The term "creepeth" is an archaic English word found in the King James Version of the Bible, often used to describe creatures that move along the ground. In the Berean Standard Bible , this term is typically translated as "crawls" or "moves along the ground." The word is primarily associated with the creation narrative in the Book of Genesis and other passages that describe the natural world and its inhabitants.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 1:24-25 : In the account of creation, God commands the earth to bring forth living creatures, including those that "creepeth." The BSB translates this passage as: "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." This passage highlights the diversity and intentionality in God's creation, emphasizing that every creature, including those that crawl, was made according to its kind and deemed good by God.

2. Genesis 7:21 : During the account of the Great Flood, the term is used to describe the destruction of all living things on the earth. The BSB states: "Every creature that had moved along the ground perished—birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind." This verse underscores the comprehensive nature of the flood's impact, affecting all forms of life that moved upon the earth.

3. Leviticus 11:29-31 : The term is also used in the context of dietary laws given to the Israelites. The BSB translates: "Of the creatures that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. Of all that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until evening." This passage provides specific instructions regarding the cleanliness of certain animals, reflecting the broader Levitical laws concerning purity and holiness.

Theological Significance:

The use of "creepeth" or its modern equivalents in Scripture often serves to illustrate the breadth of God's creation and His sovereign authority over all living things. The creatures that "move along the ground" are part of the intricate and ordered world that God has made, each fulfilling its role within the ecosystem. The inclusion of these creatures in the creation narrative and the laws of Leviticus highlights the comprehensive nature of God's creative and moral order.

From a theological perspective, the references to creatures that "creepeth" remind believers of the fallen state of the world post-Fall, as seen in the flood narrative, and the need for discernment and holiness as outlined in the Levitical laws. These passages encourage a recognition of God's holiness and the call for His people to live in accordance with His statutes, maintaining purity in both physical and spiritual realms.7431. remes -- creeping things, moving things
... that creeps, creeping moving thing. From ramas; a reptile or any other rapidly moving
animal -- that creepeth, creeping (moving) thing. see HEBREW ramas. ...
/hebrew/7431.htm - 6k

The Six Days' Work Described.
... And God created great whales, and every living creature that creepeth, which the
waters brought forth after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xi the six days work.htm

Essay
... over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth.27 ...
/.../an essay on the mosaic account of the creation and fall of man/essay.htm

The vision of Creation
... over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the vision of creation.htm

'Clear Shining after Rain'
... Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of
fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/clear shining after rain.htm

Of the First Covenant Made with Man
... over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxi of the first.htm

Of the Creation 0F Man
... over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xix of the creation.htm

Psalm CXI.
... Spirit, whilst he designeth to sell it; [4988] no coppersmith like Alexander doth
many evil deeds, [4989] no man covered with sheep's clothing creepeth in with ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxi.htm

But that He Judgeth all Things, this Answers to his Having ...
... of the sea, and over the fowls of the air, and over all cattle and wild beasts,
and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxiii but that he.htm

There is Another Evil of the Day, which I Would were Sufficient ...
... But full feeding sometimes creepeth upon Thy servant; Thou wilt have mercy, that
it may be far from me. For no one can be continent unless Thou give it. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxxi there is another.htm

A Community Rests Upon Justice and Good-Will. ...
... and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air,
and over the cattle, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxviii a community rests.htm

Creepeth (17 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Creepeth (17 Occurrences). Genesis 1:21 And God
created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature ...
/c/creepeth.htm - 12k

Swarmeth (5 Occurrences)
... Genesis 7:21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle,
and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every ...
/s/swarmeth.htm - 7k

Fowl (73 Occurrences)
... over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth ...
/f/fowl.htm - 36k

Creatures (83 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle
after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the ground after its kind ...
/c/creatures.htm - 31k

Swarming (19 Occurrences)
... Genesis 7:21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle,
and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every ...
/s/swarming.htm - 12k

Kinds (110 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:21 And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that
creepeth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after its kind, and every winged ...
/k/kinds.htm - 36k

Beasts (241 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:25 And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle
after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the ground after its kind ...
/b/beasts.htm - 40k

Cattle (277 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after
their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and ...
/c/cattle.htm - 52k

Creeps (13 Occurrences)
... Genesis 9:2 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 ...
/c/creeps.htm - 10k

Creature (73 Occurrences)
... 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 creepeth upon the earth ...
/c/creature.htm - 36k

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