Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:20

What does Genesis 1:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:20 means

On the fifth day, God commanded the waters to "swarm with swarms of living creatures" and for birds to "fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." This demonstrates God's power to generate abundant life in two distinct environments simultaneously. The instruction for water creatures and birds shows His intent to fill the previously formed realms (seas from day three, firmament from day two) with diverse forms of mobile life. This act begins the process of populating the earth with sentient beings, marking a significant increase in the complexity of created life.

Genesis 1:20 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 God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God said, Let the waters be full of living things, and let birds be in flight over the earth under the arch of heaven.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And God saith, `Let the waters teem with the teeming living creature, and fowl let fly on the earth on the face of the expanse of the heavens.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

God also said: let the waters bring forth the creeping creature having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the firmament of heaven.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living souls, and let fowl fly above the earth in the expanse of the heavens.

Context

With the heavens ordered and the earth structured, this verse initiates the work of the fifth day by commanding the creation of sea creatures and birds. This command directly addresses the filling of the watery realms and the firmament that were prepared on previous days. It sets the stage for the actual creation and diversification of these life forms, showing a progression from the inanimate to animated life, leading directly into their creation in the next verse.

v.19And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

v.20This passage

v.21And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 1:14

    And 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:

  • Genesis 1:22

    And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.

  • Psalms 104:24

    O Jehovah, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: The earth is full of thy riches.

  • 1 Kings 4:33

    And he spake of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; he spake also of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

  • Acts 17:25

    neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

  • Genesis 1:7

    And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:20

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

  • What Genesis 1:20 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:20 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:20 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:20 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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