Devine Scripture

Genesis 2:1

What does Genesis 2:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 2:1 means

This verse concludes the account of the cosmic creation, declaring that God's work in forming the heavens, the earth, and all their inhabitants was brought to completion. The phrase "all the host of them" signifies the vast array and ordered arrangement of all created things, from celestial bodies to earthly life. It underscores the purposeful and thorough nature of God’s creative activity, leaving nothing unfinished or chaotic. This completion sets the stage for the next phase of God's interaction with His creation, emphasizing that His initial work was perfect and entire.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the heaven and the earth and all things in them were complete.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the heavens and the earth are completed, and all their host;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

So the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the furniture of them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the heavens and the earth and all their host were finished.

Context

This verse marks the culmination of the six days of creation detailed in Genesis 1, summarizing the entirety of God's initial creative acts. It serves as a bridge, transitioning from the grand overview of cosmic creation to the more detailed account of humanity's creation and early life in Genesis 2. Readers need this summary to understand that what follows is an expansion on a particular aspect—the sixth day—rather than a re-creation.

v.1This passage

v.2And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 89:11

    The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

  • Psalms 33:9

    For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

  • Nehemiah 9:6

    Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

  • Isaiah 65:17

    For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

  • Psalms 136:5

    To him that by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:

  • Isaiah 55:9

    For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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