1Na počátku stvořil Bůh nebe a zemi. 2Země pak byla nesličná a pustá, a tma byla nad propastí, a Duch Boží vznášel se nad vodami. 3I řekl Bůh: Buď světlo! I bylo světlo. 4A viděl Bůh světlo, že bylo dobré; i oddělil Bůh světlo od tmy. 5A nazval Bůh světlo dnem, a tmu nazval nocí. I byl večer a bylo jitro, den první. 6Řekl také Bůh: Buď obloha u prostřed vod, a děl vody od vod! 7I učinil Bůh tu oblohu, a oddělil vody, kteréž jsou pod oblohou, od vod, kteréž jsou nad oblohou. A stalo se tak. 8I nazval Bůh oblohu nebem. I byl večer a bylo jitro, den druhý. 9Řekl také Bůh: Shromažďte se vody, kteréž jsou pod nebem, v místo jedno, a ukaž se místo suché! A stalo se tak. 10I nazval Bůh místo suché zemí, shromáždění pak vod nazval mořem. A viděl Bůh, že to bylo dobré. 11Potom řekl Bůh: Zploď země trávu, a bylinu vydávající símě, a strom plodný, nesoucí ovoce podlé pokolení svého, v němž by bylo símě jeho na zemi. A stalo se tak. 12Nebo země vydala trávu, a bylinu nesoucí semeno podlé pokolení svého, i strom přinášející ovoce, v němž bylo símě jeho, podlé pokolení jeho. A viděl Bůh, že to bylo dobré. 13I byl večer a bylo jitro, den třetí. 14Opět řekl Bůh: Buďte světla na obloze nebeské, aby oddělovala den od noci, a byla na znamení a rozměření časů, dnů a let. 15A aby svítila na obloze nebeské, a osvěcovala zemi. A stalo se tak. 16I učinil Bůh dvě světla veliká, světlo větší, aby správu drželo nade dnem, a světlo menší, aby správu drželo nad nocí; též i hvězdy. 17A postavil je Bůh na obloze nebeské, aby osvěcovala zemi; 18A aby správu držela nade dnem a nocí, a oddělovala světlo od tmy. A viděl Bůh, že to bylo dobré. 19I byl večer a bylo jitro, den čtvrtý. 20Řekl ještě Bůh: Vydejte vody hmyz duše živé v hojnosti, a ptactvo, kteréž by létalo nad zemí pod oblohou nebeskou! 21I stvořil Bůh velryby veliké a všelijakou duši živou, hýbající se, kteroužto v hojnosti vydaly vody podlé pokolení jejich, a všeliké ptactvo křídla mající, podlé pokolení jeho. A viděl Bůh, že to bylo dobré. 22I požehnal jim Bůh, řka: Ploďtež se a množte se, a naplňte vody mořské; též ptactvo ať se rozmnožuje na zemi! 23I byl večer a bylo jitro, den pátý. 24Řekl též Bůh: Vydej země duši živou, jednu každou podlé pokolení jejího, hovada a zeměplazy, i zvěř zemskou, podlé pokolení jejího. A stalo se tak. 25I učinil Bůh zvěř zemskou podlé pokolení jejího, též hovada vedlé pokolení jejich, i všeliký zeměplaz podlé pokolení jeho. A viděl Bůh, že bylo dobré. 26Řekl opět Bůh: Učiňme člověka k obrazu našemu, podlé podobenství našeho, a ať panují nad rybami mořskými, a nad ptactvem nebeským, i nad hovady, a nade vší zemí, i nad všelikým zeměplazem hýbajícím se na zemi. 27I stvořil Bůh člověka k obrazu svému, k obrazu Božímu stvořil jej, muže a ženu stvořil je. 28A požehnal jim Bůh, a řekl jim Bůh: Ploďtež se a rozmnožujte se, a naplňte zemi, a podmaňte ji, a panujte nad rybami mořskými, a nad ptactvem nebeským, i nad všelikým živočichem hýbajícím se na zemi. 29Řekl ještě Bůh: Aj, dal jsem vám všelikou bylinu, vydávající símě, kteráž jest na tváři vší země, a všeliké stromoví, (na němž jest ovoce stromu), nesoucí símě; to bude vám za pokrm. 30Všechněm pak živočichům zemským, i všemu ptactvu nebeskému, a všemu tomu, což se hýbe na zemi, v čemž jest duše živá, všelikou bylinu zelenou dal jsem ku pokrmu. I stalo se tak. 31A viděl Bůh vše, což učinil, a aj, bylo velmi dobré. I byl večer a bylo jitro, den šestý.
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.