Fruitfulness, natural

In the OT fruitfulness is often used as a way of referring to God's material and physical blessings.

God's blessing on creation generally

Genesis 1:11–12, Genesis 1:22 See also Genesis 8:17

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

Fruitfulness in the promised land

Leviticus 25:18–19 God's blessing was seen in terms of material prosperity. See also Leviticus 26:3–4; Deuteronomy 32:13, Deuteronomy 33:13–16; Ezekiel 34:27; Amos 9:14; Zechariah 8:12

You are to keep My statutes and carefully observe My judgments, so that you may dwell securely in the land. Then the land will yield its fruit, so that you can eat your fill and dwell in safety in the land.

Fruitfulness in family relationships

Such fruitfulness promised

Genesis 13:16 See also Genesis 15:5, Genesis 17:6, Genesis 17:20, Genesis 22:17; Leviticus 26:9; Deuteronomy 7:13, Deuteronomy 28:4, Deuteronomy 28:11, Deuteronomy 30:9; Psalm 128:3; Jeremiah 23:3; Ezekiel 36:11

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

Such fruitfulness commanded

Genesis 1:28 See also Genesis 9:1, Genesis 9:7, Genesis 35:11, Genesis 48:3–4

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

Examples of such fruitfulness

Psalm 105:24 See also Genesis 41:52, Genesis 47:27, Genesis 49:22; Exodus 1:7; Psalm 107:37–38

And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,