“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; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.”
My Notes
What Does Genesis 8:17 Mean?
"Bring forth with thee every living thing... that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply." God instructs Noah to release the animals from the ark — not just to survive but to reproduce. The purpose of the saving is the multiplying. The ark wasn't a museum for species preservation. It was a nursery for species multiplication. The animals were saved so they could fill the earth again.
The three verbs — breed abundantly, be fruitful, multiply — echo the original creation mandate (1:22). The post-flood instruction mirrors the pre-fall instruction. After catastrophic judgment, God begins again with the same words He used at the beginning. The restart uses the same language as the start.
The phrase "every living thing that is with thee" includes every category: fowl, cattle, creeping things. Nothing saved on the ark stays on the ark. Everything goes out. Everything reproduces. The salvation is comprehensive, and the multiplication is equally comprehensive.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Are you still sitting in the 'ark' of salvation, or have you begun the multiplication?
- 2.How does the post-flood command mirroring the creation command teach about God's consistency?
- 3.What 'earth' is God sending you to fill after rescuing you?
- 4.What does it mean that salvation isn't the destination — multiplication is?
Devotional
Bring everything out. Not to display. To multiply. The animals weren't saved to survive. They were saved to reproduce. The ark is a womb, not a warehouse. Everything that entered comes out — and fills the earth again.
The post-flood command mirrors the creation command: be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth. After the worst judgment in human history — a flood that destroyed all life outside the ark — God uses the same words He used on day five. The vocabulary of creation is recycled for re-creation. The destruction is over. The multiplication begins again.
The comprehensiveness — every living thing, all flesh, fowl, cattle, creeping thing — means nothing is left behind. The salvation was total (every species entered the ark). The release is total (every species exits). The multiplication is total (every species reproduces). God doesn't save partially. He saves completely — and what He saves, He sends out to fill the earth again.
This is the pattern of every divine rescue: God saves you, then sends you out to multiply. The salvation isn't an end — it's a beginning. You weren't rescued to sit in the ark forever. You were rescued to go out, be fruitful, and fill whatever earth God gives you.
Are you still in the ark? Have you exited the place of salvation and begun the work of multiplication? The ark saved you. The earth needs you. Go out. Breed abundantly. Be fruitful. Multiply.
The salvation was for the multiplication.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And Noah went forth,.... Being obedient to the divine command, and no doubt with great pleasure in his countenance, and…
- XXVII. The Ark Was Evacuated 19. משׁפחה mı̂shpāchah, “kind, clan, family.” שׁפחה shı̂pchâh, “maid-servant; related:…
Here is, I. Noah's dismission out of the ark, Gen 8:15-17. Observe, 1. Noah did not stir till God bade him. As he had a…
that they may breed abundantly The same word as in Gen 1:20, "let the waters bring forth abundantly" (see note). Cf. Gen…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture