Genesis
Genesis 1:20–25
20And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” 21So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
23And there was evening, and there was morning — the fifth day.
24And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
Genesis 1:20
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And God | אֱלֹהִ֔ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| said | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| Let the waters | הַמַּ֔יִם | ham·ma·yim | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H4325 water, juice, urine |
| teem | יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ | yiš·rə·ṣū | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | H8317 swarm, teem |
| with living | נֶ֣פֶשׁ | ne·p̄eš | Noun - feminine singular | H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion |
| creatures | שֶׁ֖רֶץ | še·reṣ | Noun - masculine singular construct | H8318 swarmers, swarming things |
| and let birds | וְעוֹף֙ | wə·‘ō·wp̄ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H5775 flying creatures, fowl, insects |
| fly | יְעוֹפֵ֣ף | yə·‘ō·w·p̄êp̄ | Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H5774 fly |
| above | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| the earth | הָאָ֔רֶץ | hā·’ā·reṣ | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H776 earth, land |
| in | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| the open | פְּנֵ֖י | pə·nê | Noun - common plural construct | H6440 face, before |
| expanse | רְקִ֥יעַ | rə·qî·a‘ | Noun - masculine singular construct | H7549 extended surface |
| of the sky | הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ | haš·šā·mā·yim | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H8064 sky, aloft |
Genesis 1:21
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So | אֶת־ | ’eṯ- | Direct object marker | H853 mark of the accusative |
| God | אֱלֹהִ֔ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| created | וַיִּבְרָ֣א | way·yiḇ·rā | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1254 shape, create |
| the great | הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים | hag·gə·ḏō·lîm | Article; Adjective - masculine plural | H1419 great |
| sea creatures | הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם | hat·tan·nî·nim | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H8577 serpent, dragon, sea-monster |
| and every | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| living | הַֽחַיָּ֣ה׀ | ha·ḥay·yāh | Article; Adjective - feminine singular | H2416 alive, living |
| thing | נֶ֣פֶשׁ | ne·p̄eš | Noun - feminine singular | H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion |
| that moves | הָֽרֹמֶ֡שֶׂת | hā·rō·me·śeṯ | Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular | H7430 creep, move lightly, move about |
| which | אֲשֶׁר֩ | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| the waters | הַמַּ֜יִם | ham·ma·yim | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H4325 water, juice, urine |
| teemed | שָׁרְצ֨וּ | šā·rə·ṣū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H8317 swarm, teem |
| according to their kinds | לְמִֽינֵהֶ֗ם | lə·mî·nê·hem | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural | H4327 kind, species |
| and | וְאֵ֨ת | wə·’êṯ | Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker | H853 mark of the accusative |
| every | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| winged | כָּנָף֙ | kā·nāp̄ | Noun - feminine singular | H3671 wing, extremity |
| bird | ע֤וֹף | ‘ō·wp̄ | Noun - masculine singular | H5775 flying creatures, fowl, insects |
| after its kind | לְמִינֵ֔הוּ | lə·mî·nê·hū | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H4327 kind, species |
| And God | אֱלֹהִ֖ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| saw | וַיַּ֥רְא | way·yar | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7200 see |
| that | כִּי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| good | טֽוֹב׃ | ṭō·wḇ | Adjective - masculine singular | H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good |
Genesis 1:22
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then God | אֱלֹהִ֖ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| blessed | וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ | way·ḇā·reḵ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1288 kneel, bless |
| them | אֹתָ֛ם | ’ō·ṯām | Direct object marker; third person masculine plural | H853 mark of the accusative |
| said | לֵאמֹ֑ר | lê·mōr | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H559 utter, say |
| Be fruitful | פְּר֣וּ | pə·rū | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | H6509 bear fruit, be fruitful |
| and multiply | וּרְב֗וּ | ū·rə·ḇū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | H7235 be, or become, much, many, great |
| and fill | וּמִלְא֤וּ | ū·mil·’ū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | H4390 be full, fill |
| the waters | הַמַּ֙יִם֙ | ham·ma·yim | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H4325 water, juice, urine |
