43. Verse 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas; and let birds be multiplied upon the earth.

Everything that has life in it from the Lord is fruitful and multiplies without limit. This does not happen during a person's lifetime, but in the next life it does so to an astonishing extent. In the Word 'to be fruitful' has reference to matters of love, while 'to multiply' has reference to matters of faith. The fruit of love contains the seed by which it multiplies itself to so great an extent. The Lord' s blessing also means, in the Word, fruitfulness and multiplication, for they are the outcome of that blessing.

Verse 23 And there was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day.

6656. 'Perhaps they will multiply, and it will be when wars occur' means superior strength if they increase. This is clear from the meaning of 'multiplying' as increasing in regard to truths, dealt with in 43, 55, 913, 983, 2846, 2847; and from the meaning of 'wars' as conflicts involving truths and falsities, which are spiritual conflicts, dealt with in 1664, 2686. And since the words that follow are 'they also will join themselves to our enemies', superior strength in those conflicts is meant.