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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 1:20 And God said, "Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/01_Gen_01_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 1:20 - The Fifth Day" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And God said, Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/1-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/1-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/1-19.htm" title="Genesis 1:19">◄</a> Genesis 1:20 <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm" title="Genesis 1:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/genesis/1.htm">New International Version</a> And God said, &#8220Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/genesis/1.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” <a href="/esv/genesis/1.htm">English Standard Version</a> And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” <a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” <a href="/kjv/genesis/1.htm">King James Bible</a> And 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. <a href="/nkjv/genesis/1.htm">New King James Version</a> Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” <a href="/nasb_/genesis/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” <a href="/nasb/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then God said, &#8220Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” <a href="/lsb/genesis/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the expanse of the heavens.” <a href="/amp/genesis/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then God said, “Let the waters swarm and abundantly produce living creatures, and let birds soar above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” <a href="/csb/genesis/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” <a href="/hcsb/genesis/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then God said, &#8220Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.&#8221 <a href="/asv/genesis/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. <a href="/cev/genesis/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> God said, "I command the ocean to be full of living creatures, and I command birds to fly above the earth." <a href="/erv/genesis/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. <a href="/gwt/genesis/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Then God said, "Let the water swarm with swimming creatures, and let birds fly through the sky over the earth." <a href="/gnt/genesis/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> Then God commanded, "Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the air be filled with birds." <a href="/isv/genesis/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then God said, "Let the oceans swarm with living creatures, and let flying creatures soar above the earth throughout the sky!" <a href="/msb/genesis/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And God said, ?Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.? <a href="/net/genesis/1.htm">NET Bible</a> God said, "Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." <a href="/nheb/genesis/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let flying creatures fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky." And it was so. <a href="/wbt/genesis/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And 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. <a href="/web/genesis/1.htm">World English Bible</a> God said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And God says, “Let the waters teem with the teeming living creature, and let [the] bird fly above the earth on the face of the expanse of the heavens.” <a href="/ylt/genesis/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And God saith, 'Let the waters teem with the teeming living creature, and fowl let fly on the earth on the face of the expanse of the heavens.' <a href="/slt/genesis/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And God will say the waters shall breed abundantly creeping things, the living soul, and birds shall fly over the earth, over the face of the firmament of the heavens.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> God also said: Let the waters bring forth the creeping creature having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the firmament of heaven. <a href="/cpdv/genesis/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And then God said, “Let the waters produce animals with a living soul, and flying creatures above the earth, under the firmament of heaven.” <a href="/nabre/genesis/1.htm">New American Bible</a> Then God said: Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky. <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And God said, Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of the heaven. <a href="/hpbt/genesis/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And God said, “Swarmers shall swarm the waters, the living soul, and the bird will fly above the Earth, above the face of the firmament of Heaven.”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And God said: 'Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.' <a href="/sep/genesis/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And God said, Let the waters bring forth reptiles having life, and winged creatures flying above the earth in the firmament of heaven, and it was so. <a href="/parallel/genesis/1-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=157" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">The Fifth Day</a> …19And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. 