Creation Care: What Does ‘Dominion’ Really Mean?
One of the more quoted Bible passages about our need to care for God’s creation is Genesis 1:27-28 (NSRV):
God created humankind in His image,
In the image of God He created them;
Male and female He created them,
God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
In my Parallel Bible, the word “dominion” is used in the King James and the RSRV translations while NIV uses “rule” and The Living Bible uses “masters.” There are many more translations. CEB uses the term “take charge,” and one of my favorite new translations – The Y’all Version – says, “Y’all are to have dominion over the fish of the sea, birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the land.”
On the face of it, this passage presents a bit of a problem for Creation Care or the environmental movement. Does dominion mean exploitation or responsibility? We need to go to the original Hebrew verb – radah – which means rule or rule over or reign. Have dominion over. It is a power word any way you look at it. It implies strength and raw power.
But if we look at the context of its use in the passage above, one must consider under whose authority this power or dominion was given. By God himself as we were created in His image (verse 27). Humanity’s radah over all of creation is given to us under God’s authority and that authority is given to us with love, God’s love. God gave us life and strength under his love or under his authority or dominion. Anything else that God has given us must be under that same authority or love. To love and care for and be responsible for all of God’s creation. Never to be harsh or oppressive.
Let’s take this idea of God’s love from the New Testament. From one of the best-known scriptures in the entire New Testament – John 3:16:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…
Note here what God loved. Not Christians. Not humans. But the world. Or from the original Greek – kosmos – or creation or the created order. God so loved all of creation that he gave us Jesus. And we shall love all of creation as God loves all of creation. With respect and dignity and reverence. Not harshness or exploitation.
Explore and learn more about our Christian duty for stewardship and creation care during our annual Summer Study Series, beginning July 13. Learn more and see the full schedule.
Ideas from Green Faith: Mobilizing God’s People to Save the Earth by Fletcher Harper
Photo: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Johann Wenzel Peter (1745-1829), Vatican Museums