Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 9:1

"And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." — Genesis 9:1 (ASV)

God blessed Noah. —The blessing bestowed upon Noah, the second father of humankind, is exactly parallel to that given to our first father in Genesis 1:28-29; Genesis 2:16–17, with a significant addition growing out of the past. There is the same command to fill the world with human life, and the same promise that the fear of humans shall rest upon all living creatures; but this grant of dominion is so extended that the animals are now given to humans for their food.

But just as there was a restriction regarding Adam’s food, the fruit of the tree of knowledge being denied him, so now there is a prohibition against the eating of blood. The addition is the sanctity given to human life, with the evident object of guarding against such a disruption of the human race as was the result of Cain’s murder of Abel. Thus, humans start afresh upon their task of subjugating the earth, with increased empire over the animal world, and with their own lives more solemnly guarded and made secure.