And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Parallel translations
- WEB God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
- BSB And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.”
- NKJV Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
- NASB Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
- NLT Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God commands an expanse to separate the waters, beginning to shape habitable space. He continues bringing structure to the formless deep.
Overview
On the second day God speaks an 'expanse' (the sky or firmament) into being to divide the waters above from those below. This act of separation, like the dividing of light from darkness, shows God making the world orderly and prepared for life. The passage reflects an ancient picture of the cosmos while teaching the enduring truth that God alone structures and governs the heavens and the earth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Jer 51:15He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
- Job 37:18Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
- Ps 33:6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
- Job 26:7–8He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
- Jer 10:12–13He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
- Ps 104:2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
- Ps 148:4Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
- Ps 33:9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
- Ps 136:5–6To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
- Ps 19:1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
- Zech 12:1The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
- Ps 150:1Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
- Gen 1:20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
- Job 26:13By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
- Gen 7:11–12In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
- Job 37:11Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
- Job 38:22–26Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
- Gen 1:14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
- Eccl 11:3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
- Jer 10:10But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 1:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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