Genesis 1:26 in the Updated American Standard Version (UASV) reads:
“And God went on to say, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

The Hebrew phrase in question is:

וּבְכָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ
“and over all the earth.”

This verse presents a notable textual variation in the Syriac Peshitta, which reads “over all the wild animals of the earth” rather than “over all the earth.” The issue here requires close examination of the Hebrew Masoretic Text, the ancient versions, and the overall textual tradition to establish the most reliable original wording.

The Masoretic Text Tradition

The Masoretic Text (MT), represented most prominently in the Aleppo Codex (c. 930 C.E.) and Codex Leningrad B 19A (1008 C.E.), preserves the phrase וּבְכָל־הָאָרֶץ without qualification. The Hebrew wording is unambiguous: “and over all the earth.” There is no trace of the phrase “wild animals” or any noun substitution in these key manuscripts. The uniformity of the Masoretic tradition at this point is significant because the Masoretes were meticulous in preserving consonantal integrity, and their careful work provides the primary base text of the Old Testament.

The Masoretic scribes also transmitted extensive marginal notes (Masorah) to safeguard textual precision. In Genesis 1:26, there is no Masoretic marginal note indicating any alternate reading or doubt. The absence of scribal notation suggests that the phrase וּבְכָל־הָאָרֶץ was stable and undisputed in the authoritative Hebrew tradition.

The Witness of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Fragments of Genesis from Qumran, including 4QGenb and 4QGend, are unfortunately not extant for this exact verse. However, where they do preserve Genesis, the scrolls consistently align with the proto-Masoretic tradition. In cases where the Dead Sea Scrolls diverge, they usually show minor orthographic or spelling differences, not wholesale substitution of words. Thus, while no direct evidence for Genesis 1:26 survives from Qumran, the broader pattern suggests continuity with the Masoretic reading “and over all the earth.”

The Septuagint Tradition

The Septuagint (LXX), translated in the 3rd century B.C.E., renders the phrase as καὶ κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν (“and over all the earth”). This reflects a faithful translation of the Hebrew Vorlage that matches the Masoretic Text. The LXX bears strong witness that as early as the 3rd century B.C.E., the Hebrew text read “and over all the earth” rather than “over all the wild animals of the earth.”

Thus, the Septuagint confirms the antiquity of the Masoretic reading and undercuts any suggestion that the Syriac preserves a more original text.

The Syriac Peshitta Variant

The Syriac Peshitta reads “and over all the wild animals of the earth” (ܘܥܠ ܟܠܗܘܢ ܚܝܘܬܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ). This is clearly an expansion or interpretive rendering rather than a literal translation of the Hebrew. The Peshitta is known to have frequent textual divergences, sometimes harmonizing, sometimes paraphrasing. In Genesis 1:26, the substitution of “wild animals” for “earth” may reflect an attempt by the translator to clarify the scope of human dominion, aligning it more closely with verse 28, where the text again mentions animals explicitly.

However, the Syriac variant stands alone. It is not supported by the Masoretic tradition, the Septuagint, the Vulgate, the Targums, or any known Hebrew textual witness. Therefore, it cannot carry decisive weight in textual reconstruction.

The Targums and the Vulgate

The Aramaic Targums, which often expand interpretively, preserve the sense of “earth” rather than “wild animals.” Likewise, the Latin Vulgate reads “et universam terram” (“and over all the earth”), confirming Jerome’s Hebrew Vorlage matched the Masoretic text.

The agreement of these versions with the MT and LXX further demonstrates the singularity of the Syriac rendering.

Textual Evaluation

Given the manuscript evidence, the original reading is undoubtedly וּבְכָל־הָאָרֶץ, “and over all the earth.” The Syriac Peshitta’s reading “wild animals of the earth” is a secondary interpretive expansion rather than a reflection of an alternate Hebrew Vorlage. The weight of manuscript authority lies firmly with the Masoretic Text, supported by the Septuagint, Vulgate, and Targums.

From a textual criticism standpoint, the principle of lectio difficilior (the more difficult reading is preferred) does not apply here, because the Syriac’s “wild animals” is not inherently more difficult but rather artificially explanatory. The shorter, more general Masoretic reading is superior and original.

Theological and Contextual Implications

The phrase “over all the earth” carries broader dominion than “over all the wild animals.” Humanity’s authority is not limited to living creatures but extends to the created order as a whole. This fits the literary structure of Genesis 1, which presents man as the climax of creation, endowed with dominion over both living beings and the environment itself. The Syriac rendering diminishes the scope of man’s authority, narrowing it to creatures, whereas the original text clearly conveys a universal dominion.

Thus, the Masoretic reading reflects the intended breadth of God’s declaration, emphasizing man’s comprehensive role as steward over creation, not merely over the animal kingdom.

You May Also Enjoy

The Goal of Old Testament Textual Criticism: Establishing the Original Words Without the Autographs

About the Author

CLICK LINKED IMAGE TO VISIT ONLINE STORE

CLICK TO SCROLL THROUGH OUR BOOKS