Meaning, commentary and cross references
Genesis 1:31
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
NIV · New International Version
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
WEB · World English Bible
God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
What does Genesis 1:31 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made,.... Either all that he had made on the several six days of the creation, he took a survey of them, looked over them again, as workmen do when they have finished their work, to see if anything is amiss or wanting; not that anything of this nature can be supposed in the works of God, but such a survey is attributed to him after the manner of men, to show the completeness of his works, and the excellency of them. Picherellus (q) limits this to what had been done on this day, with respect to man, who alone, as he thinks, was the subject of this day's work; and so it respects the creation of man after the image and likeness of God; the forming of the…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Genesis 1:31
We have here the approbation and conclusion of the whole work of creation. As for God, his work is perfect; and if he begin he will also make an end, in providence and grace, as well as here in creation. Observe, I. The review God took of his work: He saw every thing that he had made.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything Once more, at the conclusion of the creation, Moses declares that God approved of everything which he had made. In speaking of God as seeing, he does it after the manner of men; for the Lord designed this his judgment to be as a rule and example to us; that no one should dare to think or speak otherwise of his works. For it is not lawful for us to dispute whether that ought to be approved or not which God has already approved; but it rather becomes us to acquiesce without controversy. The repetition also denotes how wanton is the temerity of man: otherwise it would have been enough to have said, once for all, that God approved of his works.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Genesis 1:28–31 (WEB)
28God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so. 31God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
Cross references
- 1 Timothy 4:4
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
- Psalms 104:24
- Psalms 19:1–2
- Exodus 20:11
for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.
- Psalms 104:31
- Lamentations 3:38
Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?
- Genesis 2:2
On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.
- Job 38:7
when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Key words
In the Baptist Catechism
- Q13. What is the work of creation?
The work of creation is God’s making all things of nothing, by the Word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good.