King James Version

What Does Genesis 1:21 Mean?

Genesis 1:21 in the King James Version says “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after th... — study this verse from Genesis chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:21 · KJV


Context

19

And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

21

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

22

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth ... This verse is part of the creation account that establishes God's sovereign power and purposeful design. The structured pattern of the seven days reveals divine order, intentionality, and progressive development from formless void to a world prepared for human habitation.

The recurring phrases "And God said," "and it was so," "And God saw that it was good" create a liturgical rhythm emphasizing: (1) creation by divine decree, (2) immediate fulfillment of God's word, and (3) divine evaluation of creation's goodness. This pattern refutes both polytheistic chaos-and-conflict creation myths and modern materialistic chance-based origins.

Each stage builds toward the climax of human creation in God's image. The theological themes include divine transcendence and immanence, purposeful design, creation's inherent goodness, and humanity's unique role as God's image-bearers and stewards. The creation account provides the foundation for understanding work and rest (Sabbath), male and female relationships (marriage), human dominion (stewardship), and moral accountability to the Creator. These opening chapters establish the worldview framework for all subsequent biblical revelation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Genesis 1 stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern creation accounts like the Babylonian Enuma Elish, Egyptian creation myths, and Ugaritic texts. While these portrayed creation resulting from conflicts between deities or sexual generation of gods, Genesis presents a sovereign monotheistic God who creates effortlessly by divine decree. This would have been revolutionary to ancient readers accustomed to polytheistic cosmogonies.

The Hebrew text's literary structure (seven days, recurring formulas) suggests careful composition as theological proclamation rather than primitive mythology. Archaeological discoveries of creation tablets from Mesopotamia (2000-1500 BCE) reveal that Genesis addresses similar questions but provides radically different answers about the nature of God, humanity, and the cosmos. The absence of theogony (origin of gods) and theomachy (conflict between gods) distinguishes Genesis from its ancient Near Eastern context.

For Israelites emerging from Egyptian bondage or later facing Babylonian captivity, this truth that Yahweh created everything would have been profoundly liberating and countercultural. The gods of Egypt and Babylon were mere creations, not creators. Genesis 1 establishes that Israel's God alone is supreme, rendering pagan deities powerless and their worship futile.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. What specific changes in thinking or behavior does this verse call us to make?
  3. How does this verse fit into the broader biblical story culminating in Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וַיִּבְרָ֣א1 of 23

created

H1254

(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)

אֱלֹהִ֖ים2 of 23

And God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֶת3 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם4 of 23

whales

H8577

a marine or land monster, i.e., sea-serpent or jackal

הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים5 of 23

great

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

וְאֵ֣ת6 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל7 of 23
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

נֶ֣פֶשׁ8 of 23

creature

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

הַֽחַיָּ֣ה׀9 of 23

and every living

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

הָֽרֹמֶ֡שֶׂת10 of 23

that moveth

H7430

properly, to glide swiftly, i.e., to crawl or move with short steps; by analogy to swarm

אֲשֶׁר֩11 of 23
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

שָׁרְצ֨וּ12 of 23

brought forth abundantly

H8317

to wriggle, i.e., (by implication) swarm or abound

הַמַּ֜יִם13 of 23

which the waters

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

לְמִינֵ֔הוּ14 of 23

after his kind

H4327

a sort, i.e., species

וְאֵ֨ת15 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל16 of 23
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

ע֤וֹף17 of 23

fowl

H5775

a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively

כָּנָף֙18 of 23

and every winged

H3671

an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinna

לְמִינֵ֔הוּ19 of 23

after his kind

H4327

a sort, i.e., species

וַיַּ֥רְא20 of 23

saw

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

אֱלֹהִ֖ים21 of 23

And God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

כִּי22 of 23
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

טֽוֹב׃23 of 23

that it was good

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 1:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 1:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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