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Genesis 1:6

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— And God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it be a division between waters and waters.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— And God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters,—and let it be a means of dividing, between waters and waters.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— And God saith, 'Let an expanse be in the midst of the waters, and let it be separating between waters and waters.'
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— And God said: Let there be a firmament made amidst the waters: and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Againe God saide, Let there be a firmament in the middes of the waters: and let it separate the waters from the waters.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters: and let it diuide the waters from the waters.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it be a division between water and water, and it was so.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— And Elohim said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
And ´Élöhîm אֱלֹהִים 430
{0430} Prime
אֱלֹהִים
'elohiym
{el-o-heem'}
Plural of H0433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative.
said, 559
{0559} Prime
אָמַר
'amar
{aw-mar'}
A primitive root; to say (used with great latitude).
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
Let there be x1961
(1961) Complement
הָיָה
hayah
{haw-yaw'}
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).
a firmament 7549
{7549} Prime
רָקִיעַ
raqiya`
{raw-kee'-ah}
From H7554; properly an expanse, that is, the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky.
in the midst 8432
{8432} Prime
תָּוֶךְ
tavek
{taw'-vek}
From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, that is, (by implication) the centre.
of the waters, 4325
{4325} Prime
מַיִם
mayim
{mah'-yim}
Dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively juice; by euphemism urine, semen.
and let x1961
(1961) Complement
הָיָה
hayah
{haw-yaw'}
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).
it divide 914
{0914} Prime
בָּדַל
badal
{baw-dal'}
A primitive root; to divide (in various senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.).
z8688
<8688> Grammar
Stem - Hiphil (See H8818)
Mood - Participle (See H8813)
Count - 857
x996
(0996) Complement
בַּיִן
beyn
{bane}
(Sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly the constructively contracted form of an otherwise unused noun from H0995; a distinction; but used only as a preposition, between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjugation, either... or.
the waters 4325
{4325} Prime
מַיִם
mayim
{mah'-yim}
Dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively juice; by euphemism urine, semen.
from the waters. 4325
{4325} Prime
מַיִם
mayim
{mah'-yim}
Dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively juice; by euphemism urine, semen.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Genesis 1:6

_ _ Genesis 1:6-8. Second day.

_ _ 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.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Genesis 1:6-8

_ _ We have here an account of the second day's work, the creation of the firmament, in which observe, 1. The command of God concerning it: Let there be a firmament, an expansion, so the Hebrew word signifies, like a sheet spread, or a curtain drawn out. This includes all that is visible above the earth, between it and the third heavens: the air, its higher, middle, and lower, regions — the celestial globe, and all the spheres and orbs of light above: it reaches as high as the place where the stars are fixed, for that is called here the firmament of heaven (Genesis 1:14, Genesis 1:15), and as low as the place where the birds fly, for that also is called the firmament of heaven, Genesis 1:20. When God had made the light, he appointed the air to be the receptacle and vehicle of its beams, and to be as a medium of communication between the invisible and the visible world; for, though between heaven and earth there is an inconceivable distance, yet there is not an impassable gulf, as there is between heaven and hell. This firmament is not a wall of partition, but a way of intercourse. See Job 26:7; Job 37:18; Psalms 104:3; Amos 9:6. 2. The creation of it. Lest it should seem as if God had only commanded it to be done, and some one else had done it, he adds, And God made the firmament. What God requires of us he himself works in us, or it is not done. He that commands faith, holiness, and love, creates them by the power of his grace going along with his word, that he may have all the praise. Lord, give what thou commandest, and then command what thou pleasest. The firmament is said to be the work of God's fingers, Psalms 8:3. Though the vastness of its extent declares it to be the work of his arm stretched out, yet the admirable fineness of its constitution shows that it is a curious piece of art, the work of his fingers. 3. The use and design of it — to divide the waters from the waters, that is, to distinguish between the waters that are wrapped up in the clouds and those that cover the sea, the waters in the air and those in the earth. See the difference between these two carefully observed, Deuteronomy 11:10, Deuteronomy 11:11, where Canaan is upon this account preferred to Egypt, that Egypt was moistened and made fruitful with the waters that are under the firmament, but Canaan with waters from above, out of the firmament, even the dew of heaven, which tarrieth not for the sons of men, Micah 5:7. God has, in the firmament of his power, chambers, store-chambers, whence he watereth the earth, Psalms 104:13; Psalms 65:9, Psalms 65:10. He has also treasures, or magazines, of snow and hail, which he hath reserved against the day of battle and war, Job 38:22, Job 38:23. O what a great God is he who has thus provided for the comfort of all that serve him and the confusion of all that hate him! It is good having him our friend, and bad having him our enemy. 4. The naming of it: He called the firmament heaven. It is the visible heaven, the pavement of the holy city; above the firmament God is said to have his throne (Ezekiel 1:26), for he has prepared it in the heavens; the heavens therefore are said to rule, Daniel 4:26. Is not God in the height of heaven? Job 22:12. Yes, he is, and we should be led by the contemplation of the heavens that are in our eye to consider our Father who is in heaven. The height of the heavens should remind us of God's supremacy and the infinite distance there is between us and him; the brightness of the heavens and their purity should remind us of his glory, and majesty, and perfect holiness; the vastness of the heavens, their encompassing of the earth, and the influence they have upon it, should remind us of his immensity and universal providence.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Genesis 1:6-8

We have here an account of the second day's work, the creation of the firmament. In which observe, 1. The command of God; Let there be a firmament — An expansion; so the Hebrew word signifies, like a sheet spread, or a curtain drawn out. This includes all that is visible above the earth, between it and the third heavens, the air, its higher, middle, and lower region, the celestial globe, and all the orbs of light above; it reaches as high as the place where the stars are fixed, for that is called here the firmament of heaven, Genesis 1:14-15, and as low as the place where the birds fly for that also is called the firmament of heaven, Genesis 1:20. 2. The creation of it: and God made the firmament. 3. The design of it; to divide the waters from the waters — That is, to distinguish between the waters that are wrapt up in the clouds, and those that cover the sea; the waters in the air, and those in the earth. 4. The naming it; He called the firmament Heaven — 'Tis the visible heaven, the pavement of the holy city. The height of the heavens should mind us of God's supremacy, and the infinite distance that is between us and him; the brightness of the heavens, and their purity, should mind us of his majesty, and perfect holiness; the vastness of the heavens, and their encompassing the earth, and influence upon it, should mind us of his immensity and universal providence.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

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Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
Let there:

Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
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.
Genesis 7:11-12 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. ... And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
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.
Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
Job 37:11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
Job 37:18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, [which is] strong, [and] as a molten looking glass?
Job 38:22-26 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, ... To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;
Psalms 19:1 [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
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.
Psalms 33:9 For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.
Psalms 104:2 Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
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 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that [be] above the heavens.
Psalms 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
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.
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.
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.

firmament:
Heb. expansion
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Gn 1:14, 20; 7:11. Jb 26:7, 13; 37:11, 18; 38:22. Ps 19:1; 33:6, 9; 104:2; 136:5; 148:4; 150:1. Ec 11:3. Jr 10:10, 12; 51:15. Zc 12:1.

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