John Calvin Commentary Genesis 9:2

"And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens; With all wherewith the ground teemeth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered." — Genesis 9:2 (ASV)

And the fear of you. This also mainly relates to the restoration of the world, so that sovereignty over the other animals could remain with humans. And although after the fall of man, the beasts were given new ferocity, some remnants of that dominion over them, which God had given him in the beginning, still remained.

He now also promises that the same dominion will continue. We indeed see that wild beasts violently attack people, and maul and tear many of them to pieces; and if God did not wonderfully control their fierceness, the human race would be completely destroyed. Therefore, what we have said concerning the harshness of the weather and the irregularity of the seasons also applies here.

Savage beasts indeed prevail and rage against people in various ways, and it is no wonder; for since we stubbornly exalt ourselves against God, why should not the beasts rise up against us? Nevertheless, God's providence is a secret bridle to control their violence. For, why do serpents spare us, unless it is because He represses their virulence?

Why is it that tigers, elephants, lions, bears, wolves, and countless other wild beasts do not maul, tear, and devour all humans, except that they are restrained by this subjection, as by a barrier? Therefore, it should be attributed to the special protection and guardianship of God that we remain safe.

For, if it were otherwise, what could we expect, since they seem as though born for our destruction and burn with a furious desire to harm us? Moreover, the bridle with which the Lord restrains the cruelty of wild beasts, to prevent them from attacking people, is a certain fear and dread that God has implanted in them, so that they might revere the presence of humans.

Daniel especially declares this concerning kings; namely, that they possess dominion because the Lord has put the fear and dread of them on both humans and beasts. But as the primary purpose of this fear is to protect human society, so, in proportion to the general authority God has given humans over the beasts, there exists in the greatest and the least of humans a certain hidden mark that prevents the violent cruelty of wild beasts from prevailing.

Another advantage, however, and one more far-reaching, is noted here: namely, that humans can make animals serve their own convenience and can use them in various ways, according to their desires and needs. Therefore, the fact that oxen become accustomed to bear the yoke; that the wildness of horses is so subdued that they carry a rider; that they accept the pack-saddle to bear burdens; that cows give milk and allow themselves to be milked; that sheep are mute under the hand of the shearer—all these facts are the result of this dominion, which, although greatly diminished, is nonetheless not entirely abolished.