Genesis 1 · Verse 6

Genesis 1:6

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, King James Version

Genesis 1:6 in other translations

BSBAnd God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.”
WEBGod said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
ASVAnd God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
YLTAnd God saith, ‘Let an expanse be in the midst of the waters, and let it be separating between waters and waters.'
DARBYAnd God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it be a division between waters and waters.
BBEAnd God said, Let there be a solid arch stretching over the waters, parting the waters from the waters.
WebsterAnd God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

What does Genesis 1:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ge 1:6-8. Second Day.

6. firmament--an expanse--a beating out as a plate of metal: a name given to the atmosphere from its appearing to an observer to be the vault of heaven, supporting the weight of the watery clouds. By the creation of an atmosphere, the lighter parts of the waters which overspread the earth's surface were drawn up and suspended in the visible heavens, while the larger and heavier mass remained below. The air was thus "in the midst of the waters," that is, separated them; and this being the apparent use of it, is the only one mentioned, although the atmosphere serves other uses, as a medium of life and light.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament - Our translators, by following the firmamentum of the Vulgate, which is a translation of the στερεωμα of the Septuagint, have deprived this passage of all sense and meaning. The Hebrew word רקיע rakia, from רקע raka, to spread out as the curtains of a tent or pavilion, simply signifies an expanse or space, and consequently that circumambient space or expansion separating the clouds, which are in the higher regions of it, from the seas, etc., which are below it. This we call the atmosphere, the orb of atoms or inconceivably small particles; but the word appears to have been used by Moses in a more extensive sense, and to include the whole of the planetary vortex, or the space which is occupied by the whole solar system.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 1:6-13
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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 1:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
יְהִ֥יye.Hilet it beH1961
רָקִ֖יעַra.Ki.a'a firmamentH7549
בְּת֣וֹךְbe.Tokhin [the] middle ofH8432
הַמָּ֑יִםha.Ma.yimthe watersH4325
וִיהִ֣יvi.Hiand let it beH1961
מַבְדִּ֔ילmav.DilseparatingH914
בֵּ֥יןbeinbetweenH996
מַ֖יִםMa.yimwatersH4325
לָמָֽיִם\׃la.Ma.yimto watersH4325

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 1:6

  • Jeremiah 51:15

    He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.

  • Job 37:18

    Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

  • Psalms 33:6

    By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

  • Job 26:7-8

    He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

  • Jeremiah 10:12-13

    He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

  • Psalms 104:2

    Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

  • Psalms 148:4

    Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

  • Psalms 33:9

    For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

  • Psalms 136:5-6

    To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

  • Psalms 19:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

  • Zechariah 12:1

    The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

  • Genesis 1:20

    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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Let there.
14,20; 7:11,12; Job 26:7,8,13; 37:11,18; 38:22-26; Ps 19:1; 33:6,9
Ps 104:2; 136:5,6; 148:4; 150:1; Ec 11:3; Jer 10:10,12,13; 51:15
Zec 12:1
firmament. Heb. expansion.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 1:5

    And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

  • Genesis 1:6

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

  • Genesis 1:7

    And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

Read all of Genesis 1

Genesis 1:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo Dios: Haya expansión en medio de las aguas, y separe las aguas de las aguas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Dieu dit: Qu’il y ait une étendue entre les eaux, et qu’elle sépare les eaux d’avec les eaux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Gott sprach: Es werde eine Ausdehnung inmitten der Wasser, und sie scheide die Wasser von den Wassern!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit quoque Deus: Fiat firmamentum in medio aquarum: et dividat aquas ab aquis.