Exercising Authority: Dominion

In Genesis 1:27, God makes humanity in His image. That explains why humans have authority. In Genesis 1:28, God blesses them, commissions them, and gives them dominion. Dominion explains where God intends for humans to exercise the authority He gave them.

The language between Genesis 1:26 and 1:28 is similar, but it is not identical. That does not necessarily indicate a change in plans from the time God expressed His intent until He created man. However, it is useful to look at both verses to understand the fullness of the dominion God gave humanity.

Both verses use the Hebrew word radah, which means to reign or rule over, and verse 28 also uses kabash, which means to conquer, control, subdue, or subjugate. Together, they carry the meaning of conquering something which may resist, and maintaining delegated control over it. Both kabash and radah require power, and that power comes from God’s authority being exercised through His image bearer, mankind.

 What is the object of this dominion? In other words, what should humanity conquer and over what should people reign? Genesis 1:26 lists fish, birds, cattle, all the earth, and creeping things, while Genesis 1:28 lists fish, birds, and living things. Putting these together, man should control and rule over the earth, fish, birds, and land animals. Air and sea are beyond the scope of this commandment, but that does not necessarily prohibit action in those elements. You might think about your dominion in terms of food groups. People eat fish, birds, land animals, and plants from the land. They do not eat air or salt water. Of course, dominion is not limited to food; it is just an easy way to think about it.

People have historically exercised their dominion in various ways. They have cultivated and excavated the land, domesticated birds and animals, and created industries to extract geological resources and harvest fish. The egg carton, fishing net, lawn mower, milk jug, and saddle all exemplify humanity’s dominion.

Dominion is the where of authority, and being made in God’s image is the why, but what about the how? Besides the examples listed above, how should humans exercise their authority on the earth? You express your God-given authority when you speak, and understanding this helps you exercise it most effectively within the dominion He has entrusted to you.