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.

GENESIS 1:20KJV
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Genesis 1:20 (KJV)

What does Genesis 1:20 mean?

Genesis 1:20 describes God commanding the waters to produce a great abundance of living creatures and for birds to appear and fly above the earth in the sky. This verse marks the beginning of animal life in the sea and the sky as part of the creation account.

In this verse, God is speaking, initiating the creation of aquatic animals and birds on the fifth day. The scene is set with the waters teeming with life and the skies filling with birds, showing a world coming alive with movement and diversity. The focus is on God’s creative word bringing forth life in both the sea and the air.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 1:20

  • אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): This is the Hebrew word for "God," emphasizing God's power and majesty as the Creator in this passage.
  • שָׁרַץ (sharats): Translated as "bring forth abundantly," this word suggests a swarming or teeming with life, highlighting the overflowing, active nature of creation in the waters.
  • נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh): Rendered here as "creature that hath life," this word often means "living being" or "soul," showing that these animals are more than just physical forms—they are living, animated beings.
  • רָקִיעַ (raqia): Translated as "firmament," this refers to the expanse or sky, the space where birds are to fly, emphasizing the separation between earth and sky in the creation narrative.

Why Genesis 1:20 matters

  • Genesis 1:20 clarifies that both sea creatures and birds were created by God’s direct command, not by chance or natural process alone, which is a key point in the biblical creation account.
  • The verse emphasizes the abundance and variety of life, using language that paints a picture of the waters and skies being filled to overflowing, which sets the stage for the richness of creation described in the following verses.
  • This verse connects to the broader structure of Genesis 1, where God systematically fills the environments He has made—first forming spaces (light, sky, land), then filling them with life (plants, animals, humans).

Where else these words appear

“abundantly” Hebrew H8317 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
  • Exodus 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
  • Leviticus 11:42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

“creature” Hebrew H8318 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 7:21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
  • Leviticus 11:21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
  • Leviticus 11:42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

“firmament” Hebrew H7549 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
  • Genesis 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
  • Ezekiel 1:23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.

“fly” Hebrew H5774 · used in 29 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
  • Psalms 18:10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
  • Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.