Have children with one's wife

The Literal Commandment

God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:28)

 

The literal commandment is that a man and his wife should be fruitful and multiply their offspring.

 

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

 

Pictures of Messiah

This commandment to have children with one's wife pictures the process of spiritual birth: Messiah works through His bride (the body of believers) to accomplish the "birth" of new believers.

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

No evidence is given in Scripture that Messiah literally fulfilled this command: He never married a woman and never physically had children. Since He did not marry then He did not violate this command to have children with His wife.

 

Traditional Observance

The traditional understanding of this commandment is a husband and wife should have at least two children to replace themselves and "fill the earth".

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and a man should have children with one's wife... as G-d provides.

 

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Commandment Details

  • Mishneh Torah # 125
  • Mishneh Torah Book # 4
  • Mishneh Torah Book Women
  • Mishneh Torah Category 20- Marriage
  • Reference Genesis 1:28
  • Scripture Book Genesis
  • Chapter 1
  • Verse 28
  • English God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'
  • Hebrew כח וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם, אֱלֹהִים, וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וּמִלְאוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, וְכִבְשֻׁהָ; וּרְדוּ בִּדְגַת הַיָּם, וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבְכָל-חַיָּה, הָרֹמֶשֶׂת עַל-הָאָרֶץ.
  • Greek 28 καὶ ηὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς λέγων Αὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθύνεσθε καὶ πληρώσατε τὴν γῆν καὶ κατακυριεύσατε αὐτῆς καὶ ἄρχετε τῶν ἰχθύων τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ τῶν πετεινῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ πάσης τῆς γῆς καὶ πάντων τῶν ἑρπετῶν τῶν ἑρπόντων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
  • Parashah 1- Bereshit
  • Positive/Negative Positive
  • Sefer Hachinuch # 1
  • Sef. Hach. Command Be fruitful and multiply
  • Category Marriage and Family
  • We can fulfill today Yes

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