Genesis 1
The First Creation Account
1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
2The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.
3God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.
5God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
7God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
8God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
9God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so.
10God called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. God saw that it was good.
11God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth;” and it was so.
12The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
13There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
14God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years;
15and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so.
16God 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.
17God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth,
18and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.
19There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
20God said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.”
21God 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.
22God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
23There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
24God 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.
25God 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.
26God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. 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.”
27God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
28God 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.”
29God 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.
30To 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.
31God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
Genesis 1 presents the majestic account of God's creation of the universe in six days, establishing the fundamental biblical truth that God is the sovereign Creator of all things. The chapter follows a structured pattern where God speaks creation into existence, evaluates each work as good, and organizes the cosmos from formless chaos into ordered beauty. The narrative culminates with humanity being created in God's image, highlighting their unique role and relationship with the Creator.
Context
This opening chapter establishes the theological foundation for the entire biblical narrative, setting the stage for humanity's relationship with God that will unfold throughout Genesis and beyond.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2The Beginning StateGod creates the heavens and earth, which initially exists in formless, dark chaos.
- 3-5Day One: Light and DarknessGod creates light, separates it from darkness, and establishes the cycle of day and night.
- 6-8Day Two: Sky and WatersGod creates an expanse to separate the waters above from the waters below.
- 9-13Day Three: Land and VegetationGod separates land from seas and creates plants, grass, and fruit trees.
- 14-19Day Four: Sun, Moon, and StarsGod creates celestial bodies to govern day and night and mark seasons and time.
- 20-23Day Five: Sea Creatures and BirdsGod creates marine life and birds, blessing them with the command to multiply.
- 24-31Day Six: Land Animals and HumanityGod creates land animals and humanity in His image, giving them dominion over creation.
The First Creation Account
1:1–1:31God creates the heavens and earth in six days, establishing order from chaos through divine speech. This foundational account establishes God's sovereignty over all creation.
quotation_chain
The Hebrew phrase "bara elohim" (God created) appears exclusively with God as subject throughout the Old Testament, distinguishing divine creation from human making or forming.
Genesis 1:2
Jeremiah 4:23lexicalI saw the earth and, behold, it was waste and void, and the heavens, and they had no light.
Isaiah 34:11lexicalBut the pelican and the porcupine will possess it. The owl and the raven will dwell in it. He will stretch the line of c…
Genesis 1:5
Job 17:12lexicalThey change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
Psalms 139:11lexicalIf I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
Zechariah 14:7lexicalIt will be a unique day which is known to the LORD—not day, and not night; but it will come to pass that at evening time…
Judges 16:2lexicalThe Gazites were told, “Samson is here!” They surrounded him and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, an…
1 Samuel 14:36lexicalSaul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light. Let’s not…
Genesis 1:8
Exodus 29:39lexicalThe one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at evening;
Exodus 29:41lexicalThe other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning and accordin…
Esther 2:14lexicalIn the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, th…
Numbers 28:4lexicalYou shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and you shall offer the other lamb at evening,
Numbers 28:8lexicalThe other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall off…
Genesis 1:11
Joel 2:22lexicalDon’t be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. T…
Exodus 10:15lexicalFor they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and…
Leviticus 27:30lexical“‘All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s. It is holy to…
Genesis 1:12
Exodus 10:15lexicalFor they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and…
Leviticus 27:30lexical“‘All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s. It is holy to…
Genesis 1:16
Psalms 136:9lexicalthe moon and stars to rule by night, for his loving kindness endures forever;
Genesis 1:18
Psalms 139:11lexicalIf I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
Job 17:12lexicalThey change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
Exodus 14:20lexicalIt came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light by nig…
Genesis 1:20
Genesis 7:21lexicalAll flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the ear…
Leviticus 11:43lexicalYou shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps. You shall not make yourselves unclean with…
Leviticus 11:41lexical“‘Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination. It shall not be eaten.
Leviticus 11:42lexicalWhatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that cre…
Leviticus 11:29lexical“‘These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, the rat, any ki…
Genesis 1:21
Genesis 7:14lexicalthey, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth…
Genesis 7:21lexicalAll flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the ear…
Leviticus 11:46lexical“‘This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every cr…
Genesis 8:17lexicalBring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thin…
Leviticus 11:29lexical“‘These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, the rat, any ki…
Genesis 1:22
Genesis 9:1lexicalGod blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.
Genesis 8:17lexicalBring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thin…
Exodus 1:7lexicalThe children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the lan…
Genesis 17:20lexicalAs for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedin…
Genesis 28:3lexicalMay God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples,
Genesis 1:24
Genesis 6:20lexicalOf the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind,…
Genesis 7:14lexicalthey, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth…
Genesis 1:25
Genesis 6:20lexicalOf the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind,…
Genesis 7:14lexicalthey, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth…
Genesis 7:23lexicalEvery living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and b…
Genesis 6:7lexicalThe LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping…
Genesis 1:26
Ezekiel 38:20lexicalso that the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all creeping things who creep on the earth,…
Genesis 7:14lexicalthey, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth…
Genesis 8:17lexicalBring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thin…
Genesis 7:23lexicalEvery living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and b…
Genesis 6:7lexicalThe LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping…
Genesis 1:27
Genesis 5:2lexicalHe created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam.
Matthew 19:4quotationHe answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
Genesis 1:28
Genesis 8:17lexicalBring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thin…
Genesis 9:2lexicalThe fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that…
Ezekiel 38:20lexicalso that the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all creeping things who creep on the earth,…
Genesis 9:1lexicalGod blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.
Genesis 22:17lexicalthat I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sa…
Genesis 1:29
Exodus 10:15lexicalFor they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and…
Leviticus 27:30lexical“‘All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s. It is holy to…
Genesis 1:30
Genesis 9:3lexicalEvery moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you.
Ezekiel 38:20lexicalso that the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all creeping things who creep on the earth,…
Genesis 9:2lexicalThe fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that…
Ezekiel 29:5lexicalI’ll cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers. You’ll fall on the open field. You won’t be…
Exodus 10:15lexicalFor they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and…
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