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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While it mentions "great sea creatures," the original Hebrew word used here can encompass a much broader range of "long, large creatures," including serpents and sea monsters, not just whales, hinting at the ancient understanding of the vast and sometimes fearsome inhabitants of the deep. This suggests a world teeming with a diversity of life, from the colossal to the unseen, all brought into being by God's creative word.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
On the fifth day of creation, God commanded the waters to teem with life and the air to be filled with birds. Following this command, God then directly created the vast sea creatures, like whales, and all the swarming, moving life in the waters, as well as every kind of winged bird. Seeing this abundant and diverse life fill the seas and skies, God declared it good.
The verse speaks of 'great sea creatures.' What does this mean, and why is it significant?
The Hebrew word used here, 'tanninim,' is a broad term that can refer to large sea creatures, serpents, or even dragons. While commonly translated as 'whales,' it likely encompasses a wider array of massive aquatic animals that existed, perhaps even those now extinct.
This imagery highlights:
The verse repeats 'according to their kinds.' What's the significance of this repeated phrase?
The repeated phrase 'according to their kinds' is a foundational concept in Genesis 1. It signifies that God created distinct categories or species of life, each with its own inherent nature and ability to reproduce.
This points to:
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After detailing this creation of diverse and abundant life, the verse concludes with 'God saw that it was good.' What does this tell us?
The repeated affirmation 'God saw that it was good' is the refrain of creation. For the creatures of the sea and the air, this declaration signifies:
This 'goodness' is not a passive observation; it's an active declaration of satisfaction from the Creator.
Understand the original words
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
The name for the Creator and Ruler of the universe, signifying His power, majesty, and sovereignty as the true God.
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.
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.
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.
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.
min · Hebrew Noun
Divinely ordained biological boundaries or categories that ensure order in reproduction, reflecting God's design for diversity and stability in nature.
oph · Hebrew Noun
A general term for any winged creature, primarily birds, signifying their ability to fly above the earth.
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.
This psalm calls upon all of creation, including the great creatures of the sea, to praise God, highlighting their divine origin and purpose, much like Genesis 1:21 establishes their creation.
Job 41:1This passage describes the mighty and fearsome Leviathan, a great sea creature, emphasizing the immense power and skill required to create such beings, reflecting the awe found in God's creation of 'great sea creatures'.
Jeremiah 27:12Jeremiah uses 'great sea creatures' as a metaphor for powerful nations or rulers submitting to God's authority, drawing on the original creation account to underscore divine sovereignty over all beings, including the vast and powerful.
Matthew 13:32The parable of the mustard seed, though about a plant, speaks to the concept of small beginnings growing into something large and housing many others, paralleling how God's creation of diverse creatures in Genesis 1:21 started with foundational kinds that would flourish abundantly.
Colossians 1:16This verse states that 'all things were created through him and for him,' directly linking the creation of all things, including the sea creatures and birds mentioned in Genesis, to Christ as the agent and purpose of creation.
gillGenesis 1:21: "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
And God created great whales,.... Which the Targums of Jonathan and Jarchi interpret of the Leviathan and its mate, concerning which the Jews have many fabulous things: large fishes are undoubtedly meant, and the whale being of the largest sort, the word is so rendered. Aelianus, from…
clarkeGenesis 1:21: "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
And God created great whales - התנינם הגדלים hattanninim haggedolim. Though this is generally understood by the different versions as signifying whales, yet the original must be understood rather as a general than a particular term, comprising all the great aquatic animals, such as t…
While it mentions "great sea creatures," the original Hebrew word used here can encompass a much broader range of "long, large creatures," including serpents and sea monsters, not just whales, hinting at the ancient understanding of the vast and sometimes fearsome inhabitants of the deep. This suggests a world teeming with a diversity of life, from the colossal to the unseen, all brought into being by God's creative word.
On the fifth day of creation, God commanded the waters to teem with life and the air to be filled with birds. Following this command, God then directly created the vast sea creatures, like whales, and all the swarming, moving life in the waters, as well as every kind of winged bird. Seeing this abundant and diverse life fill the seas and skies, God declared it good.
On the fifth day of creation, God commanded the waters to teem with life and the air to be filled with birds. Following this command, God then directly created the vast sea creatures, like whales, and all the swarming, moving life in the waters, as well as every kind of winged bird. Seeing this abundant and diverse life fill the seas and skies, God declared it good.
"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." — While it mentions "great sea creatures," the original Hebrew word used here can encompass a much broader range of "long, large creatures," including serpents and sea monsters, not just whales, hintin…
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Last reviewed October 2026