PEROU OURBOU

Here are two very important words from the Bible,Genesis 1:28 God blessed Adam and Eve and 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 air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. "
This directive immediately follows the creation of mankind, underlining its importance as one of the first mandates given by God. This mandate is repeated to Noah and his family after the flood (Genesis 9:1): God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth".

This repetition reinforces the relevance of this mandate, linking humanity's origins and its existence after the flood in an unbroken pattern of blessing and responsibility.
Many of these verses are found in other forms throughout the Pentateuch and the other books of the Bible. They are also found in the New Testament. I'll check the Koran for any mention of them.I'm going to give my own interpretation of the text, without seeing what other translators have given. The two words in the title are of course in Hebrew
PERU comes from Péri, meaning fruit. In this context, it means to bear fruit, to fructify.

And OURBU comes from Rabim , meaning many, in other words, multiply?
A whole commandment that doesn't sound like an overly embarrassing activity, for here is an act of love that serves to perpetuate our human family. I don't know how many of us appreciate such a commandment, or respect it without understanding its dimension?
If our planet today has a population that some claim to be excessive, we would have to believe that this commandment has been respected by all.

I realize, however, if that this act of love, whose origin was to bear fruit, has changed its original dimension? Indeed, many commit it without necessarily paying attention to what it was originally. It's no longer a question of multiplying, but rather of enjoying such pleasure...

It's also unfortunate that many of us don't want to have children. It's too expensive, they say. The act is still there, even if its primary reason is no longer the one I mentioned.

If we want to find a theological meaning, there's a lot to be said for the commandment: "Be fruitful and multiply" is not limited to having children - although procreation is at the heart of this commandment. It underlines God's design for families, inheritance and generational blessing, showing that human multiplication reflects a divine order and purpose.

As a further commentary on the broader narrative of Scripture, fruitfulness underlines God's desire to see his creation flourish under his dominion. The command given to mankind to "subdue" and "dominate" the earth (Genesis 1:28) acknowledges that humans are the stewards of creation. The multiplication of humanity on the earth and the cultivation of the planet (Genesis 2:15) further reflect the responsibility to care for, manage and enjoy God's creation.

It would seem that the first human family was immediately called upon to propagate life. This design for reproduction is woven into the very fabric of biological systems, testifying to a Creator who created organisms with profound reproductive and adaptive capacities that strongly suggest intentional design.

And that, in a nutshell, is what the two title words have achieved. It's up to the reader to judge, understand and apply these beautiful remarks.