1Im Anfang schuf Gott den Himmel und die Erde. 2Die Erde aber war Irrsal und Wirrsal. Finsternis über Urwirbels Antlitz. Braus Gottes schwingend über dem Antlitz der Wasser. 3Gott sprach: Licht werde! Licht ward. 4Gott sah das Licht: daß es gut ist. Gott schied zwischen dem Licht und der Finsternis. 5Gott rief dem Licht: Tag! und der Finsternis rief er: Nacht! Abend ward und Morgen ward: Ein Tag. 6Gott sprach: Gewölb werde inmitten der Wasser und sei Scheide von Wasser und Wasser! 7Gott machte das Gewölb und schied zwischen dem Wasser das unterhalb des Gewölbs war und dem Wasser das oberhalb des Gewölbs war. Es ward so. 8Dem Gewölb rief Gott: Himmel! Abend ward und Morgen ward: zweiter Tag. 9Gott sprach: Das Wasser unterm Himmel staue sich an einen Ort, und das Trockne lasse sich sehn! Es ward so. 10Dem Trocknen rief Gott: Erde! und der Stauung der Wasser rief er: Meere! Gott sah, daß es gut ist. 11Gott sprach: Sprießen lasse die Erde Gesproß, Kraut, das Samen samt, Fruchtbaum, der nach seiner Art Frucht macht darin sein Same ist, auf der Erde! Es ward so. 12Die Erde trieb Gesproß, Kraut, das nach seiner Art Samen samt, Baum, der nach seiner Art Frucht macht darin sein Same ist. Gott sah, daß es gut ist. 13Abend ward und Morgen ward: dritter Tag. 14Gott sprach: Leuchten seien am Gewölb des Himmels, zwischen dem Tag und der Nacht zu scheiden, daß sie werden zu Zeichen, so für Geseiten so für Tage und Jahre, 15und sein Leuchten am Gewölb des Himmels, über die Erde zu leuchten! Es ward so. 16Gott machte die zwei großen Leuchten, di größre Leuchte zur Waltung des Tags und die kleinre Leuchte zur Waltung der Nacht, und die Sterne. 17Gott gab sie ans Gewölb des Himmels, 18über die Erde zu leuchten, des Tags und der Nacht zu walten, zu scheiden zwischen dem Licht und der Finsternis. Gott sah, daß es gut ist. 19Abend ward und Morgen ward: vierter Tag. 20Gott sprach: Das Wasser wimmle, ein Wimmeln lebenden Wesens, und Vogelflug fliege über der Erde vorüber dem Antlitz des Himmelsgewölbs! 21Gott schuf die großen Ungetüme und alle lebenden regen Wesen, von denen das Wasser wimmelte, nach ihren Arten, und allen befittichten Vogel nach seiner Art. Gott sah, daß es gut ist. 22Gott segnete sie, sprechend: Fruchtet und mehrt euch und füllt das Wasser in den Meeren, und der Vogel mehre sich auf Erden! 23Abend ward und Morgen ward: fünfter Tag. 24Gott sprach: Die Erde treibe lebendes Wesen nach seiner Art, Herdentier, Kriechgerege und das Wildlebende des Erdlands nach seiner Art! Es ward so. 25Gott machte das Wildlebende des Erdlands nach seiner Art und das Herdentier nach seiner Art und alles Gerege des Ackers nach seiner Art. Gott sah, daß es gut ist. 26Gott sprach: Machen wir den Menschen in unserem Bild nach unserem Gleichnis! Sie sollen schalten über das Fischvolk des Meeres, den Vogel des Himmels, das Getier, die Erde all, und alles Gerege, das auf Erden sich regt. 27Gott schuf den Menschen in seinem Bilde, im Bilde Gottes chuff er ihn, männlich, weiblich schuf er sie. 28Gott segnete sie, Got sprach zu ihnen: Fruchtet und mehrt euch und füllet die Erde und bemächtigt euch ihrer! schaltet über das Fischvolk des Meers, den Vogel des Himmels und alles Lebendige, das auf Erden sich regt! 29Gott sprach: Da gebe ich euch alles samensäende Kraut, das auf dem Antlitz der Erde all ist, und alljedem Baum, daran samensäende Baumfrucht ist, euch sei es zum Essen, 30und Allem Lebendigen der Erde, allem Vogel des Himmels, allem was auf Erder sich regt, darin lebendes Wesen ist, alles Grün des Krauts zum Essen. Es ward so. 31Gott sah alles, was er gemacht hatte, und da, es war sehr gut. Abend ward und Morgen ward: 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.