Genesis 9:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe that the same principle is applied here, albeit in a different manner, much like with the first human being. In that instance, God bestowed authority upon Adam, allowing him to relish the bounties of the Garden of Eden, while only commanding him to refrain from one specific tree. Similarly, in this case, after bestowing a blessing upon Noah and making him formidable to the creatures of the earth, God placed all reptiles and birds under his dominion, declaring: “All that moveth, that liveth, shall be your food: as the green herb I give you all things.”

When Christ assumed the role of our Shepherd, we were spiritually led into the essence of God's aroma and that of the Father. In this divine favor, we are assured that death will no longer hold dominion over us. The impact of divine wrath has been concluded, and the consequences of this longstanding curse have been lifted.

God granted blessings to Noah and his descendants, instructing them to be fruitful and multiply, and establishing a command that all living beings should hold them in reverence, both in the ocean and on land.

However, as we have turned away from the fear of God, who is the source of all awe, we have instead come to fear the creatures that we manage, which our Creator intended for us to steward. This dominion was not meant for us to be afraid of them, but rather for them to be in awe of us. In the beginning, God declared to humanity that “your fear and trembling shall be upon all creatures.” We have distorted this divine order; now, we live in fear of the animals, as we lack the reverence for God that should reside within us. Our disobedience to God's commandments has made us fearful, resulting in even small insects becoming sources of terror. We shrink away in dread from the loathsome worm, despite God's directive for us to tread upon it.

God has instructed you, the Jewish people, to refrain from certain foods so that you may keep the Lord in your thoughts even while consuming sustenance. This is necessary due to your tendency to turn away from knowing Him, as noted by Moses: The people sat down to eat and drink, and afterwards rose up to play (Exodus 32:6). In another passage, it is said that Israel grew complacent and obstinate, forsaking the God who created him (Deuteronomy 32:15). Yet, it is recounted that God permitted Noah, a righteous man, to consume any animal that died naturally, except for blood, as proclaimed by Moses in Genesis.

Upon Noah's emergence from the ark, he promptly constructed an altar for the Lord and presented offerings of pure animals and birds as an expression of gratitude for his salvation from the deluge, a sacrifice that was well-accepted by God. In return, the Lord bestowed upon him the original blessing granted to Adam to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill 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” (Gen. 9:1-2).

Let them stand in awe and tremble before you. This was not part of the blessing bestowed upon Adam, who was appointed as the sovereign over the creatures, yet he lived without fear. However, when humanity's inherent nobility fails to command the creatures, God instills fear in them. This fear protects us from foes that are mightier than ourselves and compels them to be of service to us. Yet, in enjoying these benefits, we should always be mindful of the grave nature of sin, especially when a sinner harbors dread even amid God's blessing. And if at times the beasts act out of this fear, we must not use it as grounds to critique God's blessing, but rather as an opportunity to reflect on our own shortcomings.

At the time of the earth's creation, humanity was entrusted with dominion over all living creatures. Similarly, after the flood, God reaffirmed this dominion over mankind, with a significant distinction: the authority of the righteous man, while residing in paradise, was gentle and not burdensome for the animals, who willingly served and obeyed him. In contrast, after the flood, humans must now govern animals through fear, leading even those animals domesticated by humans to sometimes stray from obedience, requiring them to be reined in through the threat of punishment or past experiences of it.