King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Complete Jewish Bible:
God said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the water; let it divide the water from the water.”
Berean Standard Bible:
And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.”
American Standard Version:
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And God{H430} said{H559}, Let there be a firmament{H7549} in the midst{H8432} of the waters{H4325}, and let it divide{H914} the waters{H4325} from the waters{H4325}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 37:18
- Hast thou with him spread out the sky, [which is] strong, [and] as a molten looking glass?
Job 26:7
- He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, [and] hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Job 26:8
- He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
Psalms 33:6
- By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Jeremiah 51:15
- He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Jeremiah 10:12
- He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Jeremiah 10:13
- When he uttereth his voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 1:6
Genesis 1:6 is part of the creation narrative in the opening chapter of the Book of Genesis, which is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. This verse is situated within the context of the first seven days of creation, as described in the Priestly source, one of the four main sources theorized to comprise the Torah.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Speech and Power:** The verse emphasizes the creative power of God's word. God speaks, and through His speech, the cosmos is structured and ordered.
2. **Separation and Order:** The act of creating a "firmament" (often understood as the sky or atmosphere) to divide the waters represents the establishment of order from chaos. In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the separation of waters above and below the firmament was a common motif, reflecting a three-tiered universe with heaven above, the earth in the middle, and the underworld or waters below.
3. **Cosmic Geography:** The verse outlines the ancient Israelite understanding of the structure of the world, with the firmament serving as a barrier that holds back the waters above, preventing the world from being overwhelmed by them.
**Historical Context:**
- **Ancient Cosmology:** The description in Genesis 1 reflects a cosmology that was common in the ancient Near East. Peoples of this region, including the Israelites, envisioned the world as a flat disk floating in a vast cosmic ocean, with a solid dome (the firmament) holding back the upper waters.
- **Priestly Source:** Scholars often attribute the creation account in Genesis 1 to the Priestly source, which is characterized by its structured account of creation, emphasis on order, and a concern for the sacred calendar (e.g., the seven-day week).
- **Monotheism and Creation:** The verse also serves to underscore the monotheistic belief in one God who is solely responsible for creation, in contrast to the polytheistic religions of surrounding cultures, which often featured creation myths involving multiple deities.
In summary, Genesis 1:6 reflects themes of divine omnipotence, the ordering of chaos, and a cosmology that aligns with ancient Near Eastern beliefs. It is set within a historical context where the Priestly writers sought to articulate a theological understanding of the world's origins that emphasized the singular power of God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H7549
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָקִיעַ
Transliteration: râqîyaʻ
Pronunciation: raw-kee'-ah
Description: from רָקַע; properly, an expanse, i.e. the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky; firmament. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H914
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּדַל
Transliteration: bâdal
Pronunciation: baw-dal'
Description: a primitive root; to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.); (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), [idiom] utterly.