Genesis 1:6 kjv

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Genesis 1:6 nkjv

Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."

Genesis 1:6 niv

And God said, "Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water."

Genesis 1:6 esv

And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."

Genesis 1:6 nlt

Then God said, "Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth."

Genesis 1 verses

Genesis 1 6 Meaning

Genesis 1:6 describes the divine act on the second day of creation, where God commanded an expanse to be formed within the pre-existing, undivided waters. The primary purpose of this "firmament" was to separate the waters that would be above it (forming clouds and precipitation) from the waters that remained below it (forming oceans and other bodies of water on the earth's surface). This was a critical step in establishing an ordered cosmos, creating habitable space from primeval chaos.

Genesis 1 6 Context

Genesis 1:6 initiates the second day of God's six-day creative work, following the creation of light on Day One (Gen 1:3-5). The preceding verse, Genesis 1:2, describes a primeval state of unformed earth, darkness, and "the deep" covered by water. Thus, verse 6 begins the process of bringing order to this chaotic, watery mass. The act of "dividing the waters" is foundational.

In the ancient Near East (ANE), many cosmologies presented creation as a result of divine conflict, often involving battle with water deities (e.g., Tiamat in the Enuma Elish). Genesis stands in stark contrast by depicting a singular, sovereign God (Elohim) creating effortlessly by divine command alone. The "waters" are not deities or chaotic forces opposing God; they are passive material awaiting His structuring word. The polemical stance against contemporary myths highlights God's absolute power and authority. The "firmament" prepares a stable environment for further acts of creation, establishing a separation crucial for the emergence of breathable air and dry land.

Genesis 1 6 Word analysis

• And God said:

  • "And God" (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים - Va-yomer Elohim): Signifies the continuation of divine action begun in previous verses. Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is the majestic plural noun for God, emphasizing His transcendent power and omnipotence.
  • "said" (vayomer): Highlights creation by divine decree and spoken word, underscoring God's ultimate authority and effortless power. This contrasts sharply with ANE myths where creation often involved struggle or physical labor by deities. It reflects that God's word has inherent power to bring things into being (Ps 33:6; Heb 11:3).

• Let there be a firmament:

  • "Let there be" (Yehi - יְהִי): A jussive form, expressing a divine command or authoritative declaration, emphasizing creation by divine fiat. It is not a request but an order that inherently brings about existence.
  • "a firmament" (raqia - רָקִיעַ): This crucial Hebrew term translates to "expanse," "stretched-out surface," or "vault." It derives from a root meaning "to stamp," "spread out," or "hammer out" (as in hammering metal sheets).
    • While often translated as "firmament" suggesting something solid, its primary meaning in the context of sky is more about a vast, empty space or an "expanse" that is established and holds things in place.
    • Its function, not its material composition, is paramount here: to divide. It creates a defined, structured space. It separates.

• in the midst of the waters:

  • "in the midst of" (b'tokh - בְּתוֹךְ): Indicates that the firmament was formed from within the pre-existing, undifferentiated waters of Genesis 1:2, rather than out of nothing (ex nihilo). This implies a structuring and ordering of existing cosmic material.
  • "the waters" (ham-mayim - הַמַּיִם): Refers to the primordial, chaotic watery mass covering the unformed earth described in Gen 1:2.

• and let it divide the waters from the waters:

  • "and let it divide" (vayehi mavdil - וִיהִי מַבְדִּיל): This signifies the explicit purpose and function of the raqia. "To divide" (badal - בָּדַל) means to separate, distinguish, or make a distinction between things. It highlights God's establishment of order from initial homogeneity. Separation is a key theme in Genesis 1.
  • "the waters from the waters": This clarifies what is being divided. It leads to two distinct bodies of water:
    • "waters below" (later forming the seas and terrestrial water bodies - Gen 1:9).
    • "waters above" (referring to clouds, precipitation systems, or perhaps a cosmic reservoir that eventually participated in the Flood - Ps 148:4).

Word Group Analysis:

• "And God said, Let there be a firmament... and let it divide...": This phrase encapsulates God's creative modus operandi. His declaration creates reality. The syntax shows His purposeful will. The raqia is not random; it has a divinely ordained function as a divider. The emphasis is on creation through commanding existing material to conform to His will, leading to organization and separation, prerequisites for habitability. This act introduces verticality and layering into the cosmic structure.

Genesis 1 6 Bonus section

• Day Two's "Good" Omission: Uniquely, Day Two (Gen 1:6-8) is the only creation day that does not conclude with "and God saw that it was good." Some scholars suggest this is because the work of separating the waters and establishing the "heavens" was not yet fully complete for habitability until the land appeared and gathered the waters on Day Three (Gen 1:9-10), when "God saw that it was good" is stated after both acts. It suggests a process building towards completeness.
• The Atmospheric Perspective: While raqia sometimes implies solidity, in ancient thinking, "expanse" also referred to the atmospheric space that holds birds and clouds (Gen 1:20), indicating a less rigid understanding than a "molten mirror." Its primary purpose is to be the separator and holder, fulfilling a necessary ecological function.
• A Place for Order: The concept of division established in Gen 1:6 is a recurring theme in creation and throughout the Bible. God constantly establishes boundaries, order, and distinctions (light from darkness, day from night, land from sea, clean from unclean, sacred from profane) as part of His nature to bring form and meaning to all things.

Genesis 1 6 Commentary

Genesis 1:6 profoundly reveals God as the sovereign Creator who brings order from chaos, not through conflict, but by the sheer power of His spoken word. The creation of the raqia, or expanse, on the second day of creation is a foundational act of establishing structure within the cosmos. It transformed the undifferentiated watery mass into distinct realms—waters below and waters above—creating a stable atmospheric layer and space where terrestrial and celestial life could eventually exist.

This verse counters ancient polytheistic creation myths that depicted a cosmos born from divine struggle or violence, often involving the splitting of a primordial water deity. Instead, the Genesis account presents a singular, transcendent God who simply speaks, and it is so. The waters are not unruly gods, but passive matter awaiting divine command. The primary theological truth is God's ultimate authority and deliberate design. The raqia symbolizes the divinely imposed order and boundaries, turning potential chaos into a structured dwelling place. This division is crucial, preparing the stage for the gathering of waters and emergence of dry land on Day Three, and later, the placement of celestial bodies in the expanse on Day Four, demonstrating God's step-by-step, purposeful development of creation for human flourishing.