1Na počátku stvořil Bůh nebesa a zemi. 2Země byla pustá a prázdná, temnota byla nad hlubinou a Duch Boží se vznášel nad vodami. 3I řekl Bůh: Budiž světlo! A bylo světlo. 4Bůh viděl, že světlo je dobré, a oddělil Bůh světlo od tmy. 5Bůh nazval světlo dnem a tmu nazval nocí; a byl večer a bylo ráno, jeden den. 6I řekl Bůh: Budiž klenba uprostřed vod a nechť odděluje vody od vod. 7Bůh tedy udělal klenbu a oddělil vody, které byly pod klenbou, od vod, které byly nad klenbou. A stalo se tak. 8Bůh nazval klenbu nebesy; a byl večer a bylo ráno, den druhý. 9I řekl Bůh: Ať se vody pod nebesy shromáždí na jedno místo a ukáže se souš. A stalo se tak. 10Bůh nazval souš zemí a nahromaděné vody nazval moři. Bůh viděl, že to bylo dobré. 11I řekl Bůh: Ať země dá vyrašit trávě, zeleni vysévající semeno, ovocnému stromoví nesoucímu na zemi ovoce podle svého druhu, ve kterém je jeho semeno. A stalo se tak. 12Země vydala trávu, zeleň vysévající semeno podle svého druhu a stromoví nesoucí ovoce, ve kterém je jeho semeno podle jeho druhu. Bůh viděl, že to bylo dobré. 13A byl večer a bylo ráno, den třetí. 14I řekl Bůh: Ať jsou světla na nebeské klenbě, aby oddělovala den od noci a byla na znamení, k určování časů, dnů a let. 15A ať jsou světly na nebeské klenbě, aby svítila na zemi. A stalo se tak. 16Bůh udělal dvě veliká světla: Větší světlo, aby vládlo ve dne, a menší světlo, aby vládlo v noci, a hvězdy. 17Bůh je dal na nebeskou klenbu, aby svítila na zemi, 18a aby ovládala den a noc a oddělovala světlo od tmy. Bůh viděl, že to bylo dobré. 19A byl večer a bylo ráno, den čtvrtý. 20I řekl Bůh: Ať se vody hemží živou havětí a ať létavci létají nad zemí pod nebeskou klenbou. 21Bůh stvořil veliké draky a všechny pohyblivé formy života, jimiž se začaly hemžit vody, podle jejich druhů, také každého okřídleného létavce podle jeho druhu. Bůh viděl, že to bylo dobré. 22A Bůh je požehnal slovy: Ploďte a množte se a naplňte vody v mořích; a létavci ať se rozmnoží na zemi. 23A byl večer a bylo ráno, den pátý. 24I řekl Bůh: Ať země vydá formy života podle jeho druhu: Dobytek, plazy a zemskou zvěř podle svého druhu. A stalo se tak. 25Bůh učinil zemskou zvěř podle jejího druhu, dobytek podle jeho druhu a každého zemského plaza podle jeho druhu. Bůh viděl, že to bylo dobré. 26I řekl Bůh: Učiňme člověka k našemu obrazu, jako naši podobu, aby panovali nad mořskými rybami, nad nebeským ptactvem, nad dobytkem a nad celou zemí i nad všemi plazy pohybujícími se na zemi. 27Bůh stvořil člověka ke svému obrazu, stvořil ho k obrazu Božímu, stvořil je muže a ženu. 28Bůh je požehnal a řekl jim: Ploďte a množte se a naplňte zemi, podmaňte si ji a panujte nad mořskými rybami, nad nebeským ptactvem a nad vším živým, co se na zemi hýbe. 29A Bůh řekl: Hle, dal jsem vám každou rostlinu mající semena na povrchu celé země a každý strom, na němž je ovoce mající semena. To budete mít za pokrm. 30Veškeré zemské zvěři, všemu nebeskému ptactvu a všemu pohybujícímu se na zemi, v čem je živá duše, jsem dal za pokrm každou zelenou rostlinu. A stalo se tak. 31Bůh viděl všechno, co učinil, a hle, bylo to velmi dobré. A byl večer a bylo ráno, den šestý.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and useful account of the origin of the earth and the heavens. The faith of humble Christians understands this better than the fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of heaven and earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet. The Son of God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world; nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should there be in our minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that Divine Spirit, whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.
3 God said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once there was light. Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness, by grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been always upon fallen man, if the Son of God had not come and given us understanding,
1John 5:20. The light which God willed, he approved of. God divided the light from the darkness; for what fellowship has light with darkness? In heaven there is perfect light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no gleam of light. The day and the night are the Lord's; let us use both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in him every night, meditating in his law both day and night.
6 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are dried up.
14 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully, and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God, as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but do not mind our Master's work.
20 God commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to be admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of God's providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the effect of his blessing.
26 Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an honour and a favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be put together in him. God said, Let us make man. Man, when he was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's image. Man was made upright,
Qoh 7:29. His understanding saw Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the Lord renew it upon our souls by his grace!
29 Herbs and fruits must be man's food, including corn, and all the products of the earth. Let God's people cast their care upon him, and not be troubled about what they shall eat, and what they shall drink. He that feeds his birds will not starve his babes.
31 When we come to think about our works, we find, to our shame, that much has been very bad; but when God saw his work, all was very good. Good, for it was all just as the Creator would have it to be. All his works, in all places of his dominion, bless him; and therefore, bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Let us bless God for the gospel of Christ, and when we consider his almighty power, let us sinners flee from the wrath to come. If new-created unto the image of God in holiness, we shall at length enter the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
