And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
What does Genesis 1:6 mean?
The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service and honour they must be used.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Genesis 1:6-8 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 1:6
- IV. The Second Day 6. raqya, "expanse;" στερεωμα stereoma, raqa, "spread out by beating, as leaf gold." This expanse was not understood to be solid, as the fowl is said to fly on the face of it Genesis 1:21 . It is also described as luminous Daniel 12:3 , and as a monument of divine power Psalm 150:1 . 7. asah "work on," "make out of already existing materials." The second act of creative power bears upon the deep of waters, over which the darkness had prevailed, and by which the solid crust was still overlaid.
Key words
- firmament to be
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firmament to be.
- said
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And God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,.
- firmament
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And God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,.
Context in Genesis 1
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Genesis 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as primeval history from creation to Babel. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Passages on the nature of truth, honesty, deception, the word of God as truth, and Jesus' claim to be the truth.
Who quoted Genesis 1:6?
Find out who used Genesis 1:6 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Genesis 1:6?
Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders used Genesis 1:6 in Apollo 8 Christmas Eve broadcast.