King James Bible
"And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth."
This marks the first blessing in Scripture, establishing God's active favor upon his creatures. The blessing takes the form of direct speech, showing God's personal investment in creation's flourishing rather than mere permission. God commands reproductive abundance, making procreation a divine mandate rather than a biological accident. This imperative establishes life's expansion as inherently good and part of God's original design. The blessing specifies distinct habitats—seas for aquatic life and earth for birds—demonstrating God's ordered intention for creatures to thrive in their appointed domains. The parallel structure emphasizes comprehensive coverage of all created spaces.