Genesis 1:24 kjv
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 1:24 nkjv
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so.
Genesis 1:24 niv
And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.
Genesis 1:24 esv
And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds ? livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so.
Genesis 1:24 nlt
Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind ? livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 33:6 | By the word of the LORD the heavens were made... | God creates by His spoken word. |
| Psa 33:9 | For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. | The power and effectiveness of divine command. |
| Heb 11:3 | By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God... | God's word as the agent of creation. |
| 2 Pet 3:5 | ...that by God's word the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed... | Affirmation of creation by divine word. |
| Gen 1:11-12 | ...trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind... | "According to its kind" applied to plants. |
| Gen 1:21 | ...every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds... | "According to its kind" for sea creatures. |
| Gen 1:25 | And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds... | Reinforcement of animal kinds. |
| Gen 6:20 | Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the earth according to its kind... | Animals enter Noah's ark "by kinds." |
| Gen 7:14 | ...they and every beast according to its kind, and all livestock according to their kinds... | Echoes the "kinds" during the Flood. |
| Gen 2:7 | ...the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. | "Living creature" also applied to man, though distinctively. |
| Num 16:22 | ...God, the God of the spirits of all flesh... | God as the life-giver to all living beings. |
| Ecc 3:19 | For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath... | Shared mortal breath between man and beast. |
| Lev 11 | Detailed laws regarding clean and unclean animals, differentiating them into categories. | Highlights natural and divine categories of animals. |
| Job 12:7-10 | But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you... Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? | Acknowledgment of God's hand in creation and sustainment of animals. |
| Job 38:39-41 | Can you hunt the prey for the lion...? Who provides for the raven its prey...? | God's providence and care for all creatures. |
| Psa 104:10-21 | Detailed description of God's provision for and care of the natural world and its creatures. | God as the sustainer of animal life. |
| Isa 43:20 | The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and ostriches, for I provide water in the wilderness... | God provides for wild animals. |
| Jonah 4:11 | Should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons... and also much cattle? | God's compassion extends to animals. |
| Col 1:16 | For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... | Christ's role in all creation. |
| Neh 9:6 | You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it... | God alone is the Creator of all things on earth. |
| Rom 8:19-22 | For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God... | Creation, including animals, groans under sin, awaiting redemption. |
Genesis 1 verses
Genesis 1 24 Meaning
Genesis 1:24 details the creation of land animals on the sixth day. God issues a command to the earth to produce "living creatures" of specific types—livestock, creeping things, and wild beasts—each reproducing "according to their kinds." This highlights God's power through His spoken word, the delegated capacity of the earth to bring forth life under divine direction, and the established biological distinctiveness of various animal groups. The verse affirms the immediate and complete fulfillment of God's creative decree.
Genesis 1 24 Context
Genesis chapter 1 systematically recounts God's six days of creation, demonstrating an orderly and purposeful process. Verse 24 falls on the sixth day, following the creation of plant life (Day 3), celestial bodies (Day 4), and sea/winged creatures (Day 5). On this penultimate day of creation, God turns His attention to populating the dry land with animals, culminating in the creation of humankind (Gen 1:26-27).
Historically and culturally, this narrative stands in stark contrast to Ancient Near Eastern creation myths. While other myths often depict creation emerging from chaos, conflict among deities, or primordial matter, Genesis portrays a single, sovereign God (Elohim) creating ex nihilo (out of nothing) or through direct decree, bringing forth a cosmos that is inherently good and ordered. The emphasis on "according to their kinds" directly counters any idea of a chaotic, fluid, or undirected origin of species. It suggests a pre-ordained distinctiveness within biological life. The classifications (livestock, creeping things, beasts of the earth) also indicate an ordered categorization, likely reflective of humanity's perception and interaction with the animal kingdom.
Genesis 1 24 Word analysis
- And God said: Implies divine initiative and powerful command. It signifies creation by direct decree (fiat creation), consistent with previous acts of creation (Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20).