20<a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">And God</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ham·ma·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">“Let the waters</a> <a href="/hebrew/8317.htm" title="8317: yiš·rə·ṣū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To swarm, teem. A primitive root; to wriggle, i.e. swarm or abound.">teem</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: ne·p̄eš (N-fs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">with living</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: ḥay·yāh (Adj-fs) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8318.htm" title="8318: še·reṣ (N-msc) -- Swarmers, swarming things. From sharats; a swarm, i.e. Active mass of minute animals.">creatures,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5775.htm" title="5775: wə·‘ō·wp̄ (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Flying creatures. From uwph; a bird, often collectively.">and let birds</a> <a href="/hebrew/5774.htm" title="5774: yə·‘ō·w·p̄êp̄ (V-Piel-Imperf-3ms) -- To fly, to faint. A primitive root; to cover; hence to fly; also to faint.">fly</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">above</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the earth</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">in</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pə·nê (N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">the open</a> <a href="/hebrew/7549.htm" title="7549: rə·qî·a‘ (N-msc) -- An extended surface, expanse. From raqa'; properly, an expanse, i.e. The firmament or visible arch of the sky.">expanse</a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: haš·šā·mā·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">of the sky.”</a> 21So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/psalms/104-25.htm">Psalm 104:25-30</a> Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. / There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there. / All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season. ... <a href="/job/12-7.htm">Job 12:7-10</a> But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. / Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. / Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? ... <a href="/revelation/4-11.htm">Revelation 4:11</a> “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.” <a href="/acts/17-24.htm">Acts 17:24-25</a> The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. <a href="/nehemiah/9-6.htm">Nehemiah 9:6</a> You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You. <a href="/psalms/148-5.htm">Psalm 148:5-10</a> Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created. / He established them forever and ever; He issued a decree that will never pass away. / Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths, ... <a href="/isaiah/45-18.htm">Isaiah 45:18</a> For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other. <a href="/jeremiah/51-15.htm">Jeremiah 51:15-16</a> The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. / When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses. <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a> For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. <a href="/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3</a> Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/romans/1-20.htm">Romans 1:20</a> For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. <a href="/hebrews/11-3.htm">Hebrews 11:3</a> By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. <a href="/1_corinthians/8-6.htm">1 Corinthians 8:6</a> yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. <a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Exodus 20:11</a> For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. <a href="/psalms/33-6.htm">Psalm 33:6-9</a> By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. / He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses. / Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.Let the waters.<a href="/genesis/1-22.htm">Genesis 1:22</a> And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.<a href="/genesis/2-19.htm">Genesis 2:19</a> And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.<a href="/genesis/8-17.htm">Genesis 8:17</a> Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.moving.<a href="/1_kings/4-33.htm">1 Kings 4:33</a> And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.life.<a href="/genesis/1-30.htm">Genesis 1:30</a> And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.<a href="/ecclesiastes/2-21.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:21</a> For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.fowl that may fly.<a href="/genesis/2-19.htm">Genesis 2:19</a> And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.open firmament.<a href="/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7,14</a> And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jude/1-2.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Arch</a> <a href="/revelation/19-21.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/revelation/16-3.htm">Creature</a> <a href="/revelation/19-4.htm">Creatures</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Expanse</a> <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Face</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Firmament</a> <a href="/revelation/20-11.htm">Flight</a> <a href="/revelation/19-17.htm">Fly</a> <a href="/genesis/1-12.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/zephaniah/1-3.htm">Fowl</a> <a href="/revelation/21-9.htm">Full</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/revelation/22-19.htm">Life</a> <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Moving</a> <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm">Open</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/revelation/20-4.htm">Souls</a> <a href="/micah/2-12.htm">Swarm</a> <a href="/nahum/3-17.htm">Swarms</a> <a href="/exodus/8-3.htm">Teem</a> <a href="/psalms/104-25.htm">Teeming</a> <a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">Water</a> <a href="/genesis/1-10.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/job/22-14.htm">Arch</a> <a href="/genesis/1-22.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Creature</a> <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Creatures</a> <a href="/genesis/1-22.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/job/37-10.htm">Expanse</a> <a href="/genesis/1-25.htm">Face</a> <a href="/psalms/19-1.htm">Firmament</a> <a href="/genesis/4-12.htm">Flight</a> <a href="/exodus/8-31.htm">Fly</a> <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Fowl</a> <a href="/genesis/1-22.htm">Full</a> <a href="/genesis/2-1.