Who has “Dominion” over the Earth?
Christian
Genesis 1:26-28 King James Version (KJV)
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion 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.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
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.
Question: “What does it mean that God gave humanity dominion over the animals?”
Answer:
The word dominion means “rule or power over.” God has sovereign power over His creation and has delegated the authority to mankind to have dominion over the animals (Genesis 1:26). David reinforces this truth: “You made [mankind] rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” (Psalm 8:6). Humanity was to “subdue” the earth (Genesis 1:28)—we were to hold a position of command over it; we were placed in a superior role and were to exercise control over the earth and its flora and fauna. Mankind was set up as the ruler of this world. All else was subjugated to him.
God’s command to subdue the earth and the animal life in it is a command to have the mastery over all of it. A true mastery (of anything) cannot be accomplished without an understanding of the thing mastered. In order for a musician to master the violin, he or she must truly understand the instrument. In order for mankind to attain mastery over the animal kingdom, we must understand the animals.
With the authority to rule comes the responsibility to rule well. There is an inherent accountability in the command to subdue the earth. Man has a duty to exercise his dominion under the authority of the One who delegated it. All authority is of God (Romans 13:1-5), and He delegates it to whomever He will (Daniel 4:17). The word subdue doesn’t have to imply violence or mistreatment. It can mean “to bring under cultivation.”
Man is to be the steward of the earth; he is to bring the material world and all of its varied elements into the service of God and the good of mankind. The command to subdue the earth is actually part of God’s blessing on mankind. Created in the image of God, Adam and Eve were to use the earth’s vast resources in the service of both God and themselves. It would only make sense for God to decree this, since only humans were created in God’s image.
When God gave humanity dominion over the animals, it was in order to care for, tend to, and use those animals to their fullest potential in a just manner. At the time that God gave mankind dominion over the animals, humans did not eat meat (Genesis 1:29). Eating meat did not begin until after the Flood (Genesis 9:1–3), and it was at that time that animals started to fear humans. However, although God changed the way we interact with animals, in that they are now “meat,” we still bear a responsibility to treat animals humanely. Human rule over animals does not mean we have the right to mistreat or misuse those animals.
Having dominion over the animals should entail a humane management of them as the resource God has ordained them to be. We should consider that mankind was given the task (and blessing) of representing God in this world. We are the caretakers. We hold sway over all the earth, and we (bearing God’s image) bear a responsibility to act as God would.
Does God misuse His creation? No.
Is God unwise in His management of resources? No.
Is God ever cruel or selfish or wasteful? No.
Then neither should we be. Any misuse or mistreatment of God’s creation is the result of sin, not the result of following God’s original command. We must fulfill our duty to manage the earth wisely until that time when the wolf shall lie down with the lamb in the kingdom of Christ (Isaiah 11:6).
Orthodox Jewish
Weekly Parshah (Sermon – Torah Study) Chabad.org
The first two chapters of Genesis contain teachings with profound relevance for ourselves and our world today. After creating Adam and Eve, G-d blesses them, saying “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
What does it mean for humans to subdue the earth and have dominion over other creatures? Read More My Jewish Learning.com
indigenous
Native American
“Indigenous people are connected to the earth. Not in some dreamy, romanticized way, but in reality. What Seathl said about our bare feet being conscious of the sympathetic touch of the earth is true. It is not hyperbole. Native people have always possessed an innate sense of our deep connection to the earth, fire, water and wind. We have always known that a tree is alive, and has children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We have always known that the waters and the winds are our lifeblood, and that the power of the fire is to be respected. We have always known how important it is to our future generations that we life our lives humbly, and in balance and respect with Mother Earth. Over five centuries have passed since the arrival of the Italian profiteer Christopher Columbus brought a dark cloud of destruction to this ancient continent. And in that short span of time, we have watched as our once mighty primeval forests have been razed, our pristine rivers and water sources have been poisoned, the air has been polluted and landfill mountains have risen out of the earth. Today – now – humanity must seek to finally understand Indigenous wisdom, and at last learn to live in harmony with Mother Earth. Our very future on this planet hangs in the balance.” ~
Read more:
- John Two-Hawks native circle.com/mother-earth
- great-spirit-mother.org/
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