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"REPLENISH" THE EARTH The word “replenish” in Genesis 1:28 is defined by the gapper as meaning “re-populate” or to “re-fill,” although it is used interchangeably with the word “fill” in Genesis 1:22, both coming from the same Hebrew word (מָלֵא mâlêʼ), yet many gappers conveniently ignore this. Then, while ignoring the defining word “fill” in Genesis 1:22, some gappers go on to claim that the word “replenish” is defined by 17th century poetry(!) and by its use in Genesis 9:1! No, it was defined in the same chapter of God’s word, within six verses! So much for the law of first mention, AGAIN, and so much for “BELIEVING” the Bible! The truth of the matter is that the word “replenish” can mean both, to “fill” OR to “re-fill,” since both involve a filling, which is the primary meaning, according to Genesis 1:22 with 1:28. The gap theory argument is that "replenish" in Genesis 1:28 means to "re-fill", because that's what it means in Genesis 9:1. Not necessarily. Many assume that, because we all know about the destruction of civilization by Noah’s flood, which preceded Genesis 9:1, but God actually said nothing to Noah in verse 1, nor in the next few verses, about the world that had perished. In fact, when the same commission is reiterated in verse 7, instead of using the word "replenish," God simply says. ". . . bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.” For full verse comparison, it reads thus: “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Gen. 9:1) “And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.” (Gen. 9:7) So, even in Genesis 9, it does not appear that God was emphasizing that Noah RE-fill the earth. However, even if he was emphasizing this, the argument as to whether or not the word “replenish” means to "fill" or "re-fill" is irrelevant, because of what's obvious in its Bible context. Even if we accept the "re-fill" definition, that still doesn't have to imply a pre-Adamite population, since a re-filling can also mean an "adding to" something. A waitress might re-plenish or re-fill your coffee even though your cup isn't empty or “without form and void” as a result of divine judgment. She's simply INCREASING and REFRESHING what is already there. However, if one wants to insist that a REPLACEMENT is being implied in Genesis 1:28, that's fine too. As Adam and Eve's children would have grown into adulthood, God's command to "replenish" would insure that more children would be born. It's a command to keep procreating with new life being born into the world. Furthermore, knowing that men would become sinners and subject the human race to the curse of death, it would be necessary for each generation to replace the previous one. So, even the RE-fill definition does not require a prior civilization on the earth, only a prior generation. Take your pick, whether you “fill” or “re-fill,” a gap is not required.