1Na počiatku stvoril Boh nebo a zem. 2Zem však bola beztvárna a pustá; tma bola nad prahlbinou a Duch Boží sa vznášal nad vodami. 3Vtedy riekol Boh: Buď svetlo! A bolo svetlo. 4Boh videl, že svetlo je dobré; vtedy Boh oddelil svetlo od tmy. 5Boh pomenoval svetlo dňom a tmu pomenoval nocou. A bol večer a bolo ráno: prvý deň. 6Potom riekol Boh: Buď obloha uprostred vôd a oddeľuj vody od vôd. 7Tak učinil Boh oblohu a oddelil vody pod oblohou od vôd nad oblohou. A stalo sa tak. 8Boh pomenoval oblohu nebom. A bol večer a bolo ráno: druhý deň. 9Potom riekol Boh: Nech sa vody nahromadia na jedno miesto pod nebom a nech sa ukáže súš! I stalo sa tak. 10Boh pomenoval súš zemou a nahromadené vody pomenoval morom. Boh videl, že to bolo dobré. 11Potom riekol: Nech zem vydá sviežu zeleň, semenoplodné byliny a ovocné stromy rozličného druhu, čo rodia na zemi ovocie, v ktorom je ich semeno! I stalo sa tak. 12Zem vydala sviežu zeleň, semenoplodné byliny rozličného druhu a stromy rodiace ovocie, v ktorom je semeno rozličného druhu. I videl Boh, že to bolo dobré. 13A bol večer a bolo ráno: tretí deň. 14Potom riekol Boh: Nech sú svetlá na nebeskej oblohe na oddeľovanie dňa od noci a nech budú znameniami na určovanie období, dní a rokov. 15Nech budú svetlami na nebeskej oblohe, aby osvetľovali zem! I stalo sa tak. 16Boh učinil dve veľké svetlá: väčšie svetlo, aby vládlo nad dňom, a menšie svetlo, aby vládlo nad nocou; a aj hviezdy. 17Boh ich umiestnil na nebeskú oblohu, aby osvetľovali zem, 18aby vládli nad dňom aj nocou a aby oddeľovali svetlo od tmy. A Boh videl, že to bolo dobré. 19A bol večer a bolo ráno: štvrtý deň. 20Potom riekol Boh: Nech sa vody víria pohybom živých tvorov a vtáctvo nech poletuje ponad zem na nebeskej oblohe. 21Vtedy stvoril Boh veľké morské zvieratá a všetky živé tvory rozličného druhu, čo sa hýbu a ktorými sa víria vody; aj všetko okrídlené vtáctvo podľa jeho druhov. A Boh videl, že to bolo dobré. 22I požehnal ich Boh hovoriac: Ploďte a množte sa a naplňte morské vody. I vtáctvo nech sa rozmnoží na zemi. 23A bol večer a bolo ráno: piaty deň. 24Potom riekol Boh: Nech zem vydá živé tvory rozličného druhu: dobytok, plazy a poľnú zver rozličného druhu! I stalo sa tak. 25Boh učinil rozličné druhy poľnej zveri, rozličné druhy dobytka a všetky plazy rozličných druhov. A Boh videl, že to bolo dobré. 26Potom riekol Boh: Učiňme človeka na svoj obraz, podľa našej podoby, aby panoval nad morskými rybami, nad nebeským vtáctvom, nad dobytkom, nad všetkou poľnou zverou a nad všetkými plazmi, čo sa plazia po zemi. 27Tak stvoril Boh človeka na svoj obraz; na Boží obraz ho stvoril; ako muža a ženu ich stvoril. 28Potom ich Boh požehnal a riekol im: Ploďte a množte sa a naplňte zem; podmaňte si ju a panujte nad morskými rybami, nad nebeským vtáctvom a nad každým živočíchom, čo sa hýbe na zemi! 29Potom riekol Boh: Ajhľa, dal som vám všetky semenoplodné byliny, ktoré sú na celej zemi, a všetky stromy, na ktorých je ovocie s ich semenom; to vám bude za pokrm. 30No všetkým zvieratám zeme, všetkému nebeskému vtáctvu, a vôbec všetkému, čo sa hýbe na zemi a má v sebe dych života, budú potravou všetky zelené byliny! I stalo sa tak. 31A Boh videl všetko, čo učinil, a hľa, bolo to veľmi dobré. A bol večer a bolo ráno: šiesty deň.
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.