Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:21

What does Genesis 1:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:21 means

God directly created "great sea-monsters" and every kind of living creature in the waters that swarmed, as well as every kind of winged bird. The phrase "after their kind" emphasizes that God established distinct biological categories and reproductive patterns from the outset, ensuring organized diversity. He then affirmed that "God saw that it was good," signifying His satisfaction with the abundance and variety of aquatic and avian life. This highlights God's inexhaustible creativity and His delight in filling His creation with diverse, thriving inhabitants.

Genesis 1:21 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 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God made great sea-beasts, and every sort of living and moving thing with which the waters were full, and every sort of winged bird: and God saw that it was good.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And God prepareth the great monsters, and every living creature that is creeping, which the waters have teemed with, after their kind, and every fowl with wing, after its kind, and God seeth that <FI>it is<Fi> good.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God created the great whales, and every living and moving creature, which the waters brought forth, according to their kinds, and every winged fowl according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod created the great sea monsters, and every living soul that moves with which the waters swarm, after their kind, and every winged fowl after its kind. AndGod saw that it was good.

Context

This verse records the direct fulfillment of God's command from verse 20, describing the creation of all sea creatures and birds. The phrase "after their kind" is repeated, emphasizing the boundaries of biological reproduction God established. God's declaration that this work was "good" reaffirms its perfection. This abundance of new life then leads to a divine blessing and command for these creatures to multiply, which is described in the subsequent verse.

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

v.21This passage

v.22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.

Cross references

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

  • Job 7:12

    Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?

  • Exodus 8:3

    and the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs:

  • Genesis 1:18

    and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

  • Genesis 8:19

    every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatsoever moveth upon the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark.

  • Psalms 104:24

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

  • Exodus 1:7

    And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:21

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

  • What Genesis 1:21 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:21 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:21 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:21 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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