Gen. 1:20-28, Blessings and Curses in the Beginning

Here is a record, for the most part without comment, of the blessings and curses recorded in Genesis.

Blessings (barak)

·       1:22: God blesses the sea creatures and land animals, to be fruitful.

·       1:28: God blesses Adam and Eve, to be fruitful, fill the earth and have dominion.

·       2:3: God blesses the seventh day.

·       5:2: God blesses the male and female, calling them “Mankind.”

·       9:1: God blesses Noah and his sons (be fruitful, etc.).

·       9:26: Noah blesses the LORD, the God of Shem.

·       12:2: God promised to bless Abram, make his name great.

·       12:3: God promises to bless those who bless Abram.

·       14:19: Melchizedek blesses Abram of God Most High.

·       14:20: Melchizedek blesses God Most High.

Curses (arar)

·       3:14: God curses the Serpent, more than any animal; enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman; He will bruise the head of the serpent.

·       3:17: God curses the ground for the Man’s sake.

·       4:11: God curses Cain from the earth.

·       5:29: Noah (rest) so named because he will bring comfort because of the ground the LORD cursed.

·       9:25: Noah curses Canaan.

·       12:3: God promises to curse those who curse Abram.

On that last passage, here is something of interest.  A check of the Bible program reveals that the two words translated “curse” in English are not the same term.  The first is “arar,” the same term we have listed above.  The second is “qalal.”  This term means “to be trifling, of little account.”  The first uses of this term in Genesis are:

ü Gen. 8:8,11 where it speaks of the “receding” waters of the flood.

ü Gen. 8:21 where, after the flood, God promises, I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake.

In other words, God is saying He will curse the one who considers and treats Abram as of no account.  During Abraham’s life this was seen as God protected him in Egypt and in Gerar, where Abraham called Sarah his sister. 

God’s blessings and curses are important for us to consider, especially those in place at the outset of history.  In the lists above, which are still in effect?  What difference has the cross of Christ made?