Genesis 1 Part 3 1:20–23

Filling the Waters and the Sky: The Fifth Day of Creation

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
(Genesis 1:20–23, NIV)

Summary

On the fifth day of creation, God fills the previously formed realms of the sky and the sea with living creatures. The waters are commanded to teem with life, and the sky becomes a space for birds to fly. Uniquely, this day introduces something new: God’s first blessing, where creatures are told to be fruitful and multiply. This section continues the theme of structure followed by function—spaces are created, then populated.

Historical & Cultural Background

Sky and Sea in Ancient Thought

In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, the sea was a powerful and often chaotic force—unpredictable, deep, and dangerous. Large sea creatures were mythologized as monsters or gods. But Genesis departs from these narratives. The “great sea creatures” (tanninim)—sometimes translated as sea monsters—are not divine or hostile; they are simply creatures God made. That’s a huge shift in thinking.

The sky, or “vault of the sky,” was seen as a solid dome separating the waters above from those below. Birds flying “across the vault” would have been seen as part of a cosmic design, not merely biological behavior.

Blessing and Multiplication

This is the first time in Genesis 1 where God blesses anything. The blessing to “be fruitful and multiply” is more than reproductive instruction—it affirms life itself as good, abundant, and self-replicating. In contrast to other myths where gods fear overpopulation or battle life itself, Genesis presents fertility as a divine gift.

Hebrew Language & Word Notes

Hebrew Term	Meaning	Significance
Sharatz (שָׁרַץ)	To teem, swarm	Implies small, moving sea life—suggests a burst of abundance.
Of (עוֹף)	Bird, flying creature	Generic for winged life—includes all airborne animals.
Tanninim (תַּנִּינִם)	Sea monsters or great sea creatures	May allude to mythic beings like Leviathan; here, they’re tame.
Leminayhem (לְמִינֵהֶם)	According to their kinds	Highlights diversity within order.
Barach (בָּרַךְ)	To bless	First use of this word in the Bible.
Piru (פְּרוּ)	Be fruitful	Fertility as a divine imperative.
Ravhu (רָבְהוּ)	Multiply	Suggests expansion and continuity.

Major Themes & Questions

1. Chaos, Subdued and Transformed

The sea—often feared in ancient literature—is not fought or defeated here. It’s filled. Even the mysterious “great sea creatures” are created by God, not battled. The Genesis writer reclaims chaotic elements as good and purposeful.

2. Blessing and Life

Blessing is not just favor—it’s generative. The ability to reproduce, expand, and fill the world is framed as a sacred act. This is the beginning of a key biblical theme: that life is meant to flourish under divine order.

3. Filling the Formed

This day mirrors Day 2, when God created the sky and sea. Now those realms are inhabited. The literary structure continues: God forms environments, then fills them with corresponding life.

Disclaimer & Call to Action

This post reflects a scholarly, non-Christian reading of the Hebrew Bible. It’s designed to help readers understand the ancient text in its original context—not to undermine or promote belief. If you’re curious about how sacred texts speak from within their cultures, you’re in the right place.

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