Genesis 1

1 In the beginning [from the very first, at the start of all things] God [Elohim, the one supreme God] created [brought into being, made from nothing] the heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm] and the earth [the land, the physical world]. word study 2 Now the earth [without shape or form, void of life] was formless [a desolate wasteland, empty] and void [completely empty, lacking purpose], and darkness [spiritual and physical, a state of misery] was over [above, covering] the surface [face, presence] of the deep [the ocean, the subterranean water supply]. And the Spirit [breath of life, divine presence] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] was hovering [brooding, protecting] over [above, watching] the surface [face, presence] of the waters [the source of life, refreshment]. word study 3 And God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] said, “Let there be [come into existence, shine forth] light [natural and spiritual illumination, happiness],” and there was [existed, came to be] light [radiance from God, wisdom]. word study 4 And God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] saw [looked upon with care, perceived] that the light [natural and spiritual illumination, happiness] was good [beneficial, pleasing, of high quality], and He separated [divided, made a distinction] the light [physical or spiritual illumination] from [between, distinguishing] the darkness [absence of light, spiritual wickedness]. word study 5 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] called the light [natural and spiritual illumination] “day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time],” and the darkness [physical and spiritual, misery or wickedness] He called “night [a period of rest, adversity, or hardship].” And there was [came into being, existed] evening [sunset, the end of a day], and there was morning [the break of day, a new beginning]—the first [one, unique] day [a literal or figurative period of time]. word study 6 And God [Elohim, the one supreme God] said, “Let there be [come into existence, be brought forth] an expanse [a solid arch, firmament] between [in the midst of, among] the waters [liquid, source of refreshment], to separate [divide, set apart] the waters [above] from the waters [below].” word study 7 So God [Elohim, the one supreme God] made [created, brought into being] the expanse [the firmament, solid sky] and separated [divided, set apart] the waters [liquid, source of refreshment] beneath [under, below] it from the waters [liquid, source of refreshment] above [on, over]. And it was so [thus, in agreement]. word study 8 God [Elohim, the one supreme God] called the expanse [the firmament, the sky] “sky [heaven, the visible universe].” And there was [came into being, existed] evening [sunset, the end of the day], and there was morning [the break of day, a new beginning]—the second day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time]. word study 9 And God [Elohim, the one supreme God] said, “Let the waters [liquid or source of refreshment] under [beneath, underneath] the sky [heaven, the visible universe] be gathered [collected, come together] into one [united, single] place [location, region], so that the dry land [ground, earth] may appear [be seen, come into view].” And it was so [thus, in agreement]. word study 10 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] called the dry land [ground, earth’s surface] “earth [the land, a country, or territory],” and the gathering [collection, pool] of waters He called [named, designated] “seas [large bodies of water, oceans].” And God saw [looked upon, observed] that it was [is, existed as] good [beneficial, pleasing, righteous]. word study 11 Then God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] said, “Let the earth [the land, the material world] bring forth [sprout, grow green] vegetation [grass, new growth]: seed-bearing [producing seeds, yielding fruit] plants [herbs, green growth] and fruit trees [trees yielding fruit after their kind], each bearing [producing, yielding] fruit [the product of the earth, the result of labor] with seed [offspring, descendants] according to its kind [species, type, as designed by God].” And it was [came to be, existed] so [thus, in this manner]. word study 12 The earth [the land, ground, or soil] produced [brought forth, yielded] vegetation [tender grass, new growth]: seed-bearing [sowing seed, yielding fruit] plants [herbs, green plants] according to their kinds [species, types] and trees [wood, strong and firm objects] bearing [making, producing] fruit [the fruit that comes from the ground] with seed [offspring, descendants] according to their kinds [species, types]. And God [Elohim, the supreme One] saw [looked after, provided for] that it was good [beneficial, pleasing]. word study 13 And there was [came into being, existed] evening [sunset, the end of a day], and there was [came into being, existed] morning [the break of day, a new beginning]—the third [third in sequence, following the second] day [a 24-hour period, a unit of time]. word study 14 And God [Elohim, the one supreme God] said, “Let there be lights [luminaries, celestial bodies] in the expanse [firmament, solid surface] of the sky [heaven, the visible universe] to distinguish [separate, divide] between the day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] and the night [a period of darkness, adversity], and let them be signs [miraculous signs, wonders] to mark [indicate, signal] the seasons [appointed times, festivals] and days [literal or figurative periods] and years [periods of time, ages]. word study 15 And let them serve [come into being, exist] as lights [luminaries, sources of happiness] in the expanse [firmament, solid surface] of the sky [heaven, the visible universe] to shine [give light, illuminate] upon [on, above] the earth [land, material world].” And it was so [thus, in agreement]. word study 16 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] made two great [in size, importance, or power] lights: the greater [more prominent, shining brighter] light to rule [have control or dominion over] the day [a 24-hour period, a time of light] and the lesser [smaller, less prominent] light to rule [govern or direct] the night [a time of darkness, a period of rest]. And He made the stars [shining celestial bodies] as well. word study 17 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] set [gave, put, or placed] these lights [in the firmament of heaven] in the expanse [of the heavens, the sky] of the sky to shine [give light, illuminate] upon [on, above, or over] the earth [the land, the material world], word study 18 to preside over [rule, have dominion] the day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] and the night [a period of darkness, adversity], and to separate [divide, set apart] the light [natural and spiritual, happiness and prosperity] from the darkness [physical and spiritual, misery and wickedness]. And God [Elohim, the one supreme God] saw [looked after, provided for] that it was [is, and remains] good [beneficial, pleasing, welfare]. word study 19 And there was [came into being, existed] evening [sunset, the end of a day], and there was [came into being, existed] morning [the break of day, a new beginning]—the [fourth in a sequence, a period of time] fourth day [a 24-hour period, a unit of time]. word study 20 And God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] said, “Let the waters [the liquid, a source of refreshment] teem [swarm, abound] with living creatures [small animals, insects, or reptiles], and let birds [fowl, flying creatures] fly [soar, glide] above [on, over] the earth [the land, the material world] in the open [visible, exposed] expanse [the sky, the heavens] of the sky [the atmosphere, the heavens].” word study 21 So God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] created [brought forth, made] the great [large, mighty] sea creatures [sea monsters, whales] and every living [having life, breathing] thing that moves [creeps, crawls], with which the waters [the seas, the oceans] teemed [swarmed, abounded] according to their kinds [species, types], and every bird [winged creature, fowl] of flight [with wings] after its kind [type, species]. And God saw [looked, observed] that it was good [beneficial, pleasing]. word study 22 Then God [Elohim, the supreme ruler] blessed them and said, “Be fruitful [produce abundant life] and multiply [increase in number, thrive] and fill [make complete, abundant] the waters [liquid, source of refreshment] of the seas [large bodies of water], and let birds [flying creatures] multiply [increase, become numerous] on the earth [land, terrestrial sphere].” word study 23 And there was [came into being, existed] evening [sunset, the end of the day], and there was [came into being, existed] morning [the break of day, a new beginning]—the [fifth in sequence, the fifth period of time] fifth [ordinal number, indicating position] day [a 24-hour period, a unit of time]. word study 24 And God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] said, “Let the earth [the land, the material world] bring forth [produce, give birth to] living creatures [soul, being] according to their kinds [species]: livestock [cattle, domestic animals], land crawlers [reptiles, creeping things], and beasts [wild animals, living things] of the earth [the ground, the terrestrial sphere] according to their kinds [types, classifications].” And it was [came to be, existed] so [thus, in this manner]. word study 25 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] made the beasts [wild animals, living creatures] of the earth [the land, the material world] according to their kinds [species, categories], the livestock [domestic animals, cattle] according to their kinds [types, classes], and everything [all creatures, every living thing] that crawls [creeps, moves] upon the earth [the ground, the soil] according to its kind [nature, character]. And God saw [looked upon, observed] that it was good [beneficial, pleasing, righteous]. word study 26 Then God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] said, “Let Us make man [human beings] in Our image [having God’s nature], after Our likeness [similar to Us], to rule [have dominion, authority] over the fish [sea creatures] of the sea [the ocean, large bodies of water] and the birds [fowl, winged creatures] of the air [the sky, heavens], over the livestock [cattle, domestic animals], and over all [everything, the whole] the earth [the land, ground] itself and every creature [living thing, reptile] that crawls [moves, creeps] upon it [the ground, land].” word study 27 So God [Elohim, the one supreme God] created [brought into being, formed] man [human beings, humanity] in His own image [likeness, resemblance to God]; in the image [likeness, nature] of God He created [formed, made] him; male [the masculine sex] and female [the feminine sex] He created [formed, brought into existence] them. word study 28 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful [produce many offspring] and multiply [increase and grow], and fill [replenish and make full] the earth [the land, the material world] and subdue it [conquer and have dominion]; rule [have power and control] over the fish [all sea creatures] of the sea [the large body of water] and the birds [winged creatures] of the air [the atmosphere] and every creature [living being] that crawls [moves on the ground] upon the earth [the land, the material world].” word study 29 Then God [Elohim, the one supreme God] said, “Behold [look, see], I have given [provided, bestowed] you every [all, everything] seed-bearing [producing, yielding] plant [herb, vegetation] on the face [surface, presence] of all the earth [land, ground], and every [all, everything] tree [wood, strong object] whose fruit [product, outcome] contains [has, yields] seed [offspring, descendant]. They will be [exist, come into being] yours [belonging to you, for your benefit] for food [nourishment, sustenance]. word study 30 And to every [all, everything] beast [living creature, animal] of the earth [land, ground] and every [all] bird [fowl] of the air [heavens, sky] and every [all] creature [thing] that crawls [moves, creeps] upon the earth [land, ground]—everything [all] that has [possesses] the breath [soul, life] of life [living being, vitality] in it [within, inside]—I have given [provided, appointed] every [all] green [vegetation] plant [herb, vegetation] for food [nourishment, sustenance].” And it was [came to be, existed] so [thus, in this manner]. word study 31 And God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] looked upon [saw, observed with care] all that He had made [created, brought into being], and indeed [behold, it was truly so], it was very [exceedingly, greatly] good [beneficial, pleasing]. And there was evening [sunset, the end of the day], and there was morning [dawn, a new beginning]—the sixth [the final, the last] day [a period of time, a 24-hour cycle]. word study