Genesis 1

Commentary

The Beginning

(John 1:1-5)

1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The First Day: Light

3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

The Second Day: Firmament

6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

The Third Day: Dry Ground

9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13And the evening and the morning were the third day.

The Fourth Day: Sun, Moon, Stars

14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

The Fifth Day: Fish and Birds

20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

The Sixth Day: Creatures on Land

24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Creation
(John 1:1–5; Hebrews 11:1–3)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The First Day

3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was evening and there was morning, one day.

The Second Day

6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.” There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

The Third Day

9 God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so. 10 God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good. 11 God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth;” and it was so. 12 The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

The Fourth Day

14 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so. 16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

The Fifth Day

20 God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky.” 21 God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

The Sixth Day

24 God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind;” and it was so. 25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.

26 God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

The Creation
(John 1:1–5; Hebrews 11:1–3)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The First Day

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” a and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. b

The Second Day

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse c between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.” 7 So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

The Third Day

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. 12 The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

The Fourth Day

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. 15 And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so.

16 God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

17 God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth, 18 to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

The Fifth Day

20 And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

22 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

The Sixth Day

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself d and every creature that crawls upon it.”

27 So God created man in His own image;

in the image of God He created him;

male and female He created them. e

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.

And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

 

Footnotes:

3 a Cited in 2 Corinthians 4:6
5 b Literally day one
6 c Or a canopy  or a firmament  or a vault ; also in verses 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, and 20
26 d MT; Syriac and over all the beasts of the earth
27 e Cited in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6

The Beginning

(John 1:1-5)

1In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth -- 2the earth hath existed waste and void, and darkness is on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God fluttering on the face of the waters,

The First Day: Light

3and God saith, 'Let light be;' and light is. 4And God seeth the light that it is good, and God separateth between the light and the darkness, 5and God calleth to the light 'Day,' and to the darkness He hath called 'Night;' and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day one.

The Second Day: Firmament

6And God saith, 'Let an expanse be in the midst of the waters, and let it be separating between waters and waters.' 7And God maketh the expanse, and it separateth between the waters which are under the expanse, and the waters which are above the expanse: and it is so. 8And God calleth to the expanse 'Heavens;' and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day second.

The Third Day: Dry Ground

9And God saith, 'Let the waters under the heavens be collected unto one place, and let the dry land be seen:' and it is so. 10And God calleth to the dry land 'Earth,' and to the collection of the waters He hath called 'Seas;' and God seeth that it is good. 11And God saith, 'Let the earth yield tender grass, herb sowing seed, fruit-tree (whose seed is in itself) making fruit after its kind, on the earth:' and it is so. 12And the earth bringeth forth tender grass, herb sowing seed after its kind, and tree making fruit (whose seed is in itself) after its kind; and God seeth that it is good; 13and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day third.

The Fourth Day: Sun, Moon, Stars

14And God saith, 'Let luminaries be in the expanse of the heavens, to make a separation between the day and the night, then they have been for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years, 15and they have been for luminaries in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth:' and it is so. 16And God maketh the two great luminaries, the great luminary for the rule of the day, and the small luminary -- and the stars -- for the rule of the night; 17and God giveth them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, 18and to rule over day and over night, and to make a separation between the light and the darkness; and God seeth that it is good; 19and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day fourth.

The Fifth Day: Fish and Birds

20And God saith, 'Let the waters teem with the teeming living creature, and fowl let fly on the earth on the face of the expanse of the heavens.' 21And God prepareth the great monsters, and every living creature that is creeping, which the waters have teemed with, after their kind, and every fowl with wing, after its kind, and God seeth that it is good. 22And God blesseth them, saying, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and the fowl let multiply in the earth:' 23and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day fifth.

The Sixth Day: Creatures on Land

24And God saith, 'Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind:' and it is so. 25And God maketh the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, and God seeth that it is good.

26And God saith, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over fish of the sea, and over fowl of the heavens, and over cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that is creeping on the earth.' 27And God prepareth the man in His image; in the image of God He prepared him, a male and a female He prepared them. 28And God blesseth them, and God saith to them, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over fish of the sea, and over fowl of the heavens, and over every living thing that is creeping upon the earth.' 29And God saith, 'Lo, I have given to you every herb sowing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree sowing seed, to you it is for food; 30and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to every creeping thing on the earth, in which is breath of life, every green herb is for food:' and it is so. 31And God seeth all that He hath done, and lo, very good; and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day the sixth.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Genesis 1?
2Introduction to Genesis 1
3Context of Genesis 1
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Genesis 1 Unique Insights
7Genesis 1 Connections to Yeshua
8Genesis 1 Scriptural Echoes
9Genesis 1 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Genesis 1?

