Gen 1:21-25 | MHM | STEP | v. 21 : God created large sea creatures, like whales, and every living thing that moves in the water, as well as every kind of bird. The sea was filled with many kinds of fish, and the sky with birds, each one made according to its own kind. The Bible mentions “great whales” to show God’s power—these are the largest animals in the sea (Job 41:1 ). All these creatures, from the smallest insect to the biggest whale, show God’s wisdom and greatness (Psalm 104:25 ).

‏ Genesis 1:21-25

v. 21: God created large sea creatures, like whales, and every living thing that moves in the water, as well as every kind of bird. The sea was filled with many kinds of fish, and the sky with birds, each one made according to its own kind. The Bible mentions “great whales” to show God’s power—these are the largest animals in the sea (Job 41:1 ^a). All these creatures, from the smallest insect to the biggest whale, show God’s wisdom and greatness (Psalm 104:25 ^b).

v. 22: God blessed the fish and birds, telling them to “be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.” God did not just make the first animals; he made sure their kinds would continue. Life does not last forever on its own, so God’s blessing allows these creatures to keep multiplying. Every year, the many fish and birds in the world are a result of this blessing (v. 22; Ecclesiastes 3:14 ^c).

v. 23: “And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” With this, the fifth day of creation ends. God’s power and wisdom are seen in how he fills the world with living creatures. When we see fish and birds, we should remember to honor God, who made and cares for all these things (Job 12:7,9 ^d).

Genesis 1:24-25: The Creation of Land Animals

These verses describe the first part of God’s work on the sixth day of creation. On this day, God created animals that live on land—cattle, wild beasts, and small creatures that crawl on the ground. God made each kind of animal with its own special qualities and purposes. Some animals are tame and useful for people, while others are wild. This shows God’s great wisdom and creativity in making so many different creatures, each with a role in the world.

v. 24: God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” God gave the command for the earth to be filled with all kinds of land animals. This does not mean the earth had the power to create them by itself, but that God made these animals appear on the earth and from the earth. Each animal was created according to God’s plan, with its own kind and purpose.

v. 25: God made the beasts of the earth, the cattle, and everything that creeps on the ground, each one after its kind. There are many different shapes, sizes, and types of animals. Some are tame and live near people, like cows and sheep. Others are wild and live in the fields or forests. Some animals are used for work, others for food, and some are just wild. God saw that all these animals were good, showing his wisdom and power in creation.