Translations
Original
Notes
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).
In the first three days, God shaped the formless world into a place where people and animals could live.
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:
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.
Events
- Creation of all thingsc. 4004 BC
Parallels
Glossary
Animals Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Creation Creation Myths Darkness Fall of Man Firmament Genesis, Book of God, Names of Hebrew Language Image of God Land Man Mesopotamia Monotheism New Creation, New Creature Night Patriarchs, Period of the Peter, Second Letter of Sea Waters of Chaos Woman Word, Word of God, Words of God
Topics
Clouds: Called The: Waters Above the Firmament Creation: Order of Second Day, Making the Firmament or Atmosphere, Earth: Primitive Condition of Firmament: The Expanse Above the Earth God: Creator Jesus, the Christ: Unclassified Scriptures Relating to the Divinity of Water: Collected in The Clouds Water: God Originally: Created the Firmament to Divide