Introduction to Genesis 1

Genesis 1 stands as one of the most profound and debated passages in all of Scripture, presenting the majestic account of God’s creative work in bringing the universe into existence. This chapter lays the foundation for all biblical theology, introducing us to God as the sovereign Creator who speaks order into chaos and brings forth life through His word. The Hebrew text presents a carefully structured narrative that reveals not just how the world came to be, but more importantly, Who brought it into being and why.

Azrta box final advert

The significance of this chapter cannot be overstated – it establishes fundamental truths about God’s nature, humanity’s unique place in creation, and the inherent goodness and purpose of the physical world. Through its carefully crafted literary structure and rich theological imagery, Genesis 1 provides the framework for understanding our relationship with God and our role as stewards of His creation.

Context of Genesis 1

Genesis 1 serves as the opening chapter of the Torah (the first five books of Moses), setting the stage for the entire biblical narrative. In its immediate context, it forms part of the “primeval history” (Genesis 1-11) that explains the origins of the world and humanity’s early relationship with God. This chapter works in tandem with Genesis 2 to provide complementary perspectives on creation, with Chapter 1 focusing on the cosmic scope and ordered progression of creation, while Chapter 2 zooms in on the creation of humanity and the garden of Eden.

Within the larger biblical narrative, Genesis 1 establishes crucial themes that resonate throughout Scripture. The concept of God bringing order from chaos appears repeatedly in Scripture, from the Exodus through the Red Sea to the calming of storms in the Gospels. The pattern of God speaking and things coming into being foreshadows John 1:1-3, where the Word (Logos) is revealed as the agent of creation, later identified as the Messiah Yeshua.

The creation account also establishes the pattern of sevens and the significance of Sabbath rest, which becomes central to Israel’s identity and worship. This theme finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah, who offers true rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-29).

Ancient Key Word Study

  • “Created” (bara, ברא): This unique Hebrew verb is used exclusively with God as its subject, emphasizing divine creative activity that brings something entirely new into existence. Unlike human crafting or forming (yatzar), bara represents God’s unique ability to create ex nihilo (out of nothing).
  • “Formless and void” (tohu va’vohu, תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ): This striking Hebrew phrase describes a state of primordial chaos and emptiness. The words appear together elsewhere only in Jeremiah 4:23, suggesting complete disorder and uninhabitability.
  • “Hovering” (merachefet, מְרַחֶפֶת): The word used to describe the Spirit’s action over the waters shares its root with the image of an eagle hovering over its young in Deuteronomy 32:11, suggesting both protection and nurturing activity.
  • “Light” (or, אור): The first created element, light appears before the sun, suggesting its primordial and spiritual significance. This physical light foreshadows the spiritual light that would come through the Messiah (John 8:12).
  • “Good” (tov, טוב): Used seven times in the creation account, this word implies both aesthetic beauty and functional perfection. It suggests that creation fulfills God’s intended purpose.
  • “Image” (tzelem, צלם): This term, used to describe humanity’s relationship to God, implies both physical representation and royal function, suggesting humanity’s role as God’s vice-regents on earth.
  • “Subdue” (kavash, כבש): This royal language implies responsible dominion and stewardship, not exploitation. It connects to the ancient Near Eastern concept of kings as caretakers of their domains.
  • “Blessed” (barakh, ברך): More than just speaking well of something, this word implies empowerment to be fruitful and multiply, connecting to God’s ongoing provision and sustenance of His creation.

Compare & Contrast

  • Genesis 1:1’s opening phrase “In the beginning” (bereshit, בְּרֵאשִׁית) could have been written as “At first” (barishona, בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה). The chosen form emphasizes an absolute beginning rather than merely the first in a sequence, establishing God’s eternality and sovereignty.
  • The phrase “God said” (vayomer Elohim, וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים) appears ten times, echoing the ten utterances through which, according to Jewish tradition, the world was created. This number connects to the Ten Commandments and suggests completeness.
  • Verse 2’s description of darkness could have used the common word “choshekh” (חשֶׁךְ) alone, but adds “al-peney tehom” (עַל-פְּנֵי תְהוֹם, “over the face of the deep”), connecting to ancient Near Eastern concepts while asserting God’s sovereignty over chaos.
  • The creation of humanity uses both “Let Us make” (na’aseh, נַעֲשֶׂה) and “created” (bara, בָּרָא), when one verb would have sufficed. This emphasizes both divine deliberation and the unique nature of human creation.
  • The blessing of the Sabbath uses “vayekadesh” (וַיְקַדֵּשׁ, “sanctified”) rather than just “barakh” (blessed), establishing its unique spiritual significance.

Genesis 1 Unique Insights

The literary structure of Genesis 1 reveals profound theological truths through its carefully crafted form. The text presents creation in two parallel triads of days: days 1-3 establish realms (light/darkness, sky/waters, land/vegetation), while days 4-6 fill these realms with rulers (sun/moon, birds/fish, animals/humans). This structure emphasizes God’s orderly and purposeful creation, contrasting sharply with ancient Near Eastern creation myths that often depicted creation as the result of divine conflict.