| of the seas | בַּיַּמִּ֔ים | bay·yam·mîm | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural | H3220 sea |
| and let birds | וְהָע֖וֹף | wə·hā·‘ō·wp̄ | Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H5775 flying creatures, fowl, insects |
| multiply | יִ֥רֶב | yi·reḇ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular | H7235 be, or become, much, many, great |
| on the earth | בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ | bā·’ā·reṣ | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular | H776 earth, land |
Genesis 1:23
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And there was | וַֽיְהִי־ | way·hî- | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| evening | עֶ֥רֶב | ‘e·reḇ | Noun - masculine singular | H6153 (sun)set, evening |
| and there was | וַֽיְהִי־ | way·hî- | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| morning | בֹ֖קֶר | ḇō·qer | Noun - masculine singular | H1242 morning |
| the fifth | חֲמִישִֽׁי׃פ | ḥă·mî·šî | Number - ordinal masculine singular | H2549 fifth |
| day | י֥וֹם | yō·wm | Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
Genesis 1:24
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And God | אֱלֹהִ֗ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| said | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| Let the earth | הָאָ֜רֶץ | hā·’ā·reṣ | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H776 earth, land |
| bring forth | תּוֹצֵ֨א | tō·w·ṣê | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular | H3318 go or come out |
| living | חַיָּה֙ | ḥay·yāh | Adjective - feminine singular | H2416 alive, living |
| creatures | נֶ֤פֶשׁ | ne·p̄eš | Noun - feminine singular | H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion |
| according to their kinds | לְמִינָ֔הּ | lə·mî·nāh | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular | H4327 kind, species |
| livestock | בְּהֵמָ֥ה | bə·hê·māh | Noun - feminine singular | H929 beast, animal, cattle |
| land crawlers | וָרֶ֛מֶשׂ | wā·re·meś | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H7431 creeping things, moving things |
| and beasts | וְחַֽיְתוֹ־ | wə·ḥay·ṯōw- | Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H2416 alive, living |
| of the earth | אֶ֖רֶץ | ’e·reṣ | Noun - feminine singular | H776 earth, land |
| according to their kinds | לְמִינָ֑הּ | lə·mî·nāh | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular | H4327 kind, species |
| And it was | וַֽיְהִי־ | way·hî- | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| so | כֵֽן׃ | ḵên | Adverb | H3651 right, veritable, honest |
Genesis 1:25
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| God | אֱלֹהִים֩ | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| made | וַיַּ֣עַשׂ | way·ya·‘aś | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| the beasts | חַיַּ֨ת | ḥay·yaṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H2416 alive, living |
| of the earth | הָאָ֜רֶץ | hā·’ā·reṣ | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H776 earth, land |
| according to their kinds | לְמִינָ֗הּ | lə·mî·nāh | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular | H4327 kind, species |
| the livestock | הַבְּהֵמָה֙ | hab·bə·hê·māh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H929 beast, animal, cattle |
| according to their kinds | לְמִינָ֔הּ | lə·mî·nāh | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular | H4327 kind, species |
| and | וְאֵ֛ת | wə·’êṯ | Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker | H853 mark of the accusative |
| everything | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| that crawls | רֶ֥מֶשׂ | re·meś | Noun - masculine singular construct | H7431 creeping things, moving things |
| upon the earth | הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה | hā·’ă·ḏā·māh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H127 ground, land |
| according to its kind | לְמִינֵ֑הוּ | lə·mî·nê·hū | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H4327 kind, species |
| And God | אֱלֹהִ֖ים | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| saw | וַיַּ֥רְא | way·yar | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7200 see |
| that | כִּי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| good | טֽוֹב׃ | ṭō·wḇ | Adjective - masculine singular | H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Genesis 1:20 Psalm 104:24–25 · Genesis 2:19 · 1 Kings 4:33 · Psalm 148:10 · Genesis 1:30 · Genesis 1:22 · Genesis 8:17 · Genesis 1:7
Genesis 1:21 Psalm 104:24–26 · Genesis 1:25 · Genesis 8:19 · Genesis 8:17
Genesis 1:22 Job 40:15 · Genesis 8:17 · Psalm 107:38 · Genesis 1:28 · Genesis 9:1 · Genesis 35:11 · Job 42:12 · Proverbs 10:22 · Psalm 128:3 · Leviticus 26:9 · Genesis 30:30 · Psalm 144:13–14
Genesis 1:24 Psalm 50:9–10 · Genesis 6:20 · Genesis 8:19 · Job 40:15 · Psalm 148:10 · Genesis 7:14
Genesis 1:25 Jeremiah 27:5 · Job 12:8–10 · Genesis 2:19–20 · Job 26:13
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.