1IM Anfang schuf Gott den Himmel und die Erde. 2Die Erde aber war bloß und bar, und Dunkel lag über dem Grund, und Gottes Windhauch wehte über die Wasser. 3Da sprach Gott: «Es werde hell!», und es ward hell. 4Und Gott sah die Helle, daß sie gut war. Da schied Gott zwischen der Helle und dem Dunkel. 5Und Gott nannte die Helle Tag, das Dunkel aber nannte er Nacht. Und es ward Abend und ward Morgen - ein Tag. 6Und Gott sprach: «Es werde eine Decke im Wasser drinnen und sei Scheide zwischen Wasser und Wasser!» 7Da machte Gott die Decke und schied zwischen den Wassern unterhalb der Decke, und den Wassern oberhalb der Decke; und es ward so. 8Und Gott nannte die Decke Himmel. Und es ward Abend und ward Morgen - ein zweiter Tag. 9Und Gott sprach: «Es sammle sich das Wasser unterhalb des Himmels an einen Ort, daß das Trockene sichtbar werde!» Und es ward so. 10Und Gott nannte das Trockene Erde, die Sammlung der Wasser aber nannte er Meere. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 11Und Gott sprach: «Es lasse die Erde junges Grün sprießen, Kraut, das Samen sämt, Fruchtbäume, die nach ihrer Art Frucht tragen, worin ihr Same ist, auf der Erde!» Und es ward so. 12Da brachte die Erde junges Grün hervor, Kraut, das Samen sämt nach seiner Art, und Bäume, die Frucht tragen, worin ihr Same ist, nach ihrer Art. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 13Und es ward Abend und ward Morgen - ein dritter Tag. 14Und Gott sprach: «Es seien Leuchten an der Himmelsdecke, zu scheiden zwischen Tag und Nacht; und sie sollen sein zu Zeichen und Bestimmungen und zu Tagen und Jahren; 15und sie sollen Leuchten sein an der Himmelsdecke, um zu leuchten über die Erde!» Und es ward so. 16Und Gott machte die beiden großen Leuchten, die größere Leuchte zur Herrschaft des Tags, und die kleinere Leuchte zur Herrschaft der Nacht, und die Sterne. 17Und Gott setzte sie an die Himmelsdecke, daß sie leuchten über die Erde, 18und um zu herrschen über Tag und Nacht und zu scheiden zwischen Helle und Dunkel. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 19Und es ward Abend und ward Morgen - ein vierter Tag. 20Und Gott sprach: «Es wimmle das Wasser von Gewimmel lebender Wesen, und Vogelvolk fliege über die Erde hin an der Decke des Himmels!» 21Da schuf Gott die großen Seetiere und alle die lebenden Wesen, die sich wimmelnd regen, davon das Wasser wimmelte, nach ihrer Art, und alles beschwingte Vogelvolk nach seiner Art. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 22Da segnete sie Gott und sprach: «Fruchtet und mehrt euch und füllet das Wasser in den Meeren, und das Vogelvolk mehre sich auf Erden!» 23Und es ward Abend und ward Morgen - ein fünfter Tag. 24Und Gott sprach: «Es bringe die Erde lebende Wesen hervor nach ihrer Art, Vieh und Gewürm und Landgetier nach seiner Art!» Und es ward so. 25Da machte Gott das Landgetier nach seiner Art und das Vieh nach seiner Art und alles Gerege des Erdbodens nach seiner Art. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 26Und Gott sprach: «Laßt uns Menschen machen in unserm Bild, nach unsrer Gestalt, und sie sollen gewältigen die Fischbrut des Meeres und das Vogelvolk des Himmels, das Vieh und die ganze Erde und alles Gerege, das sich regt auf der Erde!» 27Da schuf Gott den Menschen in seinem Bild, im Bild Gottes schuf er ihn; Mann und Weib schuf er sie. 28Und Gott segnete sie und sprach zu ihnen: «Fruchtet und mehrt euch, und füllet die Erde und zwingt sie nieder und gewältigt die Fischbrut des Meeres und das Vogelvolk des Himmels und alles Getier, das sich regt auf der Erde!» 29Und Gott sprach: «Seht, ich gebe euch alles Kraut, das Samen sämt, das auf der ganzen Erde ist, und alle Bäume, die sämende Baumfrucht tragen; euch sei es zur Nahrung; 30allem Getier des Landes aber und allem Vogelvolk des Himmels und allem, was sich regt auf der Erde, das Lebensodem in sich hat, - alles Grün vom Kraut zur Nahrung.» Und es ward so. 31Und Gott sah alles, was er gemacht hatte, und sieh, es war sehr gut. Und es ward Abend und ward Morgen - der sechste 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.