World English Bible
- In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
- The 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.
- God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
- God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.
- God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
- God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
- God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
- God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
- God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so.
- God called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. God saw that it was good.
- God 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.
- The 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.
- There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
- God 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;
- and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so.
- God 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.
- God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth,
- and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.
- There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
- God said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.”
- God 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.
- God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
- There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
- God 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.
- God 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.
- God 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.”
- God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
- God 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.”
- God 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.
- To 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.
- God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the
earth.”
(Genesis 1:1; English Standard Version)
With one profound sentence, Scripture introduces us immediately and directly to the sovereign authority of God. Genesis, the “book of beginnings,” begins not with mankind, nor with arguments for God’s existence, but simply with the majestic proclamation that God was there before anything else existed—and from His powerful word flowed all creation.
This short verse stands in dramatic contrast to other ancient Near Eastern cultures, which often pictured creation as a byproduct of conflicts between gods or accidental explosions of violence. But here, Moses—traditionally understood as the author—clearly affirms a purposeful, ordered, and deliberate creation arising from the character of one true and eternal God. God’s voice echoes through chaos, transforming emptiness (“tohu vabohu,” Hebrew words used in Genesis 1:2, meaning utterly unformed or chaotic) into order and beautiful harmony.
Augustine of Hippo, in his valued work Confessions and City of God, reminds Christians that Genesis intentionally portrays God beyond the space-time He created; the command “Let there be…” emphasizes God’s ability to freely create out of nothing (“creatio ex nihilo”). Creation does not arise from eternal matter, a concept prevalent in ancient Greek philosophy, but rather from God’s free, loving, sovereign, and purposeful command.
Suggested Cross-reference: John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 11:3.
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he
created them; male and female he created them.”
(Genesis 1:27; New International Version)
The climax of Genesis chapter 1 comes with this remarkable proclamation: humanity is crafted in God’s own image, the “Imago Dei.” Every human being, male and female alike, shares a dignity that elevates us uniquely above the rest of creation. Consider carefully the profound ways this truth has shaped contemporary values on human rights, dignity, vocation, creativity, justice, relationship, and stewardship.
The ancient cultures surrounding Israel typically reserved the title “image of god” only for kings and leaders, emphasizing that only rulers represented god-like qualities. Genesis challenges and overturns that cultural norm by declaring dramatically that every single human person bears divine resemblance. You, your neighbor, the stranger you meet—each carries the imprint of eternity. How remarkably this teaching reminds us to honor life, care deeply about justice and compassion, and pursue healthy community!
Great thinkers like Martin Luther pointed out that although sin has marred this image, it is not entirely erased. Calvin, likewise, underscored that this spiritual imprint implies human accountability in stewardship (“dominion”); it is not a tyrannical rule, but a loving responsibility from our King-Maker.
Suggested Cross-reference: Psalm 8:4-8; Psalm 139:13-16; James 3:9.
Genesis 1 extends into the early verses of chapter 2, showing the completion of creation with God’s own act of rest, blessing the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). Sabbath rhythm—resting intentionally, reflecting upon meaning and purpose, and reconnecting with our Maker—is woven here into the very fabric of creation.
To an ancient people whose identity was shaped by laborious toil in Egypt, the Sabbath was a revolutionary concept—an affirmation of God’s providential care and the recognition of humanity’s most basic need to pause, rest, reconnect, and remember. Western readers, whose busy lives (often idolizing productivity) can miss this idea, should particularly note that God’s rest demonstrates that work is good, but work alone does not define our humanity.
The Hebrew word “Shabbat” originally suggests ceasing from labor, taking deep breaths, and enjoying quiet fellowship. Sabbath invites us to reclaim rhythm, balance, and intentional reconnection with God. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” Creation itself points toward this rest.
Suggested Cross-reference: Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 4:9–11; Matthew 11:28–30.
It is helpful to understand Genesis 1 within its historical and literary setting. Historically, Israel emerged into an environment saturated with mythological cosmologies. Genesis carefully challenges and refines these beliefs, showing God’s purposeful authority over mere accidents, gods at war, or inexplicable natural phenomena.
Literarily, Genesis 1 is poetic prose, intentionally structured toward completeness and perfection, using repetition and rhythmic patterns (“And God said,” “and it was good,” evening and morning). The Hebrew verb “bara’,” used here for God’s creative act, uniquely applies exclusively to God’s creation, reinforcing divine initiative and sovereignty.
“This Is My Father’s World” (by Maltbie D. Babcock). This hymn beautifully affirms the goodness, intentionality, and sovereignty of God as Creator, celebrating creation as God’s artful design.
Almighty and Everlasting Creator,
We stand in awe of your greatness and grace that spoke the universe into
existence.
You lovingly fashioned order from chaos, light from darkness, and beauty
from emptiness.
Teach us to recognize your image planted deeply within every person we
meet.
Show us our role as wise stewards, responsible caregivers of this
precious creation.
Let our restless souls find rest in your presence,
And may our lives reflect your goodness and creative beauty.
We pray these things in the name of the One through whom all things were
made,
our Savior and risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.