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/genesis/2-1.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/genesis/1-30.htm">Life</a> <a href="/genesis/1-24.htm">Moving</a> <a href="/genesis/3-5.htm">Open</a> <a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/genesis/12-5.htm">Souls</a> <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Swarm</a> <a href="/genesis/7-21.htm">Swarms</a> <a href="/genesis/9-7.htm">Teem</a> <a href="/genesis/7-21.htm">Teeming</a> <a href="/genesis/1-22.htm">Water</a> <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 1</div>1. <a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">God creates heaven and earth;</a> 3. <a href="/genesis/1-3.htm">the light;</a> 6. <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">the firmament;</a> 9. <a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">separates the dry land;</a> 14. <a href="/genesis/1-14.htm">forms the sun, moon, and stars;</a> 20. <a href="/genesis/1-20.htm">fishes and fowls;</a> 24. <a href="/genesis/1-24.htm">cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things;</a> 26. <a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">creates man in his own image, blesses him;</a> 29. <a href="/genesis/1-29.htm">grants the fruits of the earth for food.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And God said, This phrase emphasizes the power and authority of God's word in creation. Throughout <a href="/genesis/1.htm">Genesis 1</a>, God's spoken word brings forth life and order from chaos. This reflects the concept of divine fiat, where God's will is enacted through His speech. The New Testament echoes this creative power in <a href="/john/1.htm">John 1:1-3</a>, where Jesus, the Word, is described as the agent of creation.“Let the waters teem with living creatures, The command for waters to teem with life introduces the abundance and diversity of marine life. This reflects God's provision and the richness of His creation. The Hebrew word for "teem" suggests a swarming or multiplying, indicating the prolific nature of aquatic life. This abundance is mirrored in the blessings given to humanity and creation, as seen in <a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a>, where God commands humans to "be fruitful and multiply."and let birds fly above the earth The creation of birds highlights the filling of the sky, complementing the filling of the waters. Birds are often seen as symbols of freedom and transcendence, and their creation on the fifth day signifies the completion of the environments of sky and sea. In biblical symbolism, birds can represent spiritual truths, as seen in <a href="/matthew/6-26.htm">Matthew 6:26</a>, where Jesus uses birds to teach about God's provision.in the open expanse of the sky.” The "open expanse" refers to the firmament created on the second day, separating the waters above from the waters below. This expanse, or sky, is a testament to God's order and structure in creation. The Hebrew term for "expanse" can also mean "firmament," indicating a solid dome-like structure, reflecting ancient Near Eastern cosmology. The sky's vastness points to God's majesty and the heavens' declaration of His glory, as expressed in <a href="/psalms/19.htm">Psalm 19:1</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a> The Creator, who speaks life into existence. His authority and power are evident as He commands creation. 2. <a href="/topical/w/waters.htm">Waters</a> The bodies of water on Earth, which are commanded to teem with life. 3. <a href="/topical/l/living_creatures.htm">Living Creatures</a> Refers to the aquatic life that God created to fill the waters. 4. <a href="/topical/b/birds.htm">Birds</a> The creatures that God created to fly above the earth, showcasing His creativity and design. 5. <a href="/topical/o/open_expanse_of_the_sky.htm">Open Expanse of the Sky</a> The sky or firmament, which serves as the domain for the birds.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_creation.htm">God's Sovereignty in Creation</a> Recognize that God is the ultimate authority over all creation. His command brings life and order. <a href="/topical/t/the_diversity_of_life.htm">The Diversity of Life</a> Appreciate the variety and complexity of life that God created, reflecting His creativity and wisdom. <a href="/topical/s/stewardship_of_creation.htm">Stewardship of Creation</a> As caretakers of God's creation, we are called to responsibly manage and protect the environment and its creatures. <a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_provision.htm">Trust in God's Provision</a> Just as God provides for the birds and sea creatures, we can trust Him to meet our needs. <a href="/topical/w/worship_the_creator.htm">Worship the Creator</a> Let the beauty and intricacy of creation lead us to worship and glorify God.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) Let the waters . . . in the open firmament.--The days of the second creative triad correspond to those of the first. Light was created on the first day, and on the fourth it was gathered into light-bearers; on the second day air and water were called into being, and on the fifth day they were peopled with life; lastly, on the third day the dry land appeared, and on the sixth day it became the home of animals and man.Bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life.--Literally, let the waters swarm a swarm of living soul. But the word soul properly signifies "breath," and thus, after the long pause of the fourth day, during which vegetation was advancing under the ripening effects of solar heat, we now hasten onward to another creative act, by which God called into being creatures which live by breathing. And as vegetation began with a green tinge upon the rocks, so doubtless animal life began in the most rudimentary manner, and advanced through animalcules and insects up to fish and reptiles. The main point noticed in the text as to the living things produced on this day is their fecundity. They are all those creatures which multiply in masses. It does not, however, follow that the highest forms of fish and reptiles were reached before the lowest form of land animal was created. All that we are taught is that the Infusoria and Ovipara preceded the Mammalia. As the most perfect trees may not have been produced till the Garden of Eden was planted, so the peacock may not have spread his gaudy plumes till the time was approaching when there would be human eyes capable of admiring his beauty.And fowl that may fly.