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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 1:7 So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/01_Gen_01_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 1:7 - The Second Day" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. 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And it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which <i>were</i> under the firmament from the waters which <i>were</i> above the firmament: and it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which <i>were</i> under the firmament from the waters which <i>were</i> above the firmament; and it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />God made the expanse, and separated the waters that were below the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse; and it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So God made the expanse and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And God made the expanse [of sky] and separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so [just as He commanded].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />And that's what happened. God made the dome <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So God made the horizon and separated the water above and below the horizon. And so it was.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So God made a canopy that separated the water beneath the canopy from the water above it. And that is what happened:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. It was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And God makes the expanse, and it separates between the waters which [are] under the expanse, and the waters which [are] above the expanse: and it is so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And God maketh the expanse, and it separateth between the waters which are under the expanse, and the waters which are above the expanse: and it is so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And God shall make a firmament, and he shall separate between the waters which are from the lower part of the firmament and between the waters which are from the upper part of the firmament: and it shall be so.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And God made a firmament, and divided the waters that were under the firmament, from those that were above the firmament, and it was so. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And God made a firmament, and he divided the waters that were under the firmament, from those that were above the firmament. And so it became.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />God made the dome, and it separated the water below the dome from the water above the dome. And so it happened.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And God made the firmament, and divided the waters that were under the firmament from the waters that were above the firmament; and it was so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And God made the firmament, and it separated between the waters lower than the sky and between the waters that were higher than the sky, and it was in this way.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And God made the firmament, and God divided between the water which was under the firmament and the water which was above the firmament.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/1-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=42" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">The Second Day</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">6</span>And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.” <span class="reftext">7</span><span class="highl"><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">So God</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: way·ya·‘aś (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">made</a> <a href="/hebrew/7549.htm" title="7549: hā·rā·qî·a‘ (Art:: N-ms) -- An extended surface, expanse. From raqa'; properly, an expanse, i.e. The firmament or visible arch of the sky.">the expanse</a> <a href="/hebrew/914.htm" title="914: way·yaḇ·dêl (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be divided, separate. A primitive root; to divide.">and separated</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: bên (Prep) -- An interval, space between. "></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.">the waters</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: mit·ta·ḥaṯ (Prep-m) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">beneath</a> <a href="/hebrew/7549.htm" title="7549: lā·rā·qî·a‘ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- An extended surface, expanse. From raqa'; properly, an expanse, i.e. The firmament or visible arch of the sky.">it</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: ū·ḇên (Conj-w:: Prep) -- An interval, space between. ">from</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.">the waters</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: mê·‘al (Prep-m) -- 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/7549.htm" title="7549: lā·rā·qî·a‘ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- An extended surface, expanse. From raqa'; properly, an expanse, i.e. The firmament or visible arch of the sky."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">And it was</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: ḵên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">so.</a> </span><span class="reftext">8</span>God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-1.htm">John 1:1-3</a></span><br />In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/33-6.htm">Psalm 33:6</a></span><br />By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-3.htm">Hebrews 11:3</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-22.htm">Isaiah 40:22</a></span><br />He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/26-10.htm">Job 26:10</a></span><br />He has inscribed a horizon on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/3-5.htm">2 Peter 3:5</a></span><br />But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/8-27.htm">Proverbs 8:27-29</a></span><br />I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, / when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, / when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-12.htm">Jeremiah 10:12</a></span><br />The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-6.htm">Nehemiah 9:6</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-2.htm">Psalm 104:2-3</a></span><br />He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent, / laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-5.htm">Isaiah 42:5</a></span><br />This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/38-8.htm">Job 38:8-11</a></span><br />Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, / when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, / when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/148-4.htm">Psalm 148:4-5</a></span><br />Praise Him, O highest heavens, and you waters above the skies. / Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/4-11.htm">Revelation 4:11</a></span><br />“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.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="hdg">divided.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/8-28.htm">Proverbs 8:28,29</a></b></br> When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: … </p><p class="hdg">above.