Genesis 1 · Verse 12

Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:12, King James Version

Genesis 1:12 in other translations

BSBThe earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
WEBThe earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
ASVAnd the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.
YLTAnd the earth bringeth forth tender grass, herb sowing seed after its kind, and tree making fruit (whose seed is in itself) after its kind; and God seeth that it is good;
DARBYAnd the earth brought forth grass, herb producing seed after its kind, and trees yielding fruit, the seed of which is in them, after their kind. And God saw that it was good.
BBEAnd grass came up on the earth, and every plant producing seed of its sort, and every tree producing fruit, in which is its seed, of its sort: and God saw that it was good.
WebsterAnd the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

What does Genesis 1:12 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Whose seed was in itself - Which has the power of multiplying itself by seeds, slips, roots, etc., ad infinitum; which contains in itself all the rudiments of the future plant through its endless generations. This doctrine has been abundantly confirmed by the most accurate observations of the best modern philosophers. The astonishing power with which God has endued the vegetable creation to multiply its different species, may be instanced in the seed of the elm. This tree produces one thousand five hundred and eighty-four millions of seeds; and each of these seeds has the power of producing the same number. How astonishing is this produce! At first one seed is deposited in the earth; from this one a tree springs, which in the course of its vegetative life produces one thousand five hundred and eighty-four millions of seeds. This is the first generation. The second generation will amount to two trillions, five hundred and nine thousand and fifty-six billions. The third generation will amount to three thousand nine hundred and seventy-four quadrillions, three hundred and forty-four thousand seven hundred and four trillions! And the fourth generation from these would amount to six sextillions two hundred and ninety-five thousand three hundred and sixty-two quintillions, eleven thousand one hundred and thirty-six quadrillions! Sums too immense for the human mind to conceive; and, when we allow the most confined space in which a tree can grow, it appears that the seeds of the third generation from one elm would be many myriads of times more than sufficient to stock the whole superfices of all the planets in the solar system! But plants multiply themselves by slips as well as by seeds. Sir Kenelm Digby saw in 1660 a plant of barley, in the possession of the fathers of the Christian doctrine at Paris, which contained 249 stalks springing from one root or grain, and in which he counted upwards of 18,000 grains. See my experiments on Tilling in the Methodist Magazine.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 1:6-13

The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we have, through grace, an interest in Him who is…

Read the full comment on Genesis 1:6-13 →

Genesis 1:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתּוֹצֵ֨אva.to.Tze'and <it> brought forthH3318
הָאָ֜רֶץha.'A.retzthe earthH776
דֶּ֠שֶׁאDe.she'vegetationH1877
עֵ֣שֶׂב'E.sevplant[s]H6212
מַזְרִ֤יעַmaz.Ri.a'[which] bears seedH2232
זֶ֙רַע֙ze.ra'seedH2233
לְמִינֵ֔הוּle.mi.Ne.huto kind itsH4327
וְעֵ֧ץve.'Etzand tree[s]H6086
עֹֽשֶׂה\־'o.seh-producingH6213
פְּרִ֛יpe.RifruitH6529
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhichH834
זַרְעוֹ\־zar.'ov-seed itsH2233
ב֖וֹvo[was] in <the> it
לְמִינֵ֑הוּle.mi.Ne.huto kind itsH4327
וַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'and he sawH7200
אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
כִּי\־ki-thatH3588
טֽוֹב\׃Tov[it was] goodH2895

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 1:12

  • Mark 4:28

    For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

  • Isaiah 55:10-11

    For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

  • Matthew 13:24-26

    Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

  • Galatians 6:7

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

  • Luke 6:44

    For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

  • Isaiah 61:11

    For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:10

    Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
earth.
Isa 61:11; Mr 4:28
herb.
Isa 55:10,11; Mt 13:24-26; Lu 6:44; 2Co 9:10; Ga 6:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 1:11

    And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

  • Genesis 1:12

    And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

  • Genesis 1:13

    And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Read all of Genesis 1

Genesis 1:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y produjo la tierra hierba verde, hierba que da simiente según su naturaleza, y árbol que da fruto, cuya simiente está en él, según su género: y vió Dios que era bueno.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et la terre produisit l’herbe, la plante portant de la semence selon son espèce, et l’arbre produisant du fruit ayant sa semence en soi selon son espèce. Et Dieu vit que cela était bon.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Erde brachte Gras hervor, Kraut, das Samen hervorbringt nach seiner Art, und Bäume, die Frucht tragen, in welcher ihr Same ist nach ihrer Art. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et protulit terra herbam virentem, et facientem semen juxta genus suum, lignumque faciens fructum, et habens unumquodque sementem secundum speciem suam. Et vidit Deus quod esset bonum.