One of the central motifs woven throughout the pages of Sacred Scripture originates in the book of Genesis. After God creates man and woman, He gives them what is commonly called the Dominion Mandate. This mandate entrusts Adam and Eve with the responsibility of stewarding creation. Alongside this, they are commanded to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). While this initially refers to having offspring, it also encompasses fruitfulness in their work and vocation. In this way, the command is embedded in the fabric of creation—it is not only a directive but an expectation for humanity.
But what becomes of this mandate after the Fall? Does God abandon it? Or does it persist beyond Eden? I argue that the mandate continues, expands, and remains relevant today. Join me as we trace this theme through the Scriptures.
Fruitfulness & Multiplication with Noah
The next explicit reference to the command comes in Genesis 8. This chapter places us after the devastating judgment of the flood, which God brought upon the world due to its pervasive sin. Only Noah and his family found favor in God’s eyes (Gen. 6:8). As Noah disembarks from the ark, God reaffirms His covenant and reissues the original command: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”
There are notable parallels between Adam’s and Noah’s situations. In both cases, the recipients of the command bear the image of God, and both are tasked with repopulating the earth, which at that time had few inhabitants. With Adam, there were two people; with Noah, eight. The command is issued three times (Gen. 8:17; 9:1, 7), underscoring its continued relevance and importance in redemptive history.
Fruitfulness & Multiplication with the Patriarchs
Although the words “be fruitful and multiply” are not explicitly repeated during the lives of Abraham and Isaac, the concept remains central. When God makes His covenant with Abraham, He promises descendants as numerous as the stars (Gen. 15), and in Genesis 17, He changes Abram’s name to Abraham—”father of many”—and declares, “I will make you fruitful” (Gen. 17:6). Here, the mandate begins to shift from command to divine promise.
The promise continues with Isaac, who is the tangible beginning of God’s multiplication of Abraham’s seed. When we come to Jacob, we once again find an explicit reiteration of the command. For example, in Genesis 35:11, amid uncertainty and fear of Esau’s response to his return, God reaffirms His covenant, saying: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your body.” This signals an expansion: not only are children to be born, but these descendants will become nations and rulers.
Fruitfulness & Multiplication in the Prophets
The prophetic literature is primarily concerned with calling God’s people back to covenant faithfulness, often balancing warning with hope. Yet the theme of fruitfulness persists even here, particularly in the context of exile and restoration.
In Jeremiah 23:3, God promises, “I will gather the remnant of my flock… and they shall be fruitful and multiply.” Similarly, in Ezekiel 36:11, God says, “I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful.” These references are not mere echoes of Eden; they are declarations of God’s ongoing intent to bless His people. Notably, in both cases, the language of command has evolved into the language of promise. Even in Eden, fruitfulness came by God’s grace—so it continues in exile and restoration.
Summary of the Old Testament Theme
To summarize, the command to be fruitful and multiply was originally given for two primary purposes:
- To reflect the image of God across the earth.
- To fill and steward the earth.
This command persisted after the Fall, was reemphasized after the Flood, expanded through God’s covenant with Abraham, and reaffirmed through the prophets. While not discussed in depth here, this motif is also crucial in the Exodus narrative, consider how it functions in the opening chapter (1:7, 12). Here Israel’s multiplication is portrayed as a sign of divine blessing. Thus, the idea of fruitfulness and multiplication is central to the unfolding story of God’s people.
But how does this theme find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus? And what does it mean for us today, living after His death and resurrection? These questions bring us into the New Testament.
Fruitfulness & Multiplication in Christ
As mentioned earlier, the command to be fruitful and multiply transitions in many places from imperative to promise. Nowhere is this more fully realized than in Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham.
Paul, in Galatians 3:16, writes: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.” While Isaac was the initial heir of promise, Jesus is its ultimate fulfillment. As the representative of redeemed humanity, Jesus takes on the responsibility to fulfill the command to be fruitful and multiply.
This fulfillment is seen in Galatians 3:29, where Paul explains that those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus becomes spiritually fruitful, drawing people from every nation into God’s family. This spiritual multiplication fulfills the original mandate to fill the earth with image-bearers who honor God (see 1 Cor. 15:27 and Psalm 8:6).
Fruitfulness & Multiplication as Christians
Earlier, we raised the question: Is the Dominion Mandate still applicable today? I believe the answer is a clear yes, for two reasons:
- The Mandate Is Pre-Covenantal
It was given at creation—before the Mosaic, Abrahamic, Davidic, or New Covenants. As such, it applies universally to all humanity. Even unbelievers, knowingly or not, participate in this command, and God shows common grace as the earth is filled and sustained. - The Mandate Is Reiterated and Expanded in the Great Commission
In a Gospel Coalition video, biblical scholar G.K. Beale states, “The Cultural Mandate is the first Great Commission.” While they are not identical, both aim to extend God’s rule across the earth—through creation in Genesis and through redemption in Matthew 28.
The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19–20) calls believers to make disciples of all nations. Like the original mandate, it is about multiplication—not just of physical descendants, but of spiritual ones. One fills the earth with biological image-bearers; the other with renewed image-bearers through faith in Christ.
This two-pronged calling means Christians are invited to be fruitful in two ways:
- By raising children in the faith
- By making disciples of those outside the faith
Both endeavors contribute to the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, as He gathers a people for Himself from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
Conclusion
From Eden to the Cross, and from the Patriarchs to the Great Commission, the command to be fruitful and multiply has remained central in God’s redemptive plan. What began as a call to populate and steward creation has become, through and in Jesus, a call to fill the earth with faithful disciples who reflect God’s image and worship our Great God.