Genesis 1:23
Genesis 1:23 in Multiple Translations
And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
So there was evening, and then the morning, making day five.
So the euening and the morning were the fifte day.
and there is an evening, and there is a morning — day fifth.
There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
And the evening and morning were the fifth day.
Then there was another evening that was followed by another morning. He called that period of time ‘the fifth day’.
After that all happened, there was night time and there was morning time. That was day number 5.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 1:23
BAB
Word Study
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Genesis 1:23 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַֽיְהִי־
עֶ֥רֶב
וַֽיְהִי־
בֹ֖קֶר
חֲמִישִֽׁי׃פ
י֥וֹם
וַֽיְהִי־
way·hî-
H1961
And there was
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
עֶ֥רֶב
‘e·reḇ
H6153
evening
Noun - masculine singular
וַֽיְהִי־
way·hî-
H1961
and there was
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
בֹ֖קֶר
ḇō·qer
H1242
morning
Noun - masculine singular
חֲמִישִֽׁי׃פ
ḥă·mî·šî
H2549
the fifth
Number - ordinal masculine singular
י֥וֹם
yō·wm
H3117
day
Noun - masculine singular
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 1:23
וַֽיְהִי־
way·hî-
H1961
"And there was"
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3132 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
עֶ֥רֶב
‘e·reḇ
H6153
"evening"
Noun - masculine singular
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means evening or sunset, like when God created daylight and darkness in Genesis. It refers to the time of day, often marking the end of a workday. This word is used in many verses, including Exodus and Psalms.
Definition: 1) evening, night, sunset 1a) evening, sunset 1b) night
Usage: Occurs in 125 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night. See also: Genesis 1:5; Numbers 19:19; Psalms 30:5.
וַֽיְהִי־
way·hî-
H1961
"and there was"
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3132 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
בֹ֖קֶר
ḇō·qer
H1242
"morning"
Noun - masculine singular
The break of day or morning, a time of new beginnings, as in the morning sacrifices in Exodus 29:39 or the resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week in John 20:1.
Definition: 1) morning, break of day 1a) morning 1a1) of end of night 1a2) of coming of daylight 1a3) of coming of sunrise 1a4) of beginning of day 1a5) of bright joy after night of distress (fig.) 1b) morrow, next day, next morning
Usage: Occurs in 189 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase]) day, early, morning, morrow. See also: Genesis 1:5; 1 Samuel 11:11; Psalms 5:3.
חֲמִישִֽׁי׃פ
ḥă·mî·šî
H2549
"the fifth"
Number - ordinal masculine singular
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means fifth, referring to something in the fifth position. It appears in Exodus 20:12, where honoring parents is the fifth commandment. This word is used to show order and sequence.
Definition: ordinal number, 5th
Usage: Occurs in 44 OT verses. KJV: fifth (part). See also: Genesis 1:23; 1 Chronicles 2:14; Zechariah 8:19.
י֥וֹם
yō·wm
H3117
"day"
Noun - masculine singular
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
Study Notes — Genesis 1:23
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Fifth Day
21So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24And 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. 25God 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.Genesis 1:23 Summary
Genesis 1:23 tells us that after God created the sea creatures and birds on the fifth day, evening and morning came, marking the end of that day. This shows us that God is a God of order and rhythm, who creates and sustains our world in a consistent and faithful way (Genesis 8:22, Jeremiah 33:20-22). Just like the evening and morning follow a regular pattern, we can trust that God is always working in our lives, even when we don't see it. As we reflect on this verse, we can be reminded of God's goodness and wisdom in creating our world, and we can express our gratitude for His love and care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the evening and morning in Genesis 1:23?
The evening and morning in Genesis 1:23 mark the end of the fifth day of creation, highlighting God's establishment of a rhythmic pattern for our world, as seen in the repetition of evening and morning throughout the creation account (Genesis 1:5, Genesis 1:8, Genesis 1:13, Genesis 1:19, Genesis 1:23, Genesis 1:31).
Why does the Bible emphasize the creation days?
The Bible emphasizes the creation days to demonstrate God's deliberate and purposeful creation of our world, showcasing His power and wisdom (Psalm 19:1, Psalm 104:24).
How does Genesis 1:23 relate to the rest of the creation story?
Genesis 1:23 serves as a conclusion to the fifth day of creation, which involved the creation of sea creatures and birds, and it sets the stage for the sixth day, when God would create land animals and humanity (Genesis 1:24-25, Genesis 1:26-31).
What can we learn about God's character from Genesis 1:23?
From Genesis 1:23, we can learn about God's faithfulness and consistency, as He maintains the rhythmic pattern of evening and morning, providing a sense of stability and order in our world (Jeremiah 33:20-22, Genesis 8:22).
Reflection Questions
- As you reflect on the creation story, what aspects of God's character stand out to you, and how can you apply those traits to your own life?
- How does the rhythmic pattern of evening and morning in Genesis 1:23 influence your understanding of God's sovereignty and control over our world?
- In what ways can you see the goodness and wisdom of God's creation in your everyday life, and how can you express gratitude for His provision?
- As you consider the fifth day of creation, what lessons can you learn about God's attention to detail and His care for the creatures He made?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 1:23
And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. The sun now in the firmament, where it was fixed the day before, having gone round the earth, or the earth about that, in the space of twenty four
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 1:23
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 1:23
(23) The fifth day.—Upon the work of the first four days geology is virtually silent, and the theories respecting the physical formation of the world belong to other sciences. But as regards the fifth day, its testimony is ample. In the lowest strata of rocks, such as the Cambrian and Silurian, we find marine animals, mollusca, and trilobites; higher up in the Devonian rocks we find fish; in the Carbonaceous period we find reptiles; and above these, in the Permian, those mighty saurians, described in our version as great whales. Traces of birds, even in these higher strata, if existent at all, are rare, but indubitably occur in the Triassic series. We thus learn that this fifth day covers a vast space of time, and, in accordance with what has been urged before as regards vegetation, it is probable that the introduction of the various genera and species was gradual. God does nothing in haste, and our conceptions of His marvellous working are made more clear and worthy of His greatness by the evidence which geology affords.