As a Christian vegan, one of the most common objections to veganism that I encounter when talking to other Christians is, “But man was given dominion over the animals.” So I want to talk about this very important concept that I believe has been deeply misunderstood. This misunderstanding is at the root of an incomprehensible amount of suffering, violence, needless death and destruction. It is a misunderstanding that, in my opinion, has grieved the heart of God. Let’s take a closer look at “dominion.”

The original Hebrew word for dominion is radah, which means to rule. There are two basic connotations of this word, one positive and one negative. The positive connotation is to rule in a Godly way, or responsible stewardship. The negative is to subjugate, dominate. The former is the view that I hold, and that I hope to demonstrate is the correct view.

I should add that when it comes to interpretations of the word dominion, there is a third view, one that is sort of in between the two I mentioned above. This view is very popular these days, and it’s basically “We are caretakers of this earth, it’s our job to manage and use animals, but in a humane way.” The problem with this interpretation is that like the second one above, it is anthropocentric. It is rooted in the idea that animals were put here for us. That idea leads to the belief that we can kill them and use them as food or other “resources” for our interests, with little to no regard for their lives, so long as they are treated “in a humane way.” There is so much to be said about the “humane slaughter” myth, but I will save that for another time. The bottom line is, this interpretation, like the second one, is not in line with God’s original intent.

I think that part of the problem is that certain lexicons list the negative connotations of radah (for example, ‘to dominate, subjugate’) alongside the words ‘to rule’, which has misled people. However, what’s important is the true biblical meaning of the word, what the original writer, inspired by God, meant when using the word radah, in the context of Genesis 1. Not how fallible men have interpreted the word.

Two Interesting Clues

Something very important and telling, in my view, is the placement of the word dominion in Genesis 1. There are two important things to notice, two clues which indicate what dominion really means. The first thing to notice is that when dominion is mentioned for the first time, (Genesis 1:26) within that same verse is the statement that we were made in the image of God. Why is this significant? The fact that the word dominion is placed right alongside the statement that we were made in God’s image suggests that the two concepts are linked, they are harmonious.

What does it mean to be made in the image of God? There are different views on this, and I believe that just as there is a collective misunderstanding on dominion, there is also a misunderstanding on what it means to be made in the image of God. I’m not going to go through all of the interpretations, but one of the common interpretations is that unlike the rest of creation, humans were created with certain characteristics of God. We are rational, creative beings with the ability to understand right from wrong. The problem with this interpretation is that angels also have those attributes, and even some animals can display rationality and creativity. But the Bible does not say that any other beings were made in the image of God. “Imago Dei” is unique to human beings. So what is it? I believe that being made in God’s image is not ontological or biological, it has to do with a unique calling, or purpose. God’s intent was for us to be His image-bearers or representatives on this earth. We were to be His stewards and caretakers of creation.

So getting back to dominion, our divine calling to rule over the rest of creation should harmonize with our divine purpose as image-bearers of God. Let us look at the dominion verse, with fresh eyes:

Genesis 1:26

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” .

So if we were called to rule or manage creation, as representatives of God, how should we rule? We should resemble God. And what is God’s nature? Love. God is loving, holy, merciful and just. God is not selfish and self-serving, but demonstrates a sacrificial love.

Another way to look at this is that God gave us a kingship… but what kind of kings do we want to be? Despotic, selfish, callous and violent? Or servant kings, kings who are image-bearers of the King above all kings? God is a good King, He loves and cares about those He rules over, not only humans, but ALL of creation. (Genesis 1:31, Psalm 145:9)

Does dominion mean the ability to eat animals?

The second important thing to notice is that immediately after the verses on dominion is the verse that states mankind’s true diet, what God intended for us to eat. In fact, the second mention of dominion (verse 28) is sandwiched right in between two important points:

1. We were made in the image of God. (Gen 1:27)
2. We were given a 100% plant-based diet. (Gen 1:29)

Let’s take a look:

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

Genesis 1:27-29

Adam and Eve had dominion in the Garden of Eden, yet there was no flesh-eating at that time. If the word dominion equates to ‘the ability to kill and eat animals,’ then it stands to reason that God would have mentioned animal flesh at the beginning, as one of the things He intended mankind to eat. But that’s not the case. In the Garden of Eden, God’s original design was peace and harmony among all creation, non-violence, and as stated in Genesis 1:29, a 100% plant-based diet. In fact, in the very beginning, even the animals were herbivores. (Genesis 1:30)

Peace and harmony among all creation was not only God’s original plan, it is God’s eternal plan. God will restore the peaceful world He created in the beginning, as we can see in prophetic scriptures such as Isaiah 11. (“The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together, and a child will lead them….. None will harm or destroy another on My entire holy mountain…”)

British theologian and author Andrew Linzey sums all of this up eloquently:

“At the heart of the Judeo-Christian tradition is the dream of peace. Many people refer to how humans are given “dominion” in Genesis 1, and that’s true. But if you look at the whole saga: in verse 27, humans are made in the image of God; in verse 28, they’re given dominion, and in verse 29, they’re given a vegetarian diet. Herb-eating dominion is hardly a license for despotism. The original author was seeking to describe a relationship — not of egotistical exploitation — but of care for the earth. It’s extraordinary that almost 2000 years of biblical exegesis should so often have overlooked the radical vegetarian message in Genesis 1.”

Andrew Linzey, interview, Satya, February 1996

Conclusion

“Dominion” does not mean exploit, abuse, kill and eat animals. It means to rule in the same way God rules over us – with love and respect for God’s creation that He entrusted to us – both the physical earth and His precious animals, who are innocent and vulnerable. We are called to be merciful, caring and just. We were not called to be despotic, self-serving, callous, violent kings, but servant kings who are representatives of God, the King of kings.

Let us no longer use dominion as an excuse to satisfy the desires of our flesh. Let us finally live out our divine calling as loving and merciful stewards of HIS creation.