Sirach 17:4 - He put the fear of man upon all flesh, And gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Sirach 17:4" mean?
Sirach 17:4 states: "He put the fear of man upon all flesh, And gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls."
This verse from Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus), a book in the Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament, describes God's gift to humanity. Let's break down the meaning:
"He put the fear of man upon all flesh": This signifies that God instilled in animals an instinctive fear of humans. It doesn't necessarily mean constant terror, but rather a natural caution and avoidance. This fear is a form of control given to humanity.
"And gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls": This means God granted humanity the authority and power to rule over animals (beasts of the earth and birds of the air). Dominion implies responsibility and stewardship, not necessarily tyrannical control. It suggests humans have the right to use animals for their needs, but also a duty to care for them responsibly.
In summary, Sirach 17:4 describes God's creation order where humans are given a unique position of authority and power over the animal kingdom, reflected in the animals' innate fear and the human's right to govern. It highlights both the privilege and the responsibility that comes with this dominion. It echoes similar themes found in Genesis 1:26-28.
Sirach 17:4 - He put the fear of man upon all flesh, And gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls.
What does "Sirach 17:4" mean?
Sirach 17:4 states: "He put the fear of man upon all flesh, And gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls."
This verse from Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus), a book in the Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament, describes God's gift to humanity. Let's break down the meaning:
"He put the fear of man upon all flesh": This signifies that God instilled in animals an instinctive fear of humans. It doesn't necessarily mean constant terror, but rather a natural caution and avoidance. This fear is a form of control given to humanity.
"And gave him to have dominion over beasts and fowls": This means God granted humanity the authority and power to rule over animals (beasts of the earth and birds of the air). Dominion implies responsibility and stewardship, not necessarily tyrannical control. It suggests humans have the right to use animals for their needs, but also a duty to care for them responsibly.
In summary, Sirach 17:4 describes God's creation order where humans are given a unique position of authority and power over the animal kingdom, reflected in the animals' innate fear and the human's right to govern. It highlights both the privilege and the responsibility that comes with this dominion. It echoes similar themes found in Genesis 1:26-28.