The Creation of the World

Genesis 1

¹ In the _a beginning _b God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was _c without form, and void; and darkness ₁ was on the face of the deep. _d And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

³ _e Then God said, _f "Let there be _g light"; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the _h darkness He called Night. ₂ So the evening and the morning were the first day.

⁶ Then God said, _i "Let there be a ₃ firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." ⁷ Thus God made the firmament, _j and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were _k above the firmament; and it was so. ⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

⁹ Then God said, _l "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and _m let the dry land appear"; and it was so. ¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

¹¹ Then God said, "Let the earth _n bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the _o fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ So the evening and the morning were the third day.

¹⁴ Then God said, "Let there be _p lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and _q seasons, and for days and years; ¹⁵ "and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. ¹⁶ Then God made two great ₄ lights: the _r greater light to rule the day, and the _s lesser light to rule the night. He made _t the stars also. ¹⁷ God set them in the firmament of the _u heavens to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ and to _v rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

²⁰ Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living ₅ creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the ₆ firmament of the heavens." ²¹ So _w God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² And God blessed them, saying, _x "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." ²³ So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

²⁴ 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. ²⁵ 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.

²⁶ Then God said, _y "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; _z let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over ₇ all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

²⁷ So God created man _a in His own image; in the image of God He created him; _b male and female He created them.

²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, _c "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and _d subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that ₈ moves on the earth." ²⁹ And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; _e to you it shall be for food. ³⁰ "Also, to _f every beast of the earth, to every _g bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is ₉ life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. ³¹ Then _h God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

1. Cross References
   Psalms 102:25
   Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
   Isaiah 40:21
   Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
   John 1:1 - 3
   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
   Hebrews 1:10
   And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
   
2. Cross References
   Genesis 2:4
   This is the history of the heavens and the eart...
   Psalms 8:3
   When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your ...
   Psalms 89:11
   The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;...
   Psalms 90:2
   Before the mountains were brought forth, Or eve...
   Isaiah 44:24
   Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who f...
   Acts 17:24
   God, who made the world and everything in it, s...
   Romans 1:20
   For since the creation of the world His invisib...
   Hebrews 1:2
   Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,...
   Hebrews 11:3
   By faith we understand that the worlds were fra...
   Revelation 4:11
   "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and h...
   
3. Cross References
   Jeremiah 4:23
   I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; And the heavens, they had no light.
   
4. Cross References
   Genesis 6:3
   And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive ...
   Job 26:13
   By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand ...
   Psalms 33:6
   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, ...
   Psalms 104:30
   You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; A...
   Isaiah 40:13
   Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as ...
   Isaiah 40:14
   With whom did He take counsel, and who instruct...
   
5. Cross References
   Psalms 33:6
   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
   Psalms 33:9
   For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
   
6. Cross References
   2 Corinthians 4:6
   For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
   
7. Cross References
   Hebrews 11:3
   By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
   
8. Cross References
   Job 37:18
   With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong...
   Psalms 19:2
   Day unto day utters speech, And night unto nigh...
   Psalms 33:6
   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, ...
   Psalms 74:16
   The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You ...
   Psalms 104:20
   You make darkness, and it is night, In which al...
   Psalms 136:5
   To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His ...
   Jeremiah 10:12
   He has made the earth by His power, He has esta...
   
9. Cross References
   Job 37:18
   With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?
   Jeremiah 10:12
   He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
   2 Peter 3:5
   For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water.
   
10. Cross References
    Job 38:8 - 11
    Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb.
    Proverbs 8:27 - 29
    When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep.
    
11. Cross References
    Psalms 148:4
    Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens!
    
12. Cross References
    Job 26:10
    He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness.
    Psalms 104:6 - 9
    You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains.
    Proverbs 8:29
    When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth.
    Jeremiah 5:22
    Do you not fear Me?' says the LORD. 'Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.
    2 Peter 3:5
    For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water.
    
13. Cross References
    Psalms 24:1
    The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
    Psalms 24:2
    For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.
    Psalms 33:7
    He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.
    Psalms 95:5
    The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.
    
14. Cross References
    Psalms 65:9 - 13
    You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it.
    Psalms 104:14
    He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth.
    Hebrews 6:7
    For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God.
    
15. Cross References
    2 Samuel 16:1
    When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
    Luke 6:44
    For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
    
16. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:19
    And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.
    Psalms 74:16
    The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.
    Psalms 136:5 - 9
    To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever.
    
17. Cross References
    Psalms 104:19
    He appointed the moon for seasons; The sun knows its going down.
    
18. Cross References
    Psalms 136:8
    The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever.
    
19. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 17:3
    Who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded.
    Psalms 8:3
    When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained.
    
20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:19
    And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.
    Job 38:7
    When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
    Isaiah 40:26
    Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.
    
21. Cross References
    Genesis 15:5
    Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be.
    Jeremiah 33:20
    Thus says the LORD: 'If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season.
    Jeremiah 33:25
    Thus says the LORD: 'If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth.
    
22. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:35
    Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name):
    
23. Cross References
    Psalms 104:25 - 28
    This great and wide sea, In which are innumerable teeming things, Living things both small and great.
    
24. Cross References
    Genesis 8:17
    "Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
    
25. Cross References
    Genesis 9:6
    Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
    Psalms 100:3
    Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
    Ecclesiastes 7:29
    Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.
    Ephesians 4:24
    And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
    James 3:9
    With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
    
26. Cross References
    Genesis 9:2
    And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand.
    Psalms 8:6 - 8
    You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.
    
27. Cross References
    Genesis 5:2
    He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.
    1 Corinthians 11:7
    For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
    
28. Cross References
    Matthew 19:4
    And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female.
    Mark 10:6 - 8
    "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'
    
29. Cross References
    Genesis 9:1
    So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
    Genesis 9:7
    And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it.
    Leviticus 26:9
    For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you.
    
30. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:27
    But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
    
31. Cross References
    Genesis 9:3
    Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
    Psalms 104:14
    He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth.
    Psalms 104:15
    And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man's heart.
    
32. Cross References
    Psalms 145:15
    The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season.
    
33. Cross References
    Job 38:41
    Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?
    
34. Cross References
    Psalms 104:24
    O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions -
    1 Timothy 4:4
    For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.
    

New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.