And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for meat: and it was so.
30. to every beast of the earth ] God ordains that the wild beasts, the birds, and all living creatures, shall have the leaves for their food. The words, “every green herb,” would be more literally “all the green, or verdure, of the herbs.” A distinction is, therefore, drawn between the food ordained for mankind and the food ordained for the animals. Man is to have the herb bearing seed and the fruit of the trees ( Gen 1:29): the animals are to feed on the grass and the leaves.
for meat ] This expression, here and in the previous verse, is liable to be misunderstood by English readers. The Hebrew means “for food.” The word “meat” is an old English term for “food.” Cf. St Luk 24:41 A.V. “He said unto them, Have ye here any meat?” R.V. “Have ye here anything to eat?”
It may be asked whether we are to understand that, according to Genesis 1, the nature of animals was different at the first from what it became afterwards, and that they did not prey upon one another. The reply is that this was evidently the belief of the Israelite, as represented in this chapter. Like other features of the picture, it is childlike and idealized. Palaeontology has demonstrated, that, from the earliest geological period at which animal life can be shewn to have existed, the animals preyed upon one another. From the earliest days of animal life nature has been “red in tooth and claw.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And to every beast of the earth,…. Wild or tame, the cattle on a thousand hills; God took care and provided for these, being all his creatures, and designed to answer some end or other by their creation:
and to every fowl of the air; that flies in it;
and to every creeping thing upon the earth; even the meanest and lowest insect:
wherein there is life; or “a living soul”; that has an animal life, which is to be supported by food:
[I have given] every green herb for meat; the leaves for some, and seed for others; and here is no mention made of flesh; and perhaps those creatures which are now carnivorous were not so at their first creation:
and it was so; every creature, both man and beast, had food suitable to their nature and appetite, and a sufficiency of it.
(From Ro 5:12, it is certain that up until the fall no animal ate other animals, otherwise there would have been death before Adam’s first sin, which is said to be the cause of death. Ed.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for meat: and it was so.
Ver. 30. And it was so. ] Both man and beast were well paid of God’s appointment, as good cause they had; for he is no penny father, but openeth his hand, and filleth with his blessing every thing living. Psa 145:16 “And it was so”; an undoubted argument surely of God’s infinite goodness, thus to have provided for so divers natures and appetites, divers food, remedies, and armour; Psa 104:1-35 for men, especially, “filling their hearts with food and gladness” Act 14:17
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. Compare Gen 1:20; Gen 2:7 and App-18.
I have given. Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6. a) correctly supplied from Gen 1:29.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 9:3, Job 38:39-41, Job 39:4, Job 39:8, Job 39:30, Job 40:15, Job 40:20, Psa 104:14, Psa 145:15, Psa 145:16, Psa 147:9
life: Heb. a living soul
Reciprocal: Gen 1:20 – life Gen 6:21 – General Ecc 5:9 – the profit Jer 27:5 – and have Dan 1:12 – pulse to eat 1Ti 4:3 – which