- Let the earth bring forth: (to yatsa' ha'erets - "let go out the earth" or "let the earth produce"). This indicates a delegated creativity. While God commands, the earth, which He previously formed, is depicted as the medium or agent through which these creatures emerge. This is distinct from earlier direct acts (e.g., light) and implies a different mode of operation for life originating from the earth.
- living creatures: (Hebrew: nephesh chayyah - literally "living soul" or "living being"). This term is also used for sea and winged creatures (Gen 1:20) and notably for humans in Gen 2:7, underscoring a shared biological vitality, while humanity's uniqueness lies in being made in God's image and having life breathed directly by God.
- according to their kinds: (Hebrew: l'minehah - "to its kind" or "after its kind"). This crucial recurring phrase (seen in Gen 1:11, 12, 21, 25) highlights distinct, unchanging boundaries between categories of created life. It implies reproductive barriers between these fundamental created kinds, ensuring the perpetuation of life within established parameters. This is a foundational biblical principle for biological identity.
- livestock: (Hebrew: behemah). Refers primarily to domesticated animals, often those kept by humans for their benefit (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats).
- creeping things: (Hebrew: remes). Encompasses smaller creatures that typically move close to the ground, such as reptiles, insects, and smaller mammals. It implies an abundance and often low-to-the-ground movement.
- and beasts of the earth: (Hebrew: chayyat ha'aretz - literally "life/beast of the land"). Refers to wild, untamed land animals, distinct from domesticated behemah. This category likely includes larger, wild predators and herbivores.
- And it was so: A recurring affirmation in Genesis 1 (Gen 1:3, 7, 9, 11, 15, 24, 30), signifying the immediate, complete, and effective fulfillment of God's command without delay or impediment. It underscores the omnipotence and faithfulness of God's word.
Genesis 1 24 Bonus section
- The creation on Day 6, including land animals and then humanity, highlights a progression of increasing complexity and significance in God's creative acts, culminating in His image-bearers.
- The three categories of land animals—domesticated, small/numerous, and wild—cover the complete spectrum of terrestrial life as it was generally understood by the original audience, signifying a complete and comprehensive act of creation for the land.
- While animals are described as "living creatures" (nephesh chayyah), a term also applied to humanity (Gen 2:7), their mode of creation from the earth (Gen 1:24) differs from humanity's direct formation by God's hands and the direct impartation of the "breath of life" (Gen 2:7) and the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). This implies a shared physical vitality but distinct spiritual and relational capacities.
- This verse sets the stage for God's subsequent command for humanity to rule over these creatures (Gen 1:26, 28), establishing the dominion mandate given to man over the animal kingdom.
Genesis 1 24 Commentary
Genesis 1:24 presents a vivid snapshot of God's comprehensive creation of land animals, emphasizing order, distinction, and His potent word. The command "Let the earth bring forth" reveals God's established order where created matter can, by divine ordination, produce life forms suited to its environment. This secondary causality, distinct from God's direct creation of light or the expanse, points to the integral role of the earth as the appointed nursery for these creatures.
The repeated phrase "according to their kinds" is central to understanding the nature of created life. It indicates God's establishment of fundamental biological categories with fixed boundaries, ensuring stable species reproduction and preserving the divine blueprint for each "kind." This principle suggests a limited capacity for variation within established kinds but not unlimited transmutation across different kinds.
The division of land animals into "livestock," "creeping things," and "beasts of the earth" categorizes the vast diversity of terrestrial fauna. These classifications likely reflect how ancient humanity would perceive and interact with these animals, covering domesticated, small pervasive, and wild categories respectively. The declaration "And it was so" underscores the instantaneous and perfect realization of God's creative decree, affirming His absolute authority over all creation. This verse, therefore, testifies to God's deliberate and intelligent design, bringing forth an ordered and diverse animal kingdom to populate the earth before the arrival of humanity.
