Genesis 1:6

Translations

Modern

And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.”

Traditional

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Literal

And God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it be dividing between waters and waters.”

Latin

Dixit quoque Deus: Fiat firmamentum in medio aquarum: et dividat aquas ab aquis.

Original

Hebrew

English

And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.”

Notes

Genesis 1:6–8

The creation story describes how things appear from a human perspective. The sky looks like a shiny dome separating two groups of water (see Job 37:18; Ezekiel 1:22). In the ancient Near East, people understood the universe to have three levels, with rain coming from the highest level (see Genesis 7:11–12 and study note).

Genesis 1:3–13

In the first three days, God shaped the formless world into a place where people and animals could live.

Genesis 1:1–2:3

These verses introduce the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). They teach Israel that one true God created, ordered, and populated the world, not the gods of nearby nations.
God blessed three specific things:
- animal life (1:22–25),
- human life (1:27), and
- the Sabbath day (2:3).
These three blessings emphasize the Creator's plan. God made humans in his image to rule in his place over earth's creatures and to join in God's Sabbath rest.

Theme notes and profiles

God’s New Covenant God’s Uniqueness God’s Word Symbolic Numbers The Creation The Creator-King The Word The World Women’s Roles in the New Testament Church

Events

Creation of all things

Related verses

Jeremiah 51:15
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
Psalm 33:6
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
Job 37:18
…can you, like Him, spread out the skies, as strong as a mirror of bronze?
Job 26:7–8
He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing.
Jeremiah 10:12–13
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
Psalm 104:2
He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,
Psalm 148:4
Praise Him, O highest heavens, and you waters above the skies.
Psalm 33:9
For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.
Psalm 136:5–6
By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.
Psalm 19:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Zechariah 12:1
This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him:
Psalm 150:1
Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens.

Genesis 1:6

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Related verses

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Glossary

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