Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:23

What does Genesis 1:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:23 means

This verse marks the formal conclusion of the fifth day of creation, employing the consistent rhythmic phrase, "And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day." This repetition highlights the structured and sequential nature of God's creative work, emphasizing that each phase is distinct and moves toward a greater whole. This structured ending signifies the completion of populating the aquatic and aerial environments, preparing the narrative for the culminating acts of creation on the sixth day.

Genesis 1:23 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 fifth day.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the evening and morning were the fifth day.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

Following the creation and blessing of the sea creatures and birds, this verse serves as the concluding marker for the fifth day. It maintains the established chronological framework of "evening and morning." This structured ending signifies that the waters and skies are now teeming with diverse life, effectively transitioning the narrative to the final and most significant acts of creation on the sixth day, which will focus on land animals and humanity.

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

v.23This passage

v.24And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kind: and it was so.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:23

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

  • What Genesis 1:23 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:23 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:23 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:23 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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