Genesis 1:21 · Bible study
Genesis 1:21 Commentary: Bara' and the Great Sea Monsters
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Genesis 1:21: the creation of great sea monsters, the verb bara', and what it means that God saw the swarming waters and winged birds as good.
Research Summary
- Meaning: On the fifth day, God created all aquatic animals and birds, showing his power over the sea and sky.
- Key words: Bara (create), tanninim (sea monsters), nephesh (living creature), tov (good).
- Main debate: Whether “bara” indicates creation out of nothing for animal life or the fashioning of pre-existing matter.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over all creation, including what seems chaotic and fearsome.
- Best use: Teaching on creation, divine sovereignty, and the inherent goodness of the material world.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
WEB World English Bible 2000
God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind: and God saw that it was good.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And God prepareth the great monsters, and every living creature that is creeping, which the waters have teemed with, after their kind, and every fowl with wing, after its kind, and God seeth that it is good.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And God created the great sea monsters, and every living soul that moves with which the waters swarm, after their kind, and every winged fowl after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And God created the great whales, and every living and moving creature, which the waters brought forth, according to their kinds, and every winged fowl according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y crió Dios las grandes ballenas, y toda cosa viva que anda arrastrando, que las aguas produjeron según su género, y toda ave alada según su especie: y vió Dios que era bueno.
E criou Deus as grandes criaturas marinhas, e toda coisa viva que anda arrastando, que as águas produziram segundo a sua espécie, e toda ave de asas segundo sua espécie: e viu Deus que era bom.
Dieu créa les grands poissons et tous les animaux vivants qui se meuvent, et que les eaux produisirent en abondance selon leur espèce; il créa aussi tout oiseau ailé selon son espèce. Dieu vit que cela était bon.
Und Gott schuf große Walfische und allerlei Getier, daß da lebt und webt, davon das Wasser sich erregte, ein jegliches nach seiner Art, und allerlei gefiedertes Gevögel, ein jegliches nach seiner Art. Und Gott sah, daß es gut war.
En God schiep de grote walvissen, en alle levende wremelende ziel, welke de wateren overvloediglijk voortbrachten, naar haar aard; en alle gevleugeld gevogelte naar zijn aard. En God zag, dat het goed was.
E Dio creò i grandi animali acquatici e tutti gli esseri viventi che si muovono, i quali le acque produssero in abbondanza secondo la loro specie, ed ogni volatilo secondo la sua specie. E Dio vide che questo era buono.
I stworzył Bóg wieloryby wielkie, i wszelką duszę żywiącą płazającą się, którą hojnie wywiodły wody, według rodzaju ich; i wszelkie ptactwo skrzydlaste, według rodzaju ich; i widział Bóg, że to było dobre.
И сотворил Бог рыб больших и всякую душу животных пресмыкающихся, которых произвела вода, по роду их, и всякую птицу пернатую по роду ее. И увидел Бог, что это хорошо.
神 就造出 大 魚 和 水 中所 滋生 各樣 有生命 的動 物，各從其類；又造出 各樣 飛 鳥，各從其類。 神 看著 是好的。
And God made great sea-beasts, and every sort of living and moving thing with which the waters were full, and every sort of winged bird: and God saw that it was good.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 1:21
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
“God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.”
— Genesis 1:21 (WEB)
Most commentators agree that this verse marks the first appearance of animal life. The verb bara (created) is used. Some, like Calvin, connect it back to the original creation of matter, while others, like the Cambridge Bible, see it as the first imparting of soul or life to animals. All agree the “great sea creatures” (tanninim) are not limited to whales but include large aquatic beings such as crocodiles, serpents, and even mythological sea dragons known from surrounding cultures. By creating these fearsome creatures, Genesis shows God’s authority over what other nations considered chaos powers. The phrase “after their kind” indicates orderly diversity, and “God saw that it was good” declares the created order fundamentally beneficial. Commentators across traditions emphasize that this day shows God’s power in the huge and his care for the teeming smaller life.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Use of <em>bara</em> (create) | All agree it is a divine act of creation. | Calvin links it to the original creation of matter, so it involves pre-existing substance; the Cambridge Bible and others see it as a new stage—the first imparting of life. |
| Identity of the <em>tanninim</em> | The term refers to large sea creatures, not exclusively whales. | Whether it includes specifically mythological chaos monsters known from surrounding cultures or is limited to actual animals like crocodiles and large fish. |
| "After their kind" | It indicates God created with order and diversity. | Some later interpreters take it as proof of fixed species; others see it as a general statement of reproductive consistency without addressing modern biology. |
| Goodness of creation | The created order is declared good. | How this goodness relates to predation and decay before a historical Fall remains a point of discussion among those holding different views on original creation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The fifth day fills the waters and sky that God formed on day two, presenting a rising pattern of life. Ancient Near Eastern myths often portrayed sea monsters like Tiamat or Leviathan as chaos forces requiring conquest by a deity. Genesis answers this by saying that God created the great sea monsters. There is no battle; they are part of his good world. The Hebrew tanninim appears elsewhere for crocodiles (Ezekiel 29:3), serpents (Exodus 7:9), and the dragon-like Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1). The Israelites, a land-based people, probably knew little of whales, so the term can refer to any enormous aquatic animal.
