רֶ֫מֶשׂ (re.me.s)
re.me.s
creeping
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun remes refers to creatures that move close to the ground, typically translated as "creeping things" or "swarming life." It does not distinguish between insects, reptiles, or small mammals; instead, it groups them by their mode of movement. The word appears thirteen times in the Old Testament, most notably in Genesis 1:26 and 1:28, where God commands humanity to have dominion over these animals.
Its range extends beyond land-dwellers to include gliding creatures of the sea, as seen in Psalm 104:25. This broad categorization reflects an ancient observational focus on how animals interact with their environment rather than modern biological classification. In Habakkuk 3:5, the term describes pestilence and plague marching alongside divine judgment, personifying disease as a swarming force that advances upon the earth.
The etymology of remes is linked to the root meaning "to creep" or "to crawl," emphasizing low-to-the-ground motion. This distinguishes it from birds (which fly) or fish (which swim deep), placing these creatures in a category defined by their proximity to the soil or water surface. Translators often use "swarming" or "crawling" to capture this sense of dense, ground-level activity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word remes describes creatures that move close to the ground, grouping insects, reptiles, and small mammals by their motion rather than their biology. In Genesis 1:26, God places these humble animals under human care alongside livestock and birds. This inclusion shows that even the smallest, often overlooked parts of creation hold value in God’s design.
When we read about Noah’s ark or the flood narrative, remes reminds us that every creature, no matter how small, was preserved by God’s provision. It invites us to look at the natural world with a sense of wonder and responsibility. The earth is full of life that moves in quiet ways, yet all are part of His good order.
This perspective encourages a gentle stewardship. We are called to care for all living things, recognizing that God’s authority extends over every creeping thing. It is a call to appreciate the intricate details of creation and to treat them with respect.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ creeping thing4×
- creeping thing[s]3×
- <the> creeping thing of2×
- moving thing[s]1×
- like/ creeping thing[s]1×
- creeping thing1×
- and/ creeping thing[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רֶ֥מֶשׂ2×
- רֶ֙מֶשׂ֙2×
- הָ/רֶ֛מֶשׂ2×
- רֶ֭מֶשׂ1×
- רֶ֝֗מֶשׂ1×
- רֶ֖מֶשׂ1×
- כְּ/רֶ֖מֶשׂ1×
- וָ/רֶ֛מֶשׂ1×
- הָ/רֶ֙מֶשׂ֙1×
- הָ/רֶ֖מֶשׂ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:26
God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
This verse establishes human dominion over remes, linking our responsibility directly to God's creative command.
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Genesis 6:20
Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort will come to you, to keep them alive.
Here the word specifies that even the smallest ground-dwellers were gathered into the ark for preservation.
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Genesis 8:19
Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the ship.
The departure from the ark shows the restoration of this category of life to its proper place on earth.
-
Habakkuk 1:14
and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things that have no ruler over them?
The prophet uses remes as a metaphor for people without leadership, highlighting their vulnerability and lack of authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word remes mean?
How is remes different from other animal terms in the Bible?
Why is remes mentioned in the flood narrative?
Every Occurrence (13 verses across 3 books)
Genesis 10 verses
God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the…
Genesis 1:25God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on…
Genesis 1:26God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over…
Genesis 6:7Yahweh said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping…
Genesis 6:20Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind,…
Genesis 7:14they, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the…
Genesis 7:23Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and…
Genesis 8:17Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping…
Genesis 8:19Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the…
Genesis 9:3Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you.