Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:31

What does Genesis 1:31 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:31 means

After observing everything He had made, God declared it "very good." This final, emphatic affirmation signifies the absolute perfection, harmony, and completeness of His entire creation, including humanity and all systems put in place. It implies an absence of fault, sin, or corruption in the original world. The day concludes with the consistent phrase, "And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day," marking the completion of God's creative week. This declaration stands as a testament to God's flawless power and design.

Genesis 1:31 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 saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God saw everything which he had made and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And God seeth all that He hath done, and lo, very good; and there is an evening, and there is a morning--day the sixth.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very good. And the evening and morning were the sixth day.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.

Context

This verse serves as the grand culmination of the entire six days of creation. God's comprehensive assessment of all His work as "very good" signifies its absolute perfection and completeness before sin entered the world. This emphatic declaration formally concludes the creative acts, marking the end of the sixth day. It sets the stage for the rest of redemptive history, starting from a perfect beginning and leading directly into the seventh day of rest in the next chapter.

v.30and to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so.

v.31This passage

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 1:23

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

  • Psalms 19:1

    The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork.

  • Psalms 104:31

    Let the glory of Jehovah endure for ever; Let Jehovah rejoice in his works:

  • Exodus 20:11

    for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

  • Psalms 104:24

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

  • Genesis 1:13

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

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:31

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

  • What Genesis 1:31 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:31 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:31 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:31 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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