Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:13

What does Genesis 1:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:13 means

This verse formally concludes the third day of creation with the recurring phrase, "And there was evening and there was morning, a third day." This consistent rhythmic marker emphasizes the structured and defined progression of God's creative work. Each day represents a distinct period of divine activity, building upon the previous day's accomplishments. The repeated pattern reinforces that creation unfolded in an orderly sequence, demonstrating God's intentionality and patience in bringing the world into being stage by stage.

Genesis 1:13 in context

Genesis 1 — The Six Days of Creation

The Bible opens not with an argument for the existence of God but with the announcement of his creative act. In six measured days God speaks the cosmos into being — light, sky, sea, land, plants, sun and moon, fish and birds, animals, and finally man and woman in his own image. Each act ends with the refrain, 'and God saw that it was good.' The chapter establishes God's sovereignty, the goodness of the material world, the dignity of humanity, and the rhythm of work and rest that will shape all of Scripture.

  • Creation ex nihilo
  • The image of God
  • The goodness of creation
  • Sabbath rhythm

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the evening and the morning were the third day.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and there is an evening, and there is a morning--day third.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the evening and the morning were the third day.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And there was evening, and there was morning — a third day.

Context

Following the creation of dry land and the abundance of vegetation, this verse acts as the concluding marker for the third day. It maintains the consistent chronological framework of "evening and morning." This structured ending signifies the completion of a major phase of creation—the establishment of the earth's basic geography and plant life. It prepares the reader for the transition to the fourth day, where God will turn His attention to populating the heavens.

v.12And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.

v.13This passage

v.14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:13

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Genesis 1:13 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:13 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:13 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:13 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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