Dominion Over the Animals Hinges on Human Merit

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 14:2

(Genesis 1:27-29) "And have dominion over the fish of the sea": if they merit it, "have dominion" [u-redu], and if not, "let them be brought down" [yeradu]. The one who is in our image and after our likeness, "have dominion"; and the one who is not in our image and after our likeness, "let them be brought down."

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