man in general. Shall be. Not for the first time, as it could not fail to be evoked by the sin of man during the previous generations, but, having already been developed, it was henceforth to be turned back upon the creature rather than directed against man. Upon. The verb to be is first construed with עַל, and afterwards with בְּ. The LXX. render both by ἐπὶ, though perhaps the latter should be taken as equivalent to ἔν, in which case the three clauses of the verse will express a gradation. The dread of man shall first overhang the beasts, then it shall enter into and take possession of them, and finally under its influence they shall fall into man's hand. Every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon (literally, in; vide supra. Murphy translates with) all that moveth upon the earth, and upon (literally, in) all the fishes of the sea. This does not imply that the animals may not sometimes rise against man and destroy him (cf. Exodus 8:6, 17, 24; Leviticus 26:22; 1 Kings 13:24, 25; 1 Kings 20:36; 2 Kings 2:24; Ezekiel 14:15; Acts 12:23, for instances in which the creatures were made ministers of Divine justice), but simply that the normal condition of the lower creatures will be one of instinctive dread of man, causing them rather to avoid than to seek his presence - a Statement sufficiently confirmed by the facts that wherever human civilization penetrates, there the dominion of the beasts retires; that even ferocious animals, such as lions, tigers, and other beasts of prey, unless provoked, usually flee from man rather than assail him. Into your hand are they delivered. Attested by

(1) man's actual dominion over such of the creatures as are either immediately needful for or helpful to him, such as the horse, the ox, the sheep, etc.; and

(2) by man's capability of taming and so reducing to subjection every kind of wild beast - lions, tigers, etc.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The fear
וּמוֹרַאֲכֶ֤ם (ū·mō·w·ra·’ă·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4172: Fear, a fearful thing, deed

and dread of you
וְחִתְּכֶם֙ (wə·ḥit·tə·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 2844: Crushed, afraid, terror

will fall
יִֽהְיֶ֔ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on
עַ֚ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

living creature
חַיַּ֣ת (ḥay·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

on the earth,
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

bird
ע֣וֹף (‘ō·wp̄)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5775: Flying creatures

of the sky,
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (haš·šā·mā·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

every
בְּכֹל֩ (bə·ḵōl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

creature that
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

crawls
תִּרְמֹ֧שׂ (tir·mōś)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7430: To glide swiftly, to crawl, move with short steps, to swarm

on the ground,
הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

and all
וּֽבְכָל־ (ū·ḇə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the fish
דְּגֵ֥י (də·ḡê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1709: A fish

of the sea.
הַיָּ֖ם (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

They are delivered
נִתָּֽנוּ׃ (nit·tā·nū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

into your hand.
בְּיֶדְכֶ֥ם (bə·yeḏ·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

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OT Law: Genesis 9:2 The fear of you and the dread (Gen. Ge Gn)