1Zu Anbeginn hat Gott erschaffen den Himmel und die Erde. 2Die Erde aber war wüst und wirr, und auf der Urflut lag Finsternis. Gottes Geist aber schwebte über den Gewässern.* 3Da sprach Gott: »Licht werde!« Und Licht ward. 4Und Gott sah: Das Licht war gut. So schied Gott zwischen Licht und Finsternis. 5Und Gott bestimmte für das Licht den Tag. Und für die Finsternis bestimmte er die Nacht. So ward Abend und ward Morgen. Ein Tag. 6Und Gott sprach: »Mitten in den Wassern sei eine Feste! Sie scheide zwischen Wasser und Wasser!« 7So machte Gott die Feste und schied zwischen dem Wasser unter der Feste und dem Wasser über der Feste. Und so ward es. 8Der Feste sprach Gott den Himmel zu. So ward Abend und ward Morgen. Ein zweiter Tag. 9Und Gott sprach: »An einem Orte sammle sich das Wasser unterm Himmel, und das Trockene erscheine!« Und so ward es. 10Für das Trockensein bestimmte Gott die Erde, und für die Sammlung der Wasser bestimmte er die Meere. Und Gott sah: Gut war es. 11Und Gott sprach: »Sprießen lasse die Erde Grünes! Samentragendes Kraut und Fruchtbäume, nach ihrer Art Früchte tragend, darin ihr Same für die Erde!« Und so ward es. 12Die Erde brachte Grünes, Kraut mit Samen je nach seiner Art und Bäume mit Früchten, darin ihr Same je nach ihrer Art. Und Gott sah: Gut war es. 13So ward Abend und ward Morgen. Ein dritter Tag. 14Und Gott sprach: »Leuchten seien an der Himmelsfeste, zwischen Tag und Nacht zu scheiden! Dann dienen sie zu Zeichen und Gezeiten, zu Tagen und Jahren 15und zu Leuchten an der Himmelsfeste, die Erde zu bescheinen.« Und so ward es. 16So machte Gott die zwei großen Leuchten, die größere Leuchte zum Walten über den Tag und die kleinere Leuchte zum Walten über die Nacht, und die Sterne. 17Und Gott ließ sie an der Himmelsfeste auf die Erde scheinen, 18über den Tag und die Nacht walten und zwischen dem Licht und der Finsternis scheiden. Und Gott sah: Gut war es. 19So ward Abend und ward Morgen. Ein vierter Tag. 20Und Gott sprach: »Das Wasser wimmle von lebendem Gewimmel, und auf Erden an der Himmelsfeste fliege Geflügel.« 21So schuf Gott die großen Meerestiere und alle anderen lebenden Wimmelwesen, wovon die Wasser wimmeln, nach ihren Arten und der beschwingten Vögel jegliche Art. Und Gott sah: Gut war es. 22Da segnete Gott sie und sprach: »Seid fruchtbar! Mehret euch! Füllet der Meere Gewässer! Auf Erden mehre sich das Geflügel!« 23So ward Abend und ward Morgen. Ein fünfter Tag. 24Und Gott sprach: »Die Erde zeuge Lebewesen je nach ihrer Art! Vieh, Gewürm und das Wild der Erde!« Und so ward es. 25So machte Gott das Wild der Erde nach seiner Art, das Vieh nach seiner Art und alles Gewürm des Bodens nach seiner Art. Und Gott sah: Gut war es. 26Und Gott sprach. »Lasset uns Menschen machen als unser Bild nach unserem Gleichnis! Herrschen sollen sie über des Meeres Fische, über des Himmels Vögel, über das Vieh auf der ganzen Erde überall und über alle Wimmelwesen, die auf Erden wimmeln!« 27Und Gott schuf den Menschen als sein Bild. Als Gottes Bild schuf er ihn. Er schuf sie als Mann und als Weib. 28Und Gott segnete sie. Und Gott sprach zu ihnen: »Seid fruchtbar! Mehret euch! Füllet die Erde! Macht sie euch untertan! Herrschet über des Meeres Fische, über des Himmels Vögel und über alle Lebewesen, die auf Erden wimmeln!« 29Und Gott sprach: »Euch überlasse ich alles samentragende Kraut auf der ganzen Erde und alle Bäume mit samentragender Baumfrucht, daß sie euch zur Nahrung diene. 30Und alles andere grüne Kraut diene zur Nahrung allem Wilde, allen Vögeln des Himmels und allem Gewürm auf Erden, in dem Lebensgeist ist.« Und so ward es. 31Und Gott sah alles, was er gemacht hatte. Und sehr gut war es. So ward Abend und ward Morgen. Ein sechster Tag.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and useful account of the origin of the earth and the heavens. The faith of humble Christians understands this better than the fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of heaven and earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet. The Son of God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world; nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should there be in our minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that Divine Spirit, whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.
3 God said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once there was light. Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness, by grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been always upon fallen man, if the Son of God had not come and given us understanding,
1John 5:20. The light which God willed, he approved of. God divided the light from the darkness; for what fellowship has light with darkness? In heaven there is perfect light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no gleam of light. The day and the night are the Lord's; let us use both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in him every night, meditating in his law both day and night.
6 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. The earth, at his command, brings forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are dried up.
14 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully, and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God, as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but do not mind our Master's work.
20 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the effect of his blessing.
26 Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an honour and a favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be put together in him. God said, Let us make man. Man, when he was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's image. Man was made upright,
Qoh 7:29. His understanding saw Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the Lord renew it upon our souls by his grace!
29 Herbs and fruits must be man's food, including corn, and all the products of the earth. Let God's people cast their care upon him, and not be troubled about what they shall eat, and what they shall drink. He that feeds his birds will not starve his babes.
31 When we come to think about our works, we find, to our shame, that much has been very bad; but when God saw his work, all was very good. Good, for it was all just as the Creator would have it to be. All his works, in all places of his dominion, bless him; and therefore, bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Let us bless God for the gospel of Christ, and when we consider his almighty power, let us sinners flee from the wrath to come. If new-created unto the image of God in holiness, we shall at length enter the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.