1Im Anfang schuf Gott den Himmel und die Erde. 2Die Erde war wüst und leer, Finsternis lag über der Urflut, und der Geist Gottes schwebte über den Wassern. 3Da sprach Gott: "Es werde Licht!" Und es ward Licht. 4Gott sah, daß das Licht gut war. Da trennte Gott Licht von Finsternis. 5Gott nannte das Licht Tag, die Finsternis aber Nacht. Es ward Abend, und es ward Morgen: ein Tag. 6Dann sprach Gott: "Es entstehe ein festes Gewölbe inmitten der Wasser, und es bilde eine Scheidewand zwischen den Wassern!" 7Gott bildete das feste Gewölbe und schied zwischen den Wassern oberhalb und unterhalb des Gewölbes, und es geschah so. 8Gott nannte das feste Gewölbe Himmel. Es ward Abend, und es ward Morgen: zweiter Tag. 9Sodann sprach Gott: "Es werde das Wasser unterhalb des Himmels an einen Ort gesammelt, und das Trockene werde sichtbar!" Und es geschah so. 10Gott nannte das Trockene Erde, und das zusammengeflossene Wasser nannte er Meer. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 11Da sprach Gott: "Die Erde lasse Grünes hervorsprießen, samentragende Pflanzen sowie Fruchtbäume, die Früchte bringen nach ihrer Art, in denen Samen ist auf Erden!" Und es geschah so. 12Die Erde brachte Grünes hervor, samentragende Pflanzen nach ihrer Art und Bäume, die Früchte bringen, in denen ihr Same ist nach ihrer Art. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 13Es ward Abend, und es ward Morgen: dritter Tag. 14Dann sprach Gott: "Es sollen Leuchten werden am Gewölbe des Himmels, um zu scheiden zwischen der Nacht und dem Tag, und sie sollen als Zeichen dienen sowohl für die Festzeiten als auch für die Tage und Jahre! 15Sie sollen Lichtspender an dem Gewölbe des Himmels sein, um zu leuchten über der Erde!" Und es geschah so. 16So machte denn Gott die beiden großen Leuchten: die größere, daß sie den Tag beherrsche, die kleinere zur Beherrschung der Nacht und dazu die Sterne. 17Gott setzte sie als Leuchten über die Erde an das Gewölbe des Himmels, 18zu beherrschen Tag und Nacht und zu trennen zwischen Licht und Finsternis. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 19Es ward Abend, und es ward Morgen: vierter Tag. 20Dann sprach Gott: "Es sollen wimmeln die Gewässer von Lebewesen und Vögel am Himmelsgewölbe fliegen über der Erde!" 21Gott schuf die großen Seeungetüme und alle sich regenden lebendigen Wesen, von denen nach ihren Arten das Wasser wimmelt, und alle geflügelten Vögel nach ihren Arten. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 22Gott segnete sie und sprach: "Seid fruchtbar, mehrt euch und erfüllt das Wasser in den Meeren! Die Vögel aber mögen sich vermehren auf Erden!" 23Es ward Abend, und es ward Morgen: fünfter Tag. 24Da sprach Gott: "Die Erde bringe lebende Wesen nach ihrer Art hervor: Vieh, Kriech- und Feldtiere nach ihren Arten!" Und es geschah so. 25Gott bildete die Feldtiere, das Vieh und alle Kriechtiere des Erdbodens jeweils nach ihren Arten. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war. 26Dann sprach Gott: "Laßt uns Menschen machen nach unserem Abbild, uns ähnlich; sie sollen herrschen über des Meeres Fische, über die Vögel des Himmels, über das Vieh, über alle Landtiere und über alle Kriechtiere am Boden!" 27So schuf Gott den Menschen nach seinem Abbild, nach Gottes Bild schuf er ihn, als Mann und Frau erschuf er sie. 28Gott segnete sie und sprach zu ihnen: "Seid fruchtbar und mehrt euch, füllt die Erde und macht sie untertan und herrscht über des Meeres Fische, die Vögel des Himmels und über alles Getier, das sich auf Erden regt!" 29Gott sprach weiter: "Seht, ich gebe euch alles Grünkraut, das auf der ganzen Erde Samen trägt, und alle Bäume mit samenhaltigen Früchten; dies diene euch als Nahrung! 30Allem Getier des Feldes und allen Vögeln des Himmels und allen am Boden kriechenden Tieren, in denen Lebenshauch atmet, gebe ich hingegen alles Grünkraut zur Nahrung." Und es geschah so. 31Gott sah alles, was er gemacht hatte, und fürwahr, es war sehr gut. Es ward Abend, und es ward Morgen: 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.