Genesis 1 25

Genesis 1:25 kjv

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25 nkjv

And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25 niv

God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25 esv

And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25 nlt

God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1 25 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 1:11"...seed after his kind..."First mention of "after its kind" for plants.
Gen 1:12"...fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind..."Plant reproduction consistency.
Gen 1:21"...great whales, and every living creature that moveth... after their kind..."Aquatic and avian creatures' distinctiveness.
Gen 1:24"...living creature after his kind, cattle... beast of the earth... creeping thing..."God's command for land animals' emergence.
Gen 1:26"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion..."Immediate context; dominion over these creatures.
Gen 1:31"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."The culminating declaration of creation's excellence.
Gen 6:20"Of fowls after their kind... cattle after their kind... creeping thing after his kind..."Echoes creation categories during Noah's ark preservation.
Gen 7:14"They, and every beast after his kind... every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind..."Reinforces the "kind" distinction on the ark.
Lev 11:2"These are the beasts which ye shall eat of among all the beasts that are on the earth."Distinction of clean/unclean animals relies on creation "kinds."
Lev 11:15"...every raven after his kind..."Example of specific "kind" in Mosaic law.
Deut 22:9"Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds..."Broader principle of not mixing distinct kinds.
Psa 33:6"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."Affirmation of divine creation through word.
Psa 104:24-25"O LORD, how manifold are thy works!... beasts of the field..."Acknowledging God's vast creative works, including land animals.
Psa 104:27-28"These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season."God's ongoing provision for His creatures.
Psa 147:9"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry."God's care for all animals.
Job 38:39-41"Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion?... who provideth for the raven his food?"God's direct sustenance and control over wild creatures.
Isa 45:12"I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens..."God as the sole Creator of all.
Matt 6:26"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not... yet your heavenly Father feedeth them."Implied care for creatures, drawing from creation's order.
Rom 1:20"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made..."God's eternal power and Godhead are revealed through creation.
Rom 8:22"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."Original goodness implies the current groaning is a post-fall effect.
Col 1:16"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible..."Christ's preeminence in creation.
1 Tim 4:4"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving."Reiterates God's original declaration of goodness for all creation.

Genesis 1 verses

Genesis 1 25 Meaning

Genesis 1:25 details the culmination of God's creation of land animals on the sixth day. He specifically fashioned three categories of terrestrial life – wild animals, domesticated livestock, and crawling creatures – ensuring each would reproduce distinctly "after its kind." The verse concludes with God's divine declaration that this aspect of His creative work was good, affirming its perfection, functionality, and inherent design within His overarching plan for creation.

Genesis 1 25 Context

Genesis 1:25 occurs on the sixth day of the creation week, following the formation of plants (Day 3), celestial bodies (Day 4), and marine/avian life (Day 5). This verse marks the completion of terrestrial animal life before the crowning act of creating humanity in God's image (Gen 1:26-28). It highlights God's systematic and ordered approach to creation, bringing forth distinct categories of life to fill the land, setting the stage for human dominion and interaction within an already diverse and functional ecosystem. The historical context for the original audience, predominantly Hebrew, would have contrasted this singular divine act with chaotic polytheistic creation myths, where gods were often warring, creating through struggle, or being tied to specific animal cults. Here, the unified Elohim (God) peacefully, purposefully, and completely brought forth all life with an intrinsic order and declared it tov (good).

