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what did 'subdue' and 'dominion' signify in the ancient near eastern creation narratives?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Genesis 1:28

“God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."”

This verse is part of the first creation account in Genesis, where God creates the cosmos and all life. It occurs immediately after the creation of humanity (male and female) and describes God's blessing and initial mandate to them.

What does it mean to exercise power and care responsibly over the world around us?

Then — the setting

In the Ancient Near East (ANE), creation narratives often depicted humanity as created to serve the gods, usually by providing food and offerings to sustain the divine order, and to bear the burden of labor. The terms 'subdue' (כבש, *kābaš*) and 'dominion' (רדה, *rādâ*) in Genesis 1:28, when read against this background, represent a significant departure. Unlike other ANE texts where humanity was a servant, here humanity is given a royal-like mandate to govern and manage the earth, reflecting God's own sovereignty. This was not a license for exploitation but a call to active stewardship, filling and ordering the world, making it productive and habitable, much like a king would manage his territory for the well-being of its inhabitants. It implied a delegation of divine authority, distinguishing Israel's understanding of humanity's role from neighboring cultures.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament concept of dominion in Genesis 1:28 establishes humanity's unique role as God's vice-regents over creation. While often understood as a benevolent stewardship (e.g., Genesis 2:15's 'to work and to keep'), it also acknowledges the potential for misuse of this power after the fall (Genesis 3). The New Testament re-centers this dominion through the person of Jesus. Passages like Hebrews 2:6-8 quote Psalm 8 (which echoes Genesis 1:28) and apply it to Christ, suggesting that humanity's intended dominion is fully realized in him. For followers of Jesus, exercising dominion becomes part of participating in Christ's restoring work, often framed as responsible care, sacrificial service, and bringing flourishing to the created order rather than simply asserting control.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Psalm 8:4-8
This psalm marvels at humanity's elevated position and dominion over creation, reflecting Genesis 1.
Genesis 2:15
This verse describes humanity's role as 'to work it and to keep it,' adding nuance to the idea of dominion.
Romans 8:19-22
Paul connects the fate of creation with humanity's actions and future redemption.

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