1Na počátku stvořil Bůh nebe a zemi. 2Země byla pustá a prázdná, tma halila propast, Boží vítr vířil nad vodami. 3Bůh řekl: „Budiž světlo,“ a bylo světlo. 4Bůh viděl, že světlo je dobré, a Bůh oddělil světlo od tmy. 5Bůh nazval světlo „den“ a tmu „noc“. Byl večer a bylo jitro: první den. 6Bůh řekl: „Ať je obloha uprostřed vod a odděluje jedny vody od druhých,“ a stalo se tak. 7Bůh udělal oblohu oddělující vody, jež jsou pod oblohou, od vod, jež jsou nad oblohou, 8a Bůh nazval oblohu „nebe“. Byl večer a bylo jitro: druhý den. 9Bůh řekl: „Ať se vody, jež jsou pod oblohou, slijí v jedinou spoustu a ať se ukáže souš,“ a stalo se tak. 10Bůh nazval souš zemí a onu spoustu vod mořem, a Bůh viděl, že je to dobré. 11Bůh řekl: „Ať se země zazelená zelení, bylinami nesoucími semena a ovocnými stromy dávajícími na zemi podle svých druhů plody se semeny,“ a stalo se tak. 12Země vydala zeleň: byliny nesoucí semena podle svých druhů a stromy dávající podle svých druhů plody se semeny, a Bůh viděl, že je to dobré. 13Byl večer a bylo jitro: třetí den. 14Bůh řekl: „Ať jsou svítilny na nebeské obloze, aby oddělovaly den a noc: ať slouží jako znamení jak pro svátky, tak pro dny i roky; 15ať jsou svítilny na nebeské obloze, aby osvětlovaly zemi,“ a stalo se tak. 16Bůh udělal dvě hlavní svítilny: velkou svítilnu jako vládkyni dne a malou svítilnu jako vládkyni noci a hvězdy. 17Bůh je umístil na nebeskou oblohu, aby osvětlovaly zemi, 18aby vládly dnu a noci, aby oddělovaly světlo a tmu, a Bůh viděl, že je to dobré. 19Byl večer a bylo jitro: čtvrtý den. 20Bůh řekl: „Ať se vody zahemží hemžením živých tvorů a ať ptáci létají nad zemí blízko nebeské oblohy,“ a stalo se tak. 21Bůh stvořil velké mořské hady a všechny živé tvory, kteří se hýbají a kteří se hemží ve vodách podle jejich druhu, a všechny opeřence podle jejich druhu, a Bůh viděl, že je to dobré. 22Bůh jim požehnal a řekl: „Buďte plodní, rozmnožujte se, zaplňte mořské vody a ptáci ať se rozmnožují na zemi.“ 23Byl večer a bylo jitro: pátý den. 24Bůh řekl: „Ať země vydá živé tvory podle jejich druhu: dobytek, drobné živočichy, divoká zvířata podle jejich druhu,“ a stalo se tak. 25Bůh udělal divoká zvířata podle jejich druhu, dobytek podle jeho druhu i všechny drobné živočichy lezoucí po zemi podle jejich druhu, a Bůh viděl, že je to dobré. 26Bůh řekl: „Učiňme člověka ke svému obrazu, aby se nám podobal, a oni ať vládnou mořským rybám, nebeským ptákům, dobytku, všem divokým zvířatům a všem drobným živočichům, kteří se plazí po zemi.“ 27Bůh stvořil člověka ke svému obrazu, k Božímu obrazu jej stvořil, stvořil jej jako muže a ženu. 28Bůh jim požehnal a řekl jim: „Buďte plodní, rozmnožujte se, naplňte zemi a podrobte si ji; vládněte mořským rybám, nebeským ptákům a všem živým tvorům, kteří se pohybují po zemi.“ 29Bůh řekl: „Dávám vám všechny byliny nesoucí semena na veškerém povrchu země a všechny stromy, jež mají plody nesoucí semena; to bude vaše potrava. 30Všem divokým zvířatům, všem nebeským ptákům, všemu, co se plazí po zemi a co má v sobě život, dávám za potravu všechnu zeleň rostlin,“ a stalo se tak. 31Bůh viděl vše, co učinil, a bylo to velmi dobré. Byl večer a bylo jitro: šestý den.
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.