The Bible teaches that when God created the world, He gave humanity a special status and authority over the rest of creation. This concept is reflected in the first chapter of Genesis, where God creates man and woman in His own image and gives them dominion over the animals and the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). Understanding what the Bible means by this “dominion” has been a subject of much discussion and debate among theologians and scholars over the years. Examining the relevant biblical passages can shed light on what God intended when He gave humanity this charge.
The Creation Mandate in Genesis 1
In Genesis 1, after God creates the heavens, earth, and all living creatures, He creates man and woman in His own image. Directly after this we read, “And 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 heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:28). Here God gives what is often called the “Creation Mandate”—His first recorded command to humans to multiply and fill the earth, subdue it, and rule over the animals.
This mandate establishes humanity’s authority over creation. The language of “having dominion” or “ruling over” indicates that humans have a preeminent status compared to animals and the natural world. God does not give this kind of expansive authority over the earth to the animals or any other part of creation—only to man and woman. So Genesis 1 and 2 teach that humanity occupies a unique position of power and responsibility within God’s ordered creation.
What Does “Dominion” Mean?
The Hebrew word translated “have dominion” or “rule over” is radah. This word indicates having great authority and exercising immense power over something. It is the same word used of kings and rulers who have sovereignty over their subjects or domains (e.g., 1 Kings 4:24). Therefore, God installed humanity as the pinnacle of creation and conferred to them royal stewardship over the earth.
However, this dominion is not totalitarian control or despotic rule. God does not grant humanity unbridled license to use or abuse the world and creatures in any way we wish. Rather, we are called to exercise wise, benevolent stewardship, caring for creation as God Himself does. As beings made in God’s image, we are to model God’s gracious and compassionate care for all He has made.
Humanity’s Elevated Status
The Creation Mandate establishes humanity’s elevated status compared to animals in several ways. First, while God directly creates the animals, He creates man and woman in His own image, after His likeness (Genesis 1:26). Being made in God’s image gives humanity unique dignity and worth compared to the rest of the living creatures. Second, God gives humans the authority to name the animals, which displays our superiority over them (Genesis 2:19-20). Third, by giving mankind dominion over the earth, He puts us in the exalted position of stewards reigning over the world He has made.
Humanity is thus placed above the animals in God’s created hierarchy. We possess greater capacities for reason, morality, spirituality, and relationship than any other earthly creature. Our abilities to engage rationally with the world, exercise moral judgment, seek God in worship and prayer, and build societies through shared language and culture all reflect our exalted status. So while animals possess great worth as God’s creatures, humans are set apart in an unparalleled position of glory and responsibility.
Implications of the Dominion Mandate
This mandate to exercise dominion has several important implications:
- Human life is precious – If we are made in God’s image and crowned with glory, human life has intrinsic worth and dignity.
- Responsible stewardship – We are not free to exploit creation mercilessly but must exercise caring dominion.
- Proper use of the world – The world is ours to utilize for our God-given purposes, including providing sustenance and shelter (Genesis 1:29-30).
- Work is good – Our dominion is to be exercised through filling and shaping the world through work.
- Ecological concern – While having authority over nature, we must protect and care for it.
- Equal human dignity – All people share the exalted status of being made in God’s image.
- Man as head of woman – Though equal in dignity, the Creation Mandate establishes man’s authority over woman (Genesis 3:16).
- Human unity – As descendants of Adam and Eve, all humans share an exalted, royal identity.
In summary, the dominion God grants humanity is not absolute control or unregulated power, but a call to benevolent and compassionate stewardship, exercising our unique gifts to care for the world and cultivate human society.
The Effects of the Fall on the Dominion Mandate
However, humanity’s exercise of dominion has not always aligned with God’s intentions. Genesis 3 describes how Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God—the Fall—warped humanity’s rule over creation.
Several consequences of the Fall adversely impacted humanity’s stewardship:
- Work became toilsome and frustrating due to the curse on the ground (Genesis 3:17-19).
- Harmony between man and woman was damaged as male leadership often turned into harsh domination (Genesis 3:16).
- Humans began relating to the world in selfish, greedy, shortsighted ways instead of the caring stewardship God designed.
- Human rule over the animals became marred by cruelty, abuse, and needless violence.
- Instead of unified stewardship under God, sin drove people to compete and conquer one another for control of resources.
So while the original Creation Mandate has never been nullified, human rebellion has prevented us from exercising dominion as God intended. As a result, many ecological, social, and moral evils have plagued human rule throughout history. Our God-given authority has often been exploited for prideful and selfish gain instead of righteous stewardship.
Redemption in Christ
Thankfully, Christ’s redemptive work can begin restoring humanity’s distorted exercise of dominion. As people are transformed by God’s Spirit, they relate to God, others, and creation with justice, compassion, and wisdom. Although perfect dominion awaits the future restoration of all things, Christians are called to exhibit redeemed stewardship that honors the Creator and serves the common good of all people.
The New Testament does not use the language of the Creation Mandate frequently, but it continues to assume humanity’s authority over creation and responsibility to use it well (e.g. James 3:7). As Christ’s kingdom advances, the dominion mandate is renewed until the day Christ returns to share His eternal reign over a restored creation.
Practical Implications
Reflecting on humanity’s dominion leads to some important practical implications:
- We should treat all human life with great care and dignity, as every person bears God’s image.
- Though having authority over creation, we must be wise, caring stewards and not relate to the world in selfish, destructive ways.
- Our unique capacities for language, reason, creativity, and spirituality should be cultivated and used for human flourishing and service.
- Work is a gift from God that allows us to cultivate creation, serve others, and glorify God.
- All human labor should be for righteous purposes and reflect our exalted identity.
- We should humbly recognize the disastrous results of humanity’s rebellion against our Creator and work to live as He designed.
The dominion mandate continues to define the high calling and responsibility God has placed on humanity within His good creation. While deeply marred by sin, our charge remains to pursue culture, stewardship, and flourishing ways that glorify the God who fashioned us as royal representatives of His reign over this world.