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/26-8.htm">Job 26:8</a></b></br> He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/104-10.htm">Psalm 104:10</a></b></br> He sendeth the springs into the valleys, <i>which</i> run among the hills.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/148-4.htm">Psalm 148:4</a></b></br> Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that <i>be</i> above the heavens.</p><p class="hdg">and it.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">Genesis 1:9,11,15,24</a></b></br> And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry <i>land</i> appear: and it was so… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/8-27.htm">Matthew 8:27</a></b></br> But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Arch</a> <a href="/acts/2-19.htm">Below</a> <a href="/genesis/1-4.htm">Divided</a> <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Division</a> <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Expanse</a> <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Firmament</a> <a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/genesis/1-4.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/genesis/1-4.htm">Separateth</a> <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Water</a> <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/1-8.htm">Arch</a> <a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">Below</a> <a href="/genesis/2-10.htm">Divided</a> <a href="/genesis/1-14.htm">Division</a> <a href="/genesis/1-8.htm">Expanse</a> <a href="/genesis/1-8.htm">Firmament</a> <a href="/genesis/1-16.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/genesis/2-10.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/genesis/15-10.htm">Separateth</a> <a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">Water</a> <a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">God creates heaven and earth;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-3.htm">the light;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">the firmament;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">separates the dry land;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-14.htm">forms the sun, moon, and stars;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-20.htm">fishes and fowls;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-24.htm">cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">creates man in his own image, blesses him;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-29.htm">grants the fruits of the earth for food.</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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><b>So God made the expanse</b><br>This phrase indicates the creative power of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority over creation. The "expanse" refers to the sky or firmament, a concept understood in ancient Near Eastern cosmology as a solid dome separating the earthly realm from the heavenly waters. This act of creation demonstrates God's orderliness, as He structures the universe with purpose and precision. The expanse is a testament to God's ability to bring order out of chaos, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, such as in <a href="/job/38-8.htm">Job 38:8-11</a>, where God sets boundaries for the sea.<p><b>and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above.</b><br>The separation of waters is a significant act, symbolizing the establishment of boundaries within creation. The "waters beneath" refer to the seas and oceans, while the "waters above" are often interpreted as the atmospheric waters, possibly clouds or the celestial waters believed to exist beyond the firmament. This separation is a recurring theme in biblical literature, highlighting God's control over the natural world, as seen in <a href="/psalms/104-2.htm">Psalm 104:2-3</a>, where God stretches out the heavens like a tent. The act of separation also prefigures the division between the holy and the profane, a concept further developed in the Levitical laws.<p><b>And it was so.</b><br>This phrase underscores the effectiveness and authority of God's word. When God speaks, His will is accomplished without delay or hindrance. This immediate fulfillment of God's command is a pattern seen throughout the creation narrative, reinforcing the idea that God's word is powerful and creative. The phrase also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and reliability, as His decrees are always fulfilled, a theme echoed in <a href="/isaiah/55-11.htm">Isaiah 55:11</a>, where God's word does not return void but accomplishes His purpose.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The Creator, who is actively involved in the formation of the universe. In this verse, God is depicted as the sovereign architect of the cosmos, establishing order and structure.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_expanse.htm">The Expanse (Firmament)</a></b><br>This refers to the sky or the heavens, which God created to separate the waters. The Hebrew word used here is (raqia), which implies something spread out or stretched, like a canopy.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/w/waters_above_and_below.htm">Waters Above and Below</a></b><br>These represent the primordial waters that God divided. The "waters above" could refer to the atmospheric waters (clouds, sky), while the "waters below" refer to the seas and oceans on Earth.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/creation_event.htm">Creation Event</a></b><br>This verse is part of the broader creation account, where God is systematically bringing order to chaos, establishing the physical universe.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_creation.htm">God's Sovereignty in Creation</a></b><br>God is the ultimate authority and designer of the universe. His creation of the expanse demonstrates His power to bring order and structure to chaos.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_purposeful_design_of_creation.htm">The Purposeful Design of Creation</a></b><br>The separation of waters shows intentionality and purpose in God's creation. Everything God creates has a specific function and place.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reliability_of_god's_word.htm">The Reliability of God's Word</a></b><br>The phrase "And it was so" emphasizes the certainty and reliability of God's commands. When God speaks, His words are fulfilled without fail.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_majesty_of_god's_creation.htm">The Majesty of God's Creation</a></b><br>The creation of the heavens invites us to marvel at the beauty and complexity of the universe, leading us to worship the Creator.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_order_in_our_lives.htm">The Importance of Order in Our Lives</a></b><br>Just as God brought order to creation, we are called to seek order and structure in our lives, aligning ourselves with God's purposes.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 1</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_the_bible_support_boundaries.htm">Are boundaries supported by biblical teachings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'firmament'_mean_biblically.htm">What does "firmament" mean in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_first_earth_age.htm">What is the First Earth Age?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_the_bible_mention_a_firmament.htm">Why does the Bible speak of a 'firmament' separating waters above and below?