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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word "very" in "very good" isn't just an intensifier; it specifically highlights the perfection and completeness of the entire creation, particularly with the pinnacle achievement of humanity now included. This final, emphatic declaration underscores not just the goodness of individual parts, but the profound harmony and divine satisfaction with the whole completed masterpiece.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage marks the triumphant conclusion of God's creative work. After bringing forth all the creatures of the land, God surveys the entirety of His creation—from the heavens and earth to the smallest living thing. This moment of divine evaluation and satisfaction immediately precedes the seventh day of rest, highlighting the completeness and perfection of all that God has made.
Did you catch that final assessment of God's work? It wasn't just 'good,' it was 'very good.' What does that tell us about His original design for everything?
The verse culminates the creation account with a powerful declaration: 'And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.'
A Superior Assessment
Each day's creation, up until this point, was declared 'good.' But the final assessment, encompassing the entirety of His work, including humanity, is 'very good.' This isn't just a slight upgrade; it signifies a completeness and perfection in God's original plan.
Purpose Fulfilled
Everything God made was good because it perfectly fulfilled its intended purpose. The heavens declare God's glory, the plants provide food, the animals fill their ecological niches, and humanity, made in God's image, was set to rule and steward His creation. 'Very good' means every element was precisely as God intended.
A Glimpse of Original Intent
While sin has marred creation, this declaration reminds us of its intended state. It points to a world of harmony, order, and beauty, where all things functioned as their Creator designed.
Why does the Bible keep mentioning 'evening and morning'? There's more to this ancient way of marking time than just a daily cycle.
The phrase 'And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day' is more than just a chronological marker. It’s a consistent pattern throughout the creation account.
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A Complete Day
The ancient Hebrew understanding of a day began with the evening (darkness) and concluded with the morning (light). This structure emphasizes that a 'day' in this context is a full, complete 24-hour period.
Reflecting Primal Order
Commentators suggest this order mirrors the initial state of creation described in Genesis 1:2, where 'darkness was over the surface of the deep.' The sequence of evening (darkness) followed by morning (light) on each day signifies God bringing order and light out of the pre-existing void. It's a pattern of God's creative power establishing boundaries and bringing forth distinctness.
Completing the Work
This repeated phrase marks the successful conclusion of each day's creative activity, culminating in the final 'sixth day.' It signifies that God's work was finished within its designated time, and the structure of time itself was established.
Understand the original words
Elohim · Hebrew Noun (Masculine Plural)
The supreme deity and creator of the universe, often used in a plural form to denote His majesty and the fullness of His power and attributes.
ra'ah · Hebrew Verb
To perceive, look at, or inspect; in a divine context, it often implies God’s sovereign assessment and approval of His creation or human actions.
kol · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A word denoting the whole of a set or the entirety of a substance; it signifies the absolute totality without exception.
asah · Hebrew Verb
To fashion, create, or produce something; while similar to 'bara' (create), this term emphasizes the process of shaping and completing a work, sometimes from existing materials.
hinneh · Hebrew Interjection
A particle used to command attention, often introducing a significant observation or a sudden realization of truth.
me'od · Hebrew Adverb/Noun
A superlative indicating an exceeding degree or intensity; it heightens the quality of the word it modifies to the utmost level.
tob · Hebrew Adjective
Descriptive of something that is beautiful, pleasant, or morally right; it signifies that which fulfills its intended purpose according to God's standard.
ereb · Hebrew Noun
The period of sunset or twilight; in the biblical creation account, it marks the transition to and the beginning of a new day.
boqer · Hebrew Noun
The break of day or the end of the night; it signifies the dawn of a new period of light and activity.
shishshi · Hebrew Adjective
An ordinal number representing the position after the fifth; in the creation week, it culminates in the creation of humanity and the completion of the work.
yom · Hebrew Noun
A period of time, most commonly a literal 24-hour cycle of light and darkness, though it can also refer to a specific era or the 'day of the Lord.'
This psalm echoes the joy and satisfaction God felt in His creation, proclaiming that the Lord shall rejoice in His works, highlighting the enduring goodness and purposefulness of all that was made.
Romans 8:20-22This passage speaks of the creation groaning and being subjected to futility, but with the hope of future redemption, showing that while creation was initially 'very good,' it has a trajectory and a destiny beyond its present state.
Colossians 1:16-17This verse directly attributes the creation of all things, visible and invisible, to Christ, underscoring the divine origin and sustaining power behind the 'very good' creation described in Genesis.
1 Timothy 4:4This verse affirms that everything God created is good and to be received with thanksgiving, reinforcing the initial goodness declared in Genesis 1:31 and highlighting its continued validity for believers.
gillGenesis 1:31: "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."
And God saw everything that he had made,.... Either all that he had made on the several six days of the creation, he took a survey of them, looked over them again, as workmen do when they have finished their work, to see if anything is amiss or wanting; not that anything of this nature can be supposed in the works of God, but such a survey is attributed to…
clarkeGenesis 1:31: "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."
And, behold, it was very good - טוב מאד tob meod, Superlatively, or only good; as good as they could be. The plan wise, the work well executed, the different parts properly arranged; their nature, limits, mode of existence, manner of propagation, habits, mode of sustenance, etc., etc., properly and permanently established and secured; for every thing was…
The word "very" in "very good" isn't just an intensifier; it specifically highlights the perfection and completeness of the entire creation, particularly with the pinnacle achievement of humanity now included. This final, emphatic declaration underscores not just the goodness of individual parts, but the profound harmony and divine satisfaction with the whole completed masterpiece.
This passage marks the triumphant conclusion of God's creative work. After bringing forth all the creatures of the land, God surveys the entirety of His creation—from the heavens and earth to the smallest living thing. This moment of divine evaluation and satisfaction immediately precedes the seventh day of rest, highlighting the completeness and perfection of all that God has made.
This passage marks the triumphant conclusion of God's creative work. After bringing forth all the creatures of the land, God surveys the entirety of His creation—from the heavens and earth to the smallest living thing. This moment of divine evaluation and satisfaction immediately precedes the seventh day of rest, highlighting the completeness and perfection of all that God has made.
"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." — The word "very" in "very good" isn't just an intensifier; it specifically highlights the perfection and completeness of the entire creation, particularly with the pinnacle achievement of humanity n…
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Last reviewed October 2026