The word domain means "to rule or to have power over". God has a sovereign power over his creation and has delegated authority to man to have dominion over animals (Genesis 1:26). David reinforces this truth: "You made him [a human being] master over the works of your hands, you put everything under his feet" (Psalm 8: 6). Mankind had to "subjugate" the earth (Genesis 1:28), we had to maintain a position of command over it; They placed us in a superior position and we had to exercise control over the land, its flora and fauna. The human being was created as the ruler of this world. Everything else was subject to him.
God's command to dominate the earth and animal life is an order to have dominion over everything. A true domain (of anything) can not be achieved without clarity of what is being mastered. For a musician to master the violin, he must really understand the instrument. For human beings to achieve dominion over the animal kingdom, we must understand animals.
The responsibility to govern well comes as a result of the authority to govern. There is an inherent responsibility in the mandate to subjugate the earth. Man has the duty to exercise his dominion under the authority of the one who has delegated it to him. All authority belongs to God "(Romans 13: 1-5), and he delegates it to whomever he wishes (Daniel 4:17) The word subjugate does not have to imply violence or mistreatment, it can mean" putting oneself under cultivation ".
Man must be the steward of the earth; he must bring the material world and all its varied elements for the service of God and the good of humanity. The order to subjugate the earth is actually part of God's blessing on humanity. Adam and Eve, who were created in the image of God, were to use the great resources of the earth for the service of God and of themselves. Making this decree would only make sense to God, since only human beings were created in his image.
When God gave mankind dominion over animals, it was to take care of them, care for them, and use those animals to their full potential in a just way. At the time God gave mankind dominion over animals, humans did not eat meat (Genesis 1:29). Until after the flood it was that meat began to be eaten (Genesis 9: 1-3), and it was at that time that the animals began to be afraid of humans. However, even though God changed the way we interact with animals, since they are now "flesh", we still have a responsibility to treat them with compassion. The human rule about animals does not mean that we have the right to mistreat them or to use them in an improper way.
Tener dominio sobre los animales debería implicar que el ser humano los maneje como el recurso para el que Dios ordenó que fueran. Debemos considerar que al ser humano se le dio la tarea (y la bendición) de representar a Dios en este mundo. Somos los encargados de cuidar. Dominamos sobre toda la tierra, y nosotros (teniendo la imagen de Dios), tenemos la responsabilidad de actuar como Dios lo haría. ¿Abusa Dios de su creación? No. ¿Es Dios insensato en el uso que hace de los recursos? No. ¿Alguna vez Dios ha sido inhumano, egoísta o derrochador? No. Entonces nosotros tampoco deberíamos serlo. Cualquier uso indebido o maltrato de la creación de Dios, es el resultado del pecado y no el resultado de seguir el mandato original de Dios. Debemos cumplir con nuestro deber de administrar sabiamente la tierra hasta el tiempo en que el lobo se acueste con el cordero en el reino de Cristo (Isaías 11:6).