Page 42 - Advanced Genesis - Creationism - Student Textbook

Day5 – Genesis 1:20-23 – Day 5 Sea creatures and birds

20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth
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across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature
that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to
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its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill
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the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was
morning, the fifth day. (ESV)

"Then God said, 'Let the waters team with swarms of living creatures.'" So, He first of all
filled the waters. Now in the Hebrew this is what is called a paronomasia which is a term
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describing a kind of literary device. A paronomasia is basically this, the Hebrew says, "Let
the waters..." the text says, "Let the waters swarm with swarming things." It's a repetition.
It's the same in verse 11, "Let the earth sprout vegetation," actually in the Hebrew is "Let
the earth vegetate with vegetation." And here it's, "Let the waters swarm with swarming
things, swarm with swarming living things."

In fact, He filled the seas so that the verb here is “to swarm”. It pictures a large population of these
creatures in motion.

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The term "living" is that very familiar Hebrew word nephesh which speaks of soul, or being, or life.
It's used here for the very first time. Literally nephesh means that which breathes...that which
breathes.

These beings are bara, they are created. And here he uses bara the word for create. This is an epoch-
making achievement that demands the verb "to create." As a monumental thing takes place, He
creates conscious beings that can move and they move through the sea in swarms...such a massive
amount of created beings.

So, man's house is built. It's now ready for his occupancy. And the crown of creation comes on day six.
The crown of creation is man.

Day 6 Genesis 1:24-25 –Creation of land animals
24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and
creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the
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beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their
kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God
saw that it was good. (ESV)

The Bible just gives you three simple categories; cattle, creeping things, beasts of
the earth – all created instantaneously.

24 https://www.dictionary.com/browse/paronomasia
25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephesh#:~:text=The%20Hebrew%20term%2C%20nephesh%20chayyah,translated
%20living%20thing%20or%20animal.
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