Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:25

What does Genesis 1:25 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:25 means

God directly created all categories of land animals: "beasts of the earth after their kind," "cattle after their kind," and "everything that creepeth upon the ground after its kind." The repeated phrase "after its kind" again emphasizes the distinct biological groups established by God, indicating fixed boundaries for reproduction. God observed His completed work and declared that "it was good," affirming the perfection, diversity, and proper functioning of all land animals. This act ensures the earth is fully populated with its intended inhabitants before humanity's creation.

Genesis 1:25 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 made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the ground after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the ground after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God made the beast of the earth after its sort, and the cattle after their sort, and everything moving on the face of the earth after its sort: and God saw that it was good.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And God maketh the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, and God seeth that <FI>it is<Fi> good.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and cattle, and every thing that creepeth on the earth after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the ground after its kind. AndGod saw that it was good.

Context

This verse describes the direct fulfillment of God's command from verse 24, detailing the creation of all land animals. The consistent use of "after its kind" reinforces the fixed nature of biological species from creation. God's affirmation that this work was "good" maintains the pattern of divine approval. This extensive creation of animal life immediately precedes the supreme act of creation: the making of humanity in God's image, setting the stage for humanity's unique role.

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.

v.25This passage

v.26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 2:19

    And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

  • Job 26:13

    By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.

  • Jeremiah 27:5

    I have made the earth, the men and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm; and I give it unto whom it seemeth right unto me.

  • Job 12:8

    Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:25

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

  • What Genesis 1:25 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:25 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:25 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:25 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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