--Heb., and let fowl, or winged creatures, fly above the earth. It does not say that they were formed out of the water (comp. <a href="/genesis/2-19.htm" title="And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.">Genesis 2:19</a>). Nor is it confined to birds, but includes all creatures that can wing their way in the air.In the open firmament.--Literally, upon the face of the expanse of heaven--that is, in front of it, upon the lower surface of the atmosphere near to the earth.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 20. Day five. The waters and the air, separated on the second day, are on this filled with their respective inhabitants. And God said. Nature never makes an onward movement, in the sense of an absolutely new departure, unless under the impulse of the word of Elohim. These words distinctly claim that the creatures of the sea and of the air, even if evolved from material elements, were produced in obedience to Divine command, and not spontaneously generated by the potentia vitae of either land, sea, or sky. Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature. Literally, swarm with swarmers, or crawl with crawlers. The fundamental signification of sharatz is to creep or swarm, and hence to multiply (Gesenius); or, vice versa, to multiply in masses, and hence to swarm or abound (Furst; cf. <a href="/genesis/8-17.htm">Genesis 8:17</a>; <a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7</a>; <a href="/exodus/8-3.htm">Exodus 8:3</a>). The sheretzim, though including small aquatic creatures that have short or no legs, are obviously "all kinds of living creatures inhabiting either land or water which are oviparous and remarkable for fecundity" (Bush). We may, therefore, understand the creative fiat of the fifth day as summoning first into existence the insect creation (in <a href="/leviticus/11-20.htm">Leviticus 11:20-23</a> defined as flying sheretzim), the fishes of the sea (sheretzim of the waters, <a href="/leviticus/11-9.htm">Leviticus 11:9, 10</a>), and the reptiles and saurians of sea and land (sheretzim of the land, <a href="/leviticus/11-41.htm">Leviticus 11:41, 42</a>). Dawson concludes that "the prolific animals of the fifth day's creation belonged to the three Cuvierian sub-kingdoms of the radiata articulata, mollusca, and to the classes of fish and reptiles among the vertebrata. That hath life. Nephesh chayyah; literally, a living breath. Here the creatures of the sea are distinguished from all previous creations, and in particular from vegetation, as being possessed of a vital principle. This does not, of course, contradict the well-known truth that plants are living organisms. Only the life principle of the animal creation is different from that of the vegetable kingdom. It may be impossible by the most acute microscopic analysis to differentiate the protoplasmic cell of vegetable matter from that of animal organisms, and plants may appear to be possessed of functions that resemble those of animals, yet the two are generically different - vegetable protoplasm never weaving animal texture, and plant fiber never issuing from the loom of animal protoplasm. That which constitutes an animal is the possession of respiratory organs, to which, doubtless. there is a reference in the term nephesh from naphash, to breathe. And fowl that may fly. Literally, let "winged creatures" fly. The fowls include all tribes covered with feathers that can raise themselves hate the air. The English version produces the impression that they were made from the waters, which is contrary to <a href="/genesis/2-19.htm">Genesis 2:19</a>. The correct rendering disposes of the difficulty. Above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. Not above the firmament like the clouds (Von Bohlen, Baumgarten), but in the concave vault (Tuch, Delitzsch), or before the surface of the expanse (Kalisch). <a href="/commentaries/genesis/1-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>And God אֱלֹהִ֔ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative said, וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “Let the waters הַמַּ֔יִם (ham·ma·yim) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> Water, juice, urine, semen teem יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ (yiš·rə·ṣū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8317.htm">Strong's 8317: </a> To wriggle, swarm, abound with living נֶ֣פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion creatures, שֶׁ֖רֶץ (še·reṣ) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8318.htm">Strong's 8318: </a> A swarm, active mass of minute animals and let birds וְעוֹף֙ (wə·‘ō·wp̄) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5775.htm">Strong's 5775: </a> Flying creatures fly יְעוֹפֵ֣ף (yə·‘ō·w·p̄êp̄) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5774.htm">Strong's 5774: </a> To fly, to faint above עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the earth הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land in עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the open פְּנֵ֖י (pə·nê) Noun - common plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> The face expanse רְקִ֥יעַ (rə·qî·a‘) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7549.htm">Strong's 7549: </a> An expanse, the firmament, visible arch of the sky of the sky.” הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (haš·šā·mā·yim) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> Heaven, sky <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/1-20.htm">Genesis 1:20 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/1-20.htm">OT Law: Genesis 1:20 God said Let the waters swarm (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/1-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 1:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/1-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 1:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>