The command in verse 20, “Let the waters abound with living creatures,” is carried out here. The waters are not a divine source; they simply swarm at God’s word. The Hebrew bara is reserved in Genesis for God’s unique activity, underscoring that only he can impart life. The phrase “after their kind” repeats throughout the chapter (cf. 1:11-12, 25), emphasizing reproducible categories. Ancient readers would see this as God ordering a diverse, fruitful world. The blessing in verse 22 to be fruitful and multiply extends the day’s work, showing that life is meant to continue and fill the earth.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants. The Septuagint’s rendering as “great whales” (κήτη τὰ μεγάλα) influenced the KJV, but the Hebrew tanninim is consistently attested in the Masoretic Text. Modern translations correctly reflect the broader sense of “sea monsters” or “great sea creatures.”
Reception History
Early Christian readers like Augustine saw the “great whales” as literal large fish but also allegorized them as evil powers Christ would tame, echoing Leviathan. Medieval Jewish commentators such as Rashi connected the tanninim to the legendary Leviathan and Behemoth. During the Reformation, Calvin stressed that God’s creation of these monsters displays power over all forces rather than a mythological battle. In the modern period, this verse has been central to discussions on the fixity of species and the interpretation of “kind” in light of evolutionary biology. Across traditions, the dominant note remains praise for God’s majesty in creating wonders from the immense to the microscopic, all declared good.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s Power Over the Deep – He creates even the fearsome sea monsters that pagan myths feared, showing that no part of creation is outside his authority.
- The Orderliness of Creation – “After their kind” points to a world of distinct, reproducing families, reflecting God’s wisdom and design.
- The Goodness of God’s Work – God looks at the teeming seas and sky and calls it good. The material world is not evil but a gift.
Five-point outline
- The Word That Creates – As God spoke in verse 20, he carries out his command with creative power.
- The Great and the Small – From immense sea monsters to tiny swarmers, all come from the same Creator.
- Order Out of Chaos – By creating the tanninim, God shows his rule over the chaos associated with the deep.
- God’s Approval of the Physical – The repeated “God saw that it was good” affirms the body and the natural world as blessings.
- Fruitfulness as Blessing – The work of day five sets the stage for the blessing of multiplication in verse 22, a sign of continuing life.
Illustration hooks
- A marine biologist discovering a new deep-sea creature on a research vessel, stunned by its alien beauty. The verse says that every such being, known or unknown, is God’s handiwork.
- A family standing at the ocean’s edge, sensing the immensity and mystery of the dark water. Genesis says that even the monsters in that deep are under God’s care.
- A person wrestling with fears that seem larger than life—chaos in the world, invisible threats. Just as God created and ruled over the sea monsters, he holds every dark power in check.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does the Bible teach that whales are real when it says “great whales”?
- If God created evil-looking sea serpents, what does that say about the nature of creation?
Leading a Discussion
On the fifth day, God fills the waters and sky with life. The text uses the strong word “create” and highlights great sea creatures—beings that other cultures saw as chaotic gods. As we read, consider what this says about God’s power and the goodness of the physical world.
Discussion questions
- What words in verse 21 stand out to you, and why?
- Why do you think the author mentions “great sea monsters” specifically?
- How does the command in verse 20 and the execution in verse 21 relate?
- In what ways does “after their kind” speak to God’s ordering of creation?
- Why is it significant that God sees his work as “good”?
- How does knowing God created even the fearsome parts of nature affect your trust in him?
- What can this verse teach us about caring for God’s creation?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 1:18 | and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. |
| Genesis 1:25 | God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good. |
| Genesis 1:31 | God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. |
| Genesis 6:20 | Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort will come to you, to keep them alive. |
| Genesis 7:14 | they, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. |
| Genesis 8:17 | Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth.” |
| Genesis 8:19 | Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the ship. |
| Genesis 9:7 | Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the Hebrew term usually translated "great whales" is actually a general name for all large sea creatures, not a specific animal. He then marvels at how God reveals himself equally in creatures so vast they fill the ocean and in others so tiny that thousands fit in a single drop of water.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that the Hebrew verb "create" is used here for the first time since verse 1, indicating that animal life is a genuinely new kind of existence, unlike earlier modifications of existing matter. He also notes that the blessing of fruitfulness implies only a single pair of each larger species was made, from which God’s power produced the multitudes that fill the waters and air.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that the word "created" still applies to the fish and birds of day five, even though they were made from existing water and earth. He sees their creation as part of the original shapeless mass made from nothing, so that only their form was added later, not a new making from nothing.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights the precise Hebrew terms for the water creatures God creates, noting that "great sea-monsters" better captures the sense of strange, vast creatures, while "every winged fowl" intentionally avoids the narrow word "bird" to include all flying things. It also observes that the word "create" marks a new stage in divine work, the introduction of animal life.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva translation emphasizes that God created every living creature that moves in the waters, including the great sea creatures, and every winged bird, each after its own kind, and that God saw all this as good.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the Hebrew word for "great whales" points to creatures of enormous size, some ancient accounts describing them as hundreds of feet long. He sees their formation from water—a seemingly unfit element—as a remarkable display of God's creative power, using the same verb as the original creation of heaven and earth.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch insist that the Hebrew verbs are imperatives, not relative clauses, so birds are not created from water as some translations imply. They also note the text does not claim only one pair of each kind was made; the wording suggests many individuals were created at once, and the order from lower to higher animals explains why fish and birds came before land animals.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees a deliberate pattern in creation's progress: each day produces something more excellent than the last, teaching that we should strive to make our final works our best. He also stresses that God himself performed the command to bring forth life from the waters, not because the waters had any power of their own.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that no living creature was created until the fifth day, showing a gradual advance from less excellent beings to more excellent ones. He emphasizes that both fish and fowl came out of the waters, and that their ongoing fruitfulness from year to year is still the effect of God's original blessing.