Derasha 1 on Bereishis 1:29

TT #60 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 29

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעֵ֛ץ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֥וֹ פְרִי־עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם יִהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Sanhedrin 59b (verified).

E-Daf image (Sanhedrin 59b)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן לֹא הֻתַּר לוֹ בָּשָׂר לַאֲכִילָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לָכֶם יִהְיֶה לְאָכְלָה וּלְכָל חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ — וְלֹא חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ לָכֶם. וְאַף עַל פִּי דִּכְתִיב (פָּסוּק כ״ח) וּרְדוּ בִּדְגַת הַיָּם וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבְכָל חַיָּה הָרֹמֶשֶׂת — הָנֵי לִמְלָאכָה.
English of Core Text: Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: Adam the first man was not permitted meat for eating, as it is said “it shall be yours for food, and to every beast of the earth” — and not the beast of the earth for you. And even though it is written “and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heaven...” — those [are] for work (service), not for eating.
On the daf / in context: The sugya establishes that meat was forbidden to Adam and permitted only after the Flood. Dominion is for service, not consumption.
Type of Learning: Custom (original vegetarian permission)
What Is Learned: Adam was permitted only plant food; meat was not allowed until after the Flood. Dominion over animals was for work, not for food.