Breakdown of Genesis 1:20-22

"And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters s…" — This verse highlights God's command for the waters to "swarm with swarms of living creatures." This isn't just about fish; the Hebrew implies an abundance of moving things, emphasizing prolific lif…

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Genesis 1:20-22

What does Genesis 1:20-22 mean?

This verse highlights God's command for the waters to "swarm with swarms of living creatures." This isn't just about fish; the Hebrew implies an abundance of moving things, emphasizing prolific life bursting forth. It’s a powerful picture of God's intention for creation to teem with vibrant, multiplying life, not just static existence.

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

What Genesis 1:20-22 means

On the fifth day of creation, God commands the waters to teem with life and the skies to fill with birds. This follows the separation of land and sea on the third day, and is paralleled by the creation of light and luminaries on the first and fourth days. The focus here is on filling the created realms with living creatures, laying the groundwork for the animals that will inhabit the land on the sixth day.

The Waters Teem with Life

Imagine the vast oceans, once silent and empty, now stirred by an incredible command. Genesis 1:20 doesn't just say creatures were made; it paints a picture of abundance bursting forth.

A Divine Command for Abundance

God's word is powerful and creative. When He says, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures," He's not just wishing them into existence. This is a direct command that brings forth life in a spectacular display of His power.

"Swarm with swarms": The Hebrew emphasizes a teeming, multiplying abundance. It’s not just a few creatures, but a vast, overwhelming multitude. This speaks to God’s desire for His creation to be full and vibrant.
"Living creatures": This marks a significant step – the introduction of animals with the capacity for sensation and movement, a higher form of life than the plants created on day three.

This wasn't a slow, evolutionary process in the modern sense, but a direct, powerful act of God's will, bringing forth complex life in an instant.

Birds: Life in the Open Sky

From the depths of the ocean to the vast expanse above, God’s creative word reaches upward. Genesis 1:20 also commissions life to take to the air.

Life Above the Earth

The creation narrative moves beyond the waters to include the sky. The command extends to "birds that fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens."

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What Genesis 1:20-22 means

The original words in Genesis 1:20-22

watersמַיִם

mayim · Hebrew: Noun (plural)

The liquid element essential for life, often symbolizing physical life, spiritual cleansing, or chaotic forces subdued by God.

swarmשָׁרַץ

sharats · Hebrew Verb

To teem, crawl, or multiply abundantly, usually referring to the rapid movement and proliferation of small animals.

livingחַי

chay · Hebrew Adjective

Alive, active, and possessing physical or spiritual vitality; the opposite of dead.

creaturesנֶפֶשׁ

nephesh · Hebrew Noun

A living being or soul, possessing breath and animation; used to describe both humans and animals.

birdsעוֹף

oph · Hebrew: Noun

Winged creatures or flying insects capable of flight in the atmosphere.

Godאֱלֹהִים

Elohim · Hebrew Noun

The name for the Creator and Ruler of the universe, signifying His power, majesty, and sovereignty as the true God.

createdבָּרָא

bara · Hebrew Verb

A unique divine action of bringing something into existence that is entirely new or previously non-existent; in Scripture, God is always the subject of this verb.

great sea creaturesתַּנִּין

tannin · Hebrew Noun

Large aquatic animals or sea monsters, sometimes used symbolically in Scripture to represent chaos or the great power of God over all creatures.

living creatureנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה

nephesh hayyah · Hebrew Noun Phrase

A term describing an animate being possessed of life, breath, and desire; used of both animals and humans to indicate their vitality.

swarmשָׁרַץ

sharats · Hebrew Verb

To teem, crawl, or multiply abundantly; it describes the prolific nature of small animals or aquatic life as they fill their environment.

kindsמִין

min · Hebrew Noun

Divinely ordained biological boundaries or categories that ensure order in reproduction, reflecting God's design for diversity and stability in nature.

winged birdעוֹף

oph · Hebrew Noun

A general term for any winged creature, primarily birds, signifying their ability to fly above the earth.

goodטוֹב

tob · Hebrew Adjective

An evaluative term indicating that something is in harmony with God's nature, purpose, and will; it denotes moral and functional perfection.

blessedבָּרַךְ

barak · Hebrew Verb

To bestow favor, power, or success upon a creature; in creation, it specifically empowers life to reproduce and fulfill its purpose.

fruitfulפָּרָה

parah · Hebrew Verb

The biological or spiritual capacity to bear fruit or produce offspring, fulfilling the divine mandate to increase.

multiplyרָבָה

rabah · Hebrew Verb

To increase in number or magnitude, often associated with the expansion of God’s creation or His people.

fillמָלָא

mala · Hebrew Verb

To occupy space completely or to replenish; it implies a state of abundance and the completion of a designated area.

earthאֶרֶץ

erets · Hebrew Noun

The physical world, the dry land, or a specific territory; it stands in contrast to the heavens and the sea as the habitation of man.

What does Genesis 1:20-22 mean?

What Genesis 1:20-22 means

The Waters Teem with Life

Birds: Life in the Open Sky

Ask Sola about this verse

What Genesis 1:20-22 means

The Waters Teem with Life

Birds: Life in the Open Sky

Ask Sola about this verse

The original words in Genesis 1:20-22

The situation behind Genesis 1:20-22

Key themes in Genesis 1:20-22

Verses connected to Genesis 1:20-22

Scholarly commentary on Genesis 1:20-22

Frequently asked questions about Genesis 1:20-22

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