Topical Encyclopedia
The term "populate" refers to the act of filling or inhabiting a place with people. In the biblical context, this concept is closely tied to God's command to humanity to be fruitful and multiply, as well as His sovereign plan for the nations and peoples of the earth.
Creation and the Mandate to PopulateThe idea of populating the earth is first introduced in the Book of Genesis. After creating Adam and Eve, God gives them a clear directive: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it" (
Genesis 1:28). This command establishes the divine intention for humanity to spread across the earth, stewarding creation and establishing communities.
Post-Flood ReaffirmationFollowing the Great Flood, God reaffirms His command to Noah and his sons: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (
Genesis 9:1). This reiteration underscores the continuity of God's plan for human proliferation and the repopulation of the earth after the judgment of the flood.
The Tower of BabelThe narrative of the Tower of Babel in
Genesis 11 illustrates a deviation from God's command to populate the earth. Instead of spreading out, humanity sought to centralize and make a name for themselves by building a city and a tower. In response, God confused their language and scattered them across the earth, ensuring the fulfillment of His original mandate to populate the earth (
Genesis 11:8-9).
Israel and the Promised LandThe concept of populating is also significant in the context of Israel's history. God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (
Genesis 22:17). This promise is a testament to God's plan to populate the Promised Land with His chosen people, establishing a nation through which He would reveal Himself to the world.
The Expansion of the Early ChurchIn the New Testament, the idea of populating takes on a spiritual dimension with the Great Commission. Jesus commands His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations" (
Matthew 28:19), effectively calling for the spiritual populating of the earth with followers of Christ. The early church's rapid growth and spread throughout the Roman Empire exemplify this divine mandate.
Eschatological FulfillmentThe ultimate fulfillment of God's plan to populate the earth is seen in the eschatological vision of a new heaven and a new earth.
Revelation 7:9 describes a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne of God. This vision reflects the culmination of God's redemptive plan to gather a diverse and populous community of believers in His eternal kingdom.
Throughout Scripture, the theme of populating the earth is intricately linked to God's sovereign purposes, human obedience, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan for humanity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Populous.
2. (v. t.) To furnish with inhabitants, either by natural increase or by immigration or colonization; to cause to be inhabited; to people.
3. (v. i.) To propagate.
Strong's Hebrew
8317. sharats -- to swarm, teem... root Definition to swarm, teem NASB Word Usage breed abundantly (1), increased greatly
(1),
populate the abundantly (1), swarm (3), swarmed (2), swarms (5
...Library
Connecticut at the Close of the Revolution
... Even in the dark days of the Revolution, Connecticut's energetic people had continued
topopulate her waste places, and had carved out new towns from old...
No one ever Afterwards Quite Knew How the Crowd in the Church...
... "Yes!" went on the unabashed Miraudin, "If it were on the stage it would be taken
as a matter of course. An actor's follies help topopulate the world....
Leadership for Service
... Is such an object satisfying to a young man of business capacity, or does he want
to build a million dollar house andpopulate it with one child?...
Conformity to Type
... And this is our life"to pursue the Type, topopulate the world with it.
Our religion is not all a mistake. We are not visionaries....
Thesaurus
Populate (1 Occurrence)... people. 3. (vi) To propagate. Multi-Version Concordance
Populate (1 Occurrence).
Genesis 9:7 Be fruitful and multiply. Bring forth
...Popular (1 Occurrence)
People (13047 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) One's subjects; fellow citizens; companions; followers. 6. (vt) To stock
with people or inhabitants; to fill as with people; topopulate. Int....
Populated (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofPopulate. Multi-Version Concordance
Populated (2 Occurrences). Genesis 9:19 These three...
Resources
Who will occupy the Millennial Kingdom? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did the early Mormons believe in plural marriage? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the biblical account of Shem, Ham, and Japheth? | GotQuestions.orgPopulate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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