Genesis 1 25 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

  • And: Hebrew waw conjunctive, signifying continuity and progression in God's creative acts from the previous verses.
  • God: Hebrew אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The majestic plural used throughout Genesis 1, conveying the fullness and power of the singular divine Creator. It emphasizes the transcendent, all-powerful Deity, distinct from all created things.
  • made: Hebrew עָשָׂה (asah). Means "to make," "to fashion," "to do," or "to prepare." While bara' (create ex nihilo) signifies bringing something into existence without prior material, asah often implies shaping, forming, or arranging from existing material (in this context, perhaps from the earth previously prepared) or simply the act of bringing something forth.
  • the beast: Hebrew חַיַּת (chayyat) - a living creature, generally referring to wild animals, often predatory or undomesticated.
  • of the earth: Hebrew הָאָרֶץ (ha'aretz) - "of the land" or "of the ground," distinguishing these creatures from those of the sea or air.
  • after his kind: Hebrew לְמִינוֹ (lemiyno). "According to its type/species/kind." This crucial phrase, repeated multiple times in Genesis 1, signifies the principle of fixed biological categories and reproductive boundaries established by the Creator. It denotes genetic and structural integrity within groups, preventing inter-kind breeding and ensuring continuity of distinct types. This emphasizes God's ordered design, refuting chaotic emergence.
  • and cattle: Hebrew בְּהֵמָה (behemah). Domesticated animals or large four-footed creatures, suitable for human use and interaction (e.g., livestock).
  • after their kind: Same לְמִינָהּ (leminah) (plural form of lemiyno), reiterating the distinct categories and reproductive faithfulness for domesticated animals.
  • and every thing: Emphasizes comprehensiveness; no category is left out.
  • that creepeth: Hebrew רֶמֶשׂ (remes). Generally refers to small, low-lying, often swarming or crawling creatures, including reptiles, insects, and possibly rodents.
  • upon the earth: Reiterates their terrestrial nature.
  • after his kind: Same לְמִינוֹ (lemiyno), again stressing the distinctiveness for creeping creatures.
  • and God: וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים (vayyar' Elohim) - Resumption of Elohim as the perceiving subject.
  • saw: Hebrew רָאָה (ra'ah). To perceive, observe, examine, or understand. In this context, it implies God's divine inspection and approval.
  • that it was: Connects the observation to the subsequent judgment.
  • good: Hebrew טוֹב (tov). Possessing inherent quality, fit for purpose, excellent, beneficial, harmonious, complete, beautiful. God's declaration signifies His satisfaction with the creation, affirming its perfect state and functionality before the introduction of sin. It expresses divine approval not only of existence but also of purpose, beauty, and order.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind": This entire phrase systematically categorizes the entire scope of land animal life into three distinct classes: wild animals, domesticated animals, and crawling/creeping things. This tri-partite division showcases God's comprehensive and ordered creation, covering all forms of non-human terrestrial animal life. The threefold repetition of "after his kind" powerfully underscores the divine establishment of inherent biological boundaries and reproductive integrity, emphasizing the stability and distinctiveness of each created biological group from its very inception. This counters any notion of chaotic or indiscriminately intermingling life forms, asserting divine design and purpose in biodiversity.
  • "and God saw that it was good": This recurring phrase (appearing seven times in Gen 1, with an eighth cumulative "very good") serves as a divine seal of approval. It signifies God's complete satisfaction with the functional design, beauty, order, and suitability of the created animal life for its purpose, prior to the fall of humanity. It indicates that creation was not only flawless but perfectly aligned with the Creator's will and purpose. This is a foundational theological statement that creation is inherently excellent because it is God's handiwork.

Genesis 1 25 Bonus section

The consistent use of "after its kind" (Hebrew lemiyno) across all biological creations (plants in verses 11-12, sea/air creatures in verse 21, and land animals in verses 24-25) represents a pervasive principle in the biblical account of origins. While the term "kind" is broader than modern biological "species," it clearly denotes fixed, non-interchangeable groups that perpetuate themselves only within their own established genetic boundaries. This provides a theological framework for understanding biological diversity and highlights God's intent for a world of stable, discernible classifications rather than one of chaotic or entirely fluid biological forms. This divine structure forms the backdrop for the human responsibility of dominion and stewardship introduced in the very next verse. The recurrent "good" declaration is not merely aesthetic appreciation but a profound theological statement about the moral and functional perfection of God's original work, establishing a standard against which all subsequent events (like the Fall) are measured.

Genesis 1 25 Commentary

Genesis 1:25 provides crucial insights into God's character and the nature of His creation. As the Sixth Day of creation progresses, we witness the systematic emergence of all forms of terrestrial animal life. The emphasis on God "making" these creatures suggests a deliberate, intentional act, shaping and establishing their forms. The repeated phrase, "after his kind," is foundational. It highlights a biological law instituted by the Creator, ensuring that animals reproduce true to their specific categories. This principle sets boundaries for biological identity and reproductive capacity, signifying a divinely ordered biodiversity that remains distinct and stable. This divine establishment of "kinds" directly contrasts with ancient myths depicting chaotic origins or inter-species blending, affirming the singular God's sovereign control and the inherent order within His creation. Finally, God's declaration that "it was good" serves as His perfect affirmation. This "good" encompasses more than just existence; it testifies to the excellence, harmony, and suitability of all created animals for their intended purpose within God's meticulously planned ecosystem. It undergirds the goodness of the original creation, before any effects of sin.