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) <span class= "bld">God made the firmament.</span>--This wide open expanse upon earth's surface, supplied by the chemistry of nature--that is, of God--with that marvellous mixture of gases which form atmospheric air, was a primary necessity for man's existence and activity. In each step of the narrative it is ever man that is in view; and even the weight of the superincumbent atmosphere is indispensable for the health and comfort of the human body, and for the keeping of all things in their place on earth. (See Note, <a href="/genesis/1-8.htm" title="And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.">Genesis 1:8</a>.) And in this secondary sense it may still rightly be called the firmament.<p><span class= "bld">The waters which were under the firmament . . . the waters which were above the firmament.</span>--While this is a popular description of what we daily see--namely, masses of running water congregated upon earth's surface, and above a cloudland, into which the waters rise and float--it is not contrary to, but in accordance with, science. The atmosphere is the receptacle of the waters evaporated from the earth and ocean, and by means of electrical action it keeps these aqueous particles in a state of repulsion, and forms clouds, which the winds carry in their bosom. So full of thoughtful contrivance and arrangement are the laws by which rain is formed and the earth watered, that they are constantly referred to in the Bible as the chief natural proof of God's wisdom and goodness. (See <a href="/acts/14-17.htm" title="Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.">Acts 14:17</a>.) Moreover, were there not an open expanse next the earth, it would be wrapped in a perpetual mist, unvisited by sunshine. and the result would be such as is described in <a href="/genesis/2-5.htm" title="And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.">Genesis 2:5</a>, that man could not exist on earth to till the ground. The use, however, of popular language and ideas is confessedly the method of Holy Scripture, and we must not force upon the writer knowledge which man was to gain for himself. Even if the writer supposed that the rains were poured down from an upper reservoir, it would be no more an argument against his being inspired than St. Mark's expression, "The sun did set" (<a href="/mark/1-32.htm" title="And at even, when the sun did set, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.">Mark 1:32</a>), disproves the inspiration of the Gospels. For the attainment of all such knowledge God has provided another way.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And God made the firmament</span>. How the present atmosphere was evolved from the chaotic mass of waters the Mosaic narrative does not reveal. The primary intention of that record being not to teach science, but to discover religious truth, the thing of paramount importance to be communicated was that the firmament was of God's construction. This, of course, does not prevent us from believing that the elimination of those gases (twenty-one parts of oxygen and seventy-nine of nitrogen, with a small proportion of carbonic acid gas and aqueous vapor) which compose our atmosphere was not effected by natural means; and how far it may have been assisted by the action of the light upon the condensing mass of the globe is a problem in the solution of which science may legitimately take an interest. <span class="cmt_word">And divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament</span>. The <span class="accented">upper</span> waters are not the material of the stars (Delitzsch, Wordsworth), although Jupiter is of the same density as water, and Saturn only half its density; but the waters floating about in the higher spaces of the air. The under waters are not the lower atmospheric vapors, but the oceanic and terrestrial waters. How the waters are collected in the upper reaches of the atmosphere, Scripture, no less than science, explains to be by means of evaporation (<a href="/genesis/2-6.htm">Genesis 2:6</a>; <a href="/job/36-27.htm">Job 36:27</a>; <a href="/job/37-16.htm">Job 37:16</a>). These latter passages suggest that the clouds are balanced, suspended, upheld by the buoyancy of the air in exact accordance with scientific principles. <span class="cmt_word">And it was so</span>. Six times these words occur in the creation record. Sublimely suggestive of the resistless energy of the Divine word, which speaks, and it is done, commands, and it standeth fast, they likewise remind us of the sweet submissiveness of the creature to the all-wise Creator's will, and, perhaps, are designed as well to intimate the fixed and permanent character of those arrangements to which they are attached. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/1-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִים֮</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">made</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֣עַשׂ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘aś)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the expanse</span><br /><span class="heb">הָרָקִיעַ֒</span> <span class="translit">(hā·rā·qî·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7549.htm">Strong's 7549: </a> </span><span class="str2">An expanse, the firmament, visible arch of the sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and separated</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaḇ·dêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_914.htm">Strong's 914: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be divided, separate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the waters</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמַּ֙יִם֙</span> <span class="translit">(ham·ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">beneath</span><br /><span class="heb">מִתַּ֣חַת</span> <span class="translit">(mit·ta·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[it]</span><br /><span class="heb">לָרָקִ֔יעַ</span> <span class="translit">(lā·rā·qî·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7549.htm">Strong's 7549: </a> </span><span class="str2">An expanse, the firmament, visible arch of the sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבֵ֣ין</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> </span><span class="str2">An interval, space between</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the waters</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמַּ֔יִם</span> <span class="translit">(ham·ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">above.</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעַ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">And it was</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיְהִי־</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so.</span><br /><span class="heb">כֵֽן׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḵên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> </span><span class="str2">So -- thus</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/1-7.htm">OT Law: Genesis 1:7 God made the expanse and divided (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/1-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 1:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/1-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 1:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:8" /></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>