Rabbinic tradition finds significance in the absence of the letter ס (samekh) from the creation account until the third day. The samekh, representing support or foundation, appears when the earth brings forth vegetation, suggesting that creation wasn’t fully stabilized until plant life appeared. The Zohar, a mystical Jewish text, sees the creation of light on the first day as referring to a primordial spiritual light, different from physical light, which was hidden away for the righteous in the world to come.

Early Church fathers like Origen and Augustine saw the days of creation as a template for spiritual formation, with each day representing a stage in the soul’s journey from chaos to divine order. The progression from physical light to human creation in God’s image was seen as paralleling the spiritual journey from initial illumination to full transformation in Christ.

The repeated phrase “evening and morning” establishes not just the daily cycle but, according to Jewish tradition, teaches that growth often begins in darkness before leading to light – a pattern seen throughout Scripture in God’s redemptive work.

Genesis 1 Connections to Yeshua

Genesis 1 provides the foundation for understanding Yeshua’s role in both creation and redemption. John 1:1-3 explicitly connects the Word (Logos) present at creation with the Messiah, revealing Him as the agent through whom all things were made. This connection is further strengthened in Colossians 1:15-17, which describes Yeshua as the “firstborn over all creation” through whom everything was created.

The creation of light on the first day foreshadows Yeshua as the Light of the World (John 8:12). Just as physical light brought order to chaos, Yeshua brings spiritual light that transforms darkness into light in believers’ lives. The image of God in humanity points forward to Yeshua as the perfect image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), showing us what true humanity was meant to be.

Genesis 1 Scriptural Echoes

Genesis 1’s themes reverberate throughout Scripture, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected truths. The concept of creation through God’s word echoes in Psalm 33:6-9 and finds its ultimate expression in the prologue of John’s Gospel. The image of God hovering over the waters resurfaces in the flood narrative and the Exodus, where God again brings order from chaos.

The mandate for humanity to rule over creation (Genesis 1:28) finds its perfect fulfillment in Yeshua’s dominion over all creation (Ephesians 1:20-22). The Sabbath rest established in creation becomes a sign of the covenant with Israel and points forward to the eternal rest found in Messiah (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1 echo Genesis 1 in describing the new creation, suggesting that God’s creative work continues until all things are made new in Messiah.

Genesis 1 Devotional

As we contemplate Genesis 1, we’re invited to see ourselves as part of God’s ongoing creative work. Just as He brought order from chaos in creation, He can bring order to the chaos in our lives. The pattern of speaking and seeing that “it was good” reminds us to align our words and actions with God’s creative purposes, speaking life and truth into situations.

Consider how you reflect God’s image in your daily life. Are you exercising dominion over creation in ways that honor His purposes? The six days of work followed by rest establish a rhythm for life that acknowledges both our need to be productive and our dependence on God. How might you better honor this rhythm in your own life?

The repeated phrase “God saw that it was good” challenges us to see creation – and ourselves – through God’s eyes. Take time today to appreciate the goodness of God’s creation and your unique role in it. Remember that you are part of God’s good creation, made in His image with purpose and dignity.

Did You Know

  • The Hebrew word for “God” used in Genesis 1 is “Elohim” (אֱלֹהִים), a plural form that nevertheless takes singular verbs, hinting at both God’s unity and complexity.
  • The phrase “Let there be light” in Hebrew (יְהִי אוֹר) consists of just two words, demonstrating the power and efficiency of God’s creative word.
  • Ancient Jewish tradition identifies ten creative utterances in Genesis 1, parallel to the Ten Commandments, suggesting that the world is sustained by both creation and Torah.
  • The sun and moon are not named directly in the Hebrew text but are called the “greater light” and “lesser light,” possibly to avoid any association with pagan sun and moon worship.
  • The Hebrew word for “day” (yom, יום) can refer to various periods of time, leading to diverse interpretations of the creation timeline throughout Jewish and Christian history.
  • The first letter of the Torah, ב (bet), is closed on three sides and open toward the front, suggesting that we should look forward rather than speculate about what came before creation.
  • According to Jewish tradition, God created and destroyed several worlds before this one, based on the phrase “and the earth was” rather than “and the earth became.”
  • The separation of waters above and below the firmament parallels similar concepts in other ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, while asserting יהוה’s unique creative power.
  • The command to be “fruitful and multiply” is the first blessing given to living creatures, emphasizing the importance of continuation and growth in God’s plan.
  • The Hebrew text contains precisely seven words in Genesis 1:1, reflecting the significance of the number seven throughout the creation account.
sendagiftfinal

This website has over 46,000 Biblical resources and is made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. If you’ve been blessed by these resources, please consider sending a gift today.

Bible Themes
Share your love
Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

Articles: 46824

Add your first comment to this post

Related Posts

Encounter Him Send a Gift Scroll Top