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Exegesis Sample

This paper seeks to determine the original meaning of Genesis 9:3, which states "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you." It investigates the context and compares translations to understand if it implies all living things could be eaten. The context shows Noah knew clean and unclean animals on the ark, so he likely only ate clean ones after the flood to ensure species survival. While meat eating was allowed for survival, the passage does not classify all animals as clean to eat.

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Nove Ann Torres
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255 views4 pages

Exegesis Sample

This paper seeks to determine the original meaning of Genesis 9:3, which states "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you." It investigates the context and compares translations to understand if it implies all living things could be eaten. The context shows Noah knew clean and unclean animals on the ark, so he likely only ate clean ones after the flood to ensure species survival. While meat eating was allowed for survival, the passage does not classify all animals as clean to eat.

Uploaded by

Nove Ann Torres
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction # 1

Gen 9:3 states that “Every moving thing that liveth shall be

meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all

things.” The phrase “Every moving thing that liveth” is

interpreted differently such as (a) “pleasures in which there is

good which is living.”1 (b) all animals, fishes, and fowls are

good for food,2 and (c) “did not imply an unrestrained and

unlimited eating of every kind of animal.”3 The preceding

various interpretations suggest the need of further and deeper

study of the passage.

This paper is seeking to answer the question on the original

meaning of Gen 9:3. Does the passage imply that God’s people

could eat all kinds of living things as long as they are moving?

The answer of this question is needed and relevant, particularly

for the Christians today who wanted to live according to what the

Bible says.

Introduction #2

In Leviticus 11, God clearly classifies the clean

animals, fishes and fowls from the unclean. The Israelites were

permitted to eat the clean living things (v.2), while the unclean

ones were abomination to them (v.8). However, Gen 9:3 states

that “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even

as the green herb have I given you all things.”


1
The author of this article interpreted the passage
symbolically, rather than “literally.” available at
http://www.biblemeanings.info/Bible/Genesis/ch9,v3-m.htm
2
“That is, every beast, fowl, and fish, without
exception; for though there was a difference at this time of
clean and unclean creatures with respect to sacrifice, yet not
with respect to food; every creature of God was good then, as it
is now.” John Gill, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible,
available at e-sword electronic edge.
3
Nichol, Francis D., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible
Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing
Association) 1978.
This paper sought to answer the question on the original

meaning of Gen 9:3. Does the passage imply that God’s people

could eat all kinds of living things as long as they are moving?

The answer of this question is needed and relevant, particularly

for the Christians today who wanted to live according to what the

Bible says.

Reading the text# 1

“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even
as the green herb have I given you all things.” (KJV)
"Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I
give all to you, as I gave the green plant.” (NAS)
“Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just
as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” (NIV)
“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and
just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”
(NRS)
“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as
I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” (RSV)

Analysis: In comparing the reading of the passage from


different English versions, one may conclude that there is no
variant in reading. The difference between the used of the word
“liveth” (KJV), “alive” (NAS), “lives” (NIV, NRS, RSV) mark the
difference in English reading, however, it does not change the
meaning of the passage. Thus, all translations will be
considered.

Translating the Text:

BHT
Kol-reºmeS ´ášer hû´-Hay läkem yihyè lü´oklâ Küyeºreq
Genesis 9:3
`ëºSeb nätaºTTî läkem ´et-Köl
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as
the green herb have I given you all things.” (KJV)

Analysis:

Since Gen 9:3 contains no variant in reading, the translation of

the KJV is preferred in this paper. This version is chosen

because it is categorized as one of a “literal” translation of

the Bible.

Reading the text# 2


ERV
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son,
whom thou lovest, even Isaac,
ESV
Genesis 22:2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac,
whom you love,
KJV
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son
Isaac, whom thou lovest,
NAS
Genesis 22:2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son,
whom you love, Isaac,
NET
Genesis 22:2 God said, "Take your son– your only son, whom you
love, Isaac–
NIV
Genesis 22:2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son,
Isaac, whom you love,
NJB
Genesis 22:2 God said, 'Take your son, your only son, your
beloved Isaac,
NAU Genesis 22:2 He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom
you love, Isaac,
LXE Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take thy son, the beloved one, whom
thou hast loved-- Isaac,

Analysis:

In comparing Gen 22:2, the ERV, ESV, KJV, NES, NET, NIV,

NJV, NAU use the phrase “the only son” in their translation. The

KJV italicized the word “son,” signifying that in the original

Hebrew there is no word “son.” Moreover, the LXE translated the

phrase “your only son” as “the beloved one.” This difference in

reading Gen 22:2, suggests that there is a variant in reading

among the manuscripts.

Translating the text:

BHT
wayyöº´mer qaH-nä´ ´et-Binkä ´et-yüHî|dkä ´ášer-
Genesis 22:2
´ähaºbTä ´et-yicHäq
And he said, please take your son, your beloved one, who you love
—Isaac.

Analysis:

The translation of the phrase “your beloved one” is

preferred in this paper. The problem of using the phrase “your

only son” is that Abraham had more than one son, which may not

fit at the context of the passage.


Theme of the Chapter:
The whole chapter of Gen 9 discusses the central theme of
“God’s covenant with Noah.”

Supporting text:
Lev 11:1-47; Lev 22:8; Deut 12:15; Deut 14:3-21, Acts 1012-
15

Investigating the Context

Historical Context
Traditionally, the book of Genesis is written under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit by Moses. The time, date and purpose
of writing and other elements under historical context may be
insignificant in answering the issue in this passage.
Literary Context
Gen 9:3 lies in the larger context of the flood
narrative recorded in Gen 6:1-9:29. The larger context tells us
that Noah was instructed by the Lord concerning the clean (7 of
its kind) and unclean (2 of its kind) animals that will go inside
the ark before the flood comes (Gen 6:18-20). Also, the Lord
instructed them to take their own foods and for the animals
(6:21). After the flood, all trees that bear fruits and other
plants are not yet ready for food. Thus, the Lord allow and
instructed Noah to eat “every moving thing that liveth on the
earth.

Analysis:
Base on the context of Gen 9:3, Noah and his family
were not eating meat before the flood. Moreover, the context is
clearly telling us that Noah knew what is clean and unclean
animals that entered the ark. Since, Gen 9:3 occurred after the
flood, therefore, Noah eat the clean animals. If Noah ate the
unclean animals, then the species of that animal will not survive
since the unclean animals were only two of its kind.

Application

Meant (messages for the original listener of Moses): In Gen


9:3, Moses was telling his original listeners concerning the
history of human’s sinfulness, God’s judgment through flood and
God’s covenant with Noah.

Means (messages for us today): Gen 9:3 tells us that God is


a God who loves His people. He allows some things to happen in
the difficult situations just for human being to survive. This
passage tells us that eating meat is not a primary option but a
secondary option of God for man to eat. This passage does not
tell us that all animals are clean.

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