Mitzvah 1: The commandment of procreation

The commandment of procreation: [Parashat] Bereshit has one positive commandment and that is the commandment of procreation, as it is stated (Genesis 1:28), “And God blessed them and told them to procreate.”

Sefer HaChinukh cites Genesis 1:28.

And God blessed them and told them to procreate.

A corresponding passage could not be identified safely in this source record.

The laws of this commandment - when a man is obligated to be involved with it; how many sons he needs to have; what other commandments he is exempt from due to his involvement in procreation; and the rest of its details - are [all] explained in the sixth chapter of Yevamot and in Berachot. (See Shulchan Arukh, Even HaEzer 1 and Orach Chaim 70:3.)

And [it] is practiced in every place and at all times (Kiddushin 36b), and a person is obligated to be involved with it from when it is fitting for him, and this is the age which the Sages (Avot 5:21) designated to marry a woman. And this commandment is not incumbent upon women. And one who negates it violates a positive commandment; and his punishment is very great (Kiddushin 29b), as he shows that he does not want to fulfill God’s will to settle His world.

• Gittin 41b
• Isaiah 45:18
• Berakhot 25b
• Kiddushin 36b
• Kiddushin 29b