Genesis 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The History of Creation(A)

1 In the (B)beginning (C)God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was (D)without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. (E)And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 (F)Then God said, (G)“Let there be (H)light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the (I)darkness He called Night. [b]So the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 Then God said, (J)“Let there be a [c]firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, (K)and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were (L)above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 Then God said, (M)“Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and (N)let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the earth (O)bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the (P)fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be (Q)lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and (R)seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great [d]lights: the (S)greater light to rule the day, and the (T)lesser light to rule the night. He made (U)the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the (V)heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to (W)rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living [e]creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the [f]firmament of the heavens.” 21 So (X)God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, (Y)“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, (Z)“Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (AA)let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man (AB)in His own image; in the image of God He created him; (AC)male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, (AD)“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and (AE)subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [h]moves on the earth.”

29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; (AF)to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to (AG)every beast of the earth, to every (AH)bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is [i]life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then (AI)God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 1:2 Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.
  2. Genesis 1:5 Lit. And evening was, and morning was, a day, one.
  3. Genesis 1:6 expanse
  4. Genesis 1:16 luminaries
  5. Genesis 1:20 souls
  6. Genesis 1:20 expanse
  7. Genesis 1:26 Syr. all the wild animals of
  8. Genesis 1:28 moves about on
  9. Genesis 1:30 a living soul

Cross references

  1. Genesis 1:1 : Gen. 2:4–9; Job 38:4–11; John 1:1–5
  2. Genesis 1:1 : Ps. 102:25; Is. 40:21; [John 1:1–3; Heb. 1:10]
  3. Genesis 1:1 : Gen. 2:4; [Ps. 8:3; 89:11; 90:2]; Is. 44:24; Acts 17:24; Rom. 1:20; [Heb. 1:2; 11:3]; Rev. 4:11
  4. Genesis 1:2 : Jer. 4:23
  5. Genesis 1:2 : [Gen. 6:3]; Job 26:13; Ps. 33:6; 104:30; Is. 40:13, 14
  6. Genesis 1:3 : Ps. 33:6, 9
  7. Genesis 1:3 : 2 Cor. 4:6
  8. Genesis 1:3 : [Heb. 11:3]
  9. Genesis 1:5 : Job 37:18; Ps. 19:2; 33:6; 74:16; 104:20; 136:5; Jer. 10:12
  10. Genesis 1:6 : Job 37:18; Jer. 10:12; 2 Pet. 3:5
  11. Genesis 1:7 : Job 38:8–11; Prov. 8:27–29
  12. Genesis 1:7 : Ps. 148:4
  13. Genesis 1:9 : Job 26:10; Ps. 104:6–9; Prov. 8:29; Jer. 5:22; 2 Pet. 3:5
  14. Genesis 1:9 : Ps. 24:1, 2; 33:7; 95:5
  15. Genesis 1:11 : Ps. 65:9–13; 104:14; Heb. 6:7
  16. Genesis 1:11 : 2 Sam. 16:1; Luke 6:44
  17. Genesis 1:14 : Deut. 4:19; Ps. 74:16; 136:5–9
  18. Genesis 1:14 : Ps. 104:19
  19. Genesis 1:16 : Ps. 136:8
  20. Genesis 1:16 : Deut. 17:3; Ps. 8:3
  21. Genesis 1:16 : Deut. 4:19; Job 38:7; Is. 40:26
  22. Genesis 1:17 : Gen. 15:5; Jer. 33:20, 25
  23. Genesis 1:18 : Jer. 31:35
  24. Genesis 1:21 : Ps. 104:25–28
  25. Genesis 1:22 : Gen. 8:17
  26. Genesis 1:26 : Gen. 9:6; Ps. 100:3; Eccl. 7:29; [Eph. 4:24]; James 3:9
  27. Genesis 1:26 : Gen. 9:2; Ps. 8:6–8
  28. Genesis 1:27 : Gen. 5:2; 1 Cor. 11:7
  29. Genesis 1:27 : Matt. 19:4; [Mark 10:6–8]
  30. Genesis 1:28 : Gen. 9:1, 7; Lev. 26:9
  31. Genesis 1:28 : 1 Cor. 9:27
  32. Genesis 1:29 : Gen. 9:3; Ps. 104:14, 15
  33. Genesis 1:30 : Ps. 145:15
  34. Genesis 1:30 : Job 38:41
  35. Genesis 1:31 : [Ps. 104:24; 1 Tim. 4:4]

You Might Also Like:

Genesis 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth -- 2 the earth hath existed waste and void, and darkness [is] on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God fluttering on the face of the waters, 3 and God saith, `Let light be;' and light is. 4 And God seeth the light that [it is] goo...
Read More

Genesis 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

1 In the beginning God made of nought heaven and earth. (In the beginning God made out of nothing the heavens and the earth.) 2 Forsooth the earth was idle and void, and darknesses were on the face of (the) depth; and the Spirit of the Lord was borne on the waters [and the Spirit of God was borne up...
Read More

Genesis 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 In the beginning, God[a] created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw the light, and saw that it was go...
Read More

Genesis 1 - The Voice (VOICE)

Out of nowhere, time, space, and all the living whirl forth as God speaks the universe into existence. With the utterance of His voice, creation takes form, chaos yields to order, light eclipses darkness, and emptiness fills with life. Not long after God creates the first man, Adam, and the first wo...
Read More

Genesis 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Parashat BereshitCreation in Six Days1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [a] 2 Now the earth was chaos and waste, darkness was on the surface of the deep, and the Ruach Elohim was hovering upon the surface of the water.[b] 3 Then God said, “Let there be light!” and there was li...
Read More

Genesis 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath1 [a]In the beginning God created[b] the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit[c] of God was moving over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was...
Read More

Genesis 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath1 In the beginning God created[a] the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit[b] of God was moving over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was li...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath1 In the beginning when God created[a] the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God[b] swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath1 When God began to create[a] the heavens and the earth,(A)2 the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God[b] swept over the face of the waters.(B)3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.(C)4 And ...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Account of Creation1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.[a] 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw t...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Beginning1 In the beginning God made from nothing the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was an empty waste and darkness was over the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was moving over the top of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light ...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The History of Creation(A)1 In the (B)beginning (C)God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was (D)without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. (E)And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 (F)Then God said, (G)“Let there be (H)light”; and th...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The beginning1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New International Version (NIV)

The Beginning1 In the beginning(A) God created(B) the heavens(C) and the earth.(D) 2 Now the earth was formless(E) and empty,(F) darkness was over the surface of the deep,(G) and the Spirit of God(H) was hovering(I) over the waters. 3 And God said,(J) “Let there be light,” and there was light.(K) 4 ...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Beginning1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth didn’t have any shape. And it was empty. There was darkness over the surface of the waves. At that time, the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. 4 God ...
Read More

Genesis 1 - New English Translation (NET)

The Creation of the World1 In the beginning[a] God[b] created[c] the heavens and the earth.[d] 2 Now[e] the earth[f] was without shape and empty,[g] and darkness[h] was over the surface of the watery deep,[i] but the Spirit of God[j] was moving[k] over the surface[l] of the water.[m] 3 God said,[n]...
Read More