What Does Genesis 1:31 Mean?
Genesis 1:31 describes the moment God looked over all He had made - the light, the sky, the land, the plants, the animals, and humanity - and declared it 'very good.' This was not merely approval. It was divine satisfaction with a world perfectly in order. The verse marks the completion of creation, showing that everything had its place and purpose in God's plan.
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.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1440 BC
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- God declared His creation 'very good,' showing His perfect design.
- Creation was originally whole, reflecting God's order and delight.
- Sin broke perfection, but Christ restores all things to goodness.
Context of Genesis 1:31
This verse wraps up the sixth and final day of creation, coming right after God forms humanity in His image.
The chapter has been building day by day - starting with light, then sky, land, plants, stars, sea creatures, animals, and finally people. Each step was called 'good,' but now, with everything in place, God looks over the full picture and declares it 'very good.'
This moment marks the completion of creation, a world in perfect harmony before sin entered.
The Meaning of 'Very Good' in Genesis 1:31
This final evaluation - 'very good' - is a divine stamp of completeness and harmony. It is more than a stronger version of 'good'.
The Hebrew phrase 'tov me'od' (very good) goes beyond mere approval - it suggests something excellent, fully fitting its purpose, and in balance. In ancient Israelite thought, this kind of goodness points toward 'shalom' - wholeness, right relationships, and flourishing, not merely peace. Here, at creation’s end, everything is as it should be: the world is in perfect order, humanity lives in relationship with God, and there is no brokenness.
God didn’t just make the world good - He called it very good, a reflection of His perfect handiwork.
This is the first time God uses a superlative in His evaluation - setting a high point before the fall introduces disorder.
Creation's Original Perfection and God's Pleasure in It
This verse captures God's deep satisfaction with His creation, seeing it as perfectly whole and in harmony, rather than merely functional.
Everything was exactly as He intended - no brokenness, no pain, no separation from Him. This 'very good' world shows us God's character: He is a Creator who delights in beauty, order, and life.
Later, when sin enters in Genesis 3, this original goodness makes the fall all the more tragic - and points forward to God's plan to restore all things through Jesus, who will one day renew the earth and bring back that perfect shalom.
From Creation's Goodness to God's Restoration in Christ
This original goodness in Genesis 1:31 sets the stage for the entire Bible’s story - how what was 'very good' became broken, and how God would one day restore it through Jesus.
When sin enters in Genesis 3, the harmony of creation unravels - pain, death, and separation from God enter the world. But even there, God begins to unfold His plan to fix what’s broken. Centuries later, the apostle Paul describes creation itself as 'groaning' for restoration, waiting for the children of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19-22).
The 'very good' world was broken by sin, but God’s promise has always been to make all things new through Jesus.
And in Christ, that renewal begins: 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come' (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus is restoring all things, bringing us back into the 'very good' purpose God intended from the beginning, beyond simply fixing humanity.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine waking up each day remembering that you were made in a world God called 'very good' - beautiful and purposeful, rather than merely functional. When guilt or shame creeps in, whispering that you're not enough or too broken, remember this: God looked at the whole of creation, including you, and was deeply pleased. That original goodness wasn’t based on performance. It was a gift. Even now, in a world full of mess and mistakes, you carry the imprint of that perfect design. This truth doesn’t erase struggle, but it grounds us in hope - our value isn’t earned, it’s built into who we are because we reflect our Creator.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life am I forgetting that I was made in a 'very good' world and instead acting like brokenness is the final word?
- How does knowing that God delights in His creation change the way I view myself, others, and the world around me?
- What would it look like for me to live today as someone entrusted with stewardship of God’s good gifts - time, relationships, creation itself?
A Challenge For You
Take five minutes today to step outside or look around your home and intentionally thank God for three specific things He created. Then, choose one way this week to care for creation - whether it’s reducing waste, planting something, or pausing to appreciate nature - as a small act of worship.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank You for making the world - and me - with such care and calling it 'very good.' Help me to see myself and others through Your eyes, not as broken beyond repair but as part of Your beautiful design. Renew my heart when I feel worthless or lost. And teach me to live in a way that honors the goodness You’ve placed in the world. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Genesis 1:26-28
Describes the creation of humanity in God's image and the granting of dominion, setting up the climax of creation that 1:31 affirms.
Genesis 2:1
Marks the completion of creation and God's rest, flowing directly from the 'very good' conclusion of the sixth day.
Connections Across Scripture
Isaiah 45:18
Affirms God created the world to be inhabited and in order, reinforcing the purpose behind 'very good'.
Revelation 21:5
Echoes Genesis 1:31 as God declares 'I am making everything new,' showing His redemptive restoration of original goodness.
Colossians 1:16
Teaches that all things were created through Christ, linking the Genesis account to His divine role in creation and renewal.