Genesis 1:31 (KJV)

What does Genesis 1:31 mean?

Genesis 1:31 describes how, after creating everything, God looked over all He had made and declared that it was “very good.” This statement marks the completion of creation on the sixth day, with everything meeting God’s approval and purpose.

In this verse, the speaker is God, and the setting is the end of the sixth day of creation as described in the opening chapter of Genesis. The verse emphasizes that every part of creation, not just individual elements, was seen as “very good” by God, highlighting a sense of completeness and satisfaction with the entire created order.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 1:31

• “God” (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This is the general Hebrew word for God used throughout Genesis 1, emphasizing God’s power and majesty as Creator.
• “Saw” (רָאָה, ra’ah): This word means more than just looking; it often carries the sense of examining or evaluating, showing that God actively assessed His creation.
• “Very” (מְאֹד, me’od): This word intensifies the statement, meaning “exceedingly” or “abundantly.” God’s creation was not just good, but surpassingly so.
• “Good” (טוֹב, tov): In Hebrew, “good” often means fitting, pleasant, or functioning as intended. Here, it suggests everything was just as it should be.

Why Genesis 1:31 matters

• Genesis 1:31 clarifies that the entire creation, as a whole, was declared “very good,” not just individual parts, which emphasizes the harmony and completeness of God’s work.
• The verse marks a transition from the act of creating to the satisfaction and rest that follows, setting up the significance of the seventh day in the next chapter.
• By using the word “very,” Genesis 1:31 highlights a heightened approval compared to earlier verses, where creation was simply called “good,” showing a sense of culmination and fulfillment.