What Does Genesis 1:6-7 Mean?
Genesis 1:6-7 describes God creating an expanse - what we now call the sky - and placing it between the waters above and the waters below. This act formed the atmosphere around our planet, making space for life to eventually thrive. It shows how God brought order out of chaos, shaping a habitable world with purpose and care.
Genesis 1:6-7
And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1440 BC
Key People
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- God brings order to chaos with purposeful design.
- The sky is a testament to God's creative power.
- Creation reveals God's authority over all things.
Context and Meaning of Genesis 1:6-7
This moment comes right after God made light and separated day from night, setting the stage for a world that’s ordered and livable.
Now, on the second day, God speaks into existence a vast space - the sky - cutting through the waters to form the atmosphere above the earth and the waters above it, which may refer to clouds or the heavens beyond. This wasn’t random. It was a deliberate act to structure the cosmos so life could later flourish.
The next step will be forming dry land. First, God is organizing the layers of creation, similar to setting up rooms in a house before filling them with life.
Understanding the 'Expanse' in Ancient Context
This follows the creation of light and sets the foundation for the world’s structure, but to grasp what the 'expanse' meant, we need to see it through ancient eyes.
The Hebrew word 'raqîa' refers to something stretched out or hammered flat, like a metal dome - this wasn’t meant as scientific description, but as a picture of God crafting a stable, protective sky over the earth. Ancient people saw the sky as a solid barrier holding back waters above, which explains rain as windows of heaven opening (as later described in Genesis 7:11 during the flood). In this view, God is making atmosphere and building a secure home for life. The 'raqîa' acts as a ceiling that keeps chaos at bay.
The sky wasn't just space to the ancient mind - it was a solid dome holding back cosmic waters, a powerful image of God’s control.
The next act - gathering the waters below into seas - shows God continuing to carve out safe, ordered spaces, preparing the stage for land and life.
God Brings Order Out of Chaos
This act of forming the expanse continues the clear pattern of God bringing structure to a formless world.
He takes the watery chaos and divides it, creating space for air, weather, and eventually life. Jeremiah 4:23 describes the earth as 'formless and void' during judgment, showing God’s power to both form and reform. This reminds us that God is in control, not only at the beginning but throughout the story of the Bible.
God didn’t just create things - he brought order where there was disorder, making a world ready for life.
The next step - forming dry land - will build on this order, moving closer to a world where plants, animals, and people can thrive.
The Heavens Declare God's Glory and Point to Christ the Creator
The act of forming the expanse is a foundation for worship and a glimpse of the one who holds all things together, not merely atmosphere.
Psalm 19:1 says, 'The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork,' showing that the sky God formed on day two still speaks today, revealing His power and care without a single word. In the New Testament, this idea grows: Jesus is described as the one through whom all things were made (John 1:3) and the one who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). He is the Creator of the expanse and the reason it still holds firm.
The sky isn’t just a part of creation - it’s a daily declaration of the Creator’s power and glory.
The next step in creation will bring dry land and seas, but already we see a pattern - God speaks, and His Word creates and sustains, pointing forward to Jesus, the Word who brought everything into being.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine feeling overwhelmed - your thoughts swirling like chaotic waters, your schedule a mess, your heart heavy with guilt or worry. That’s where many of us live daily. But Genesis 1:6-7 reminds us that the same God who spoke an expanse into the chaos, bringing order to formless waters, is still at work today. He observes our mess and steps into it. He structured the sky to make life possible. Similarly, He wants to bring clarity and calm to your confusion, to carve out space for peace in your storm. This isn’t magic - it’s the power of a Creator who specializes in making habitable places out of hopeless ones.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life do I feel like things are formless or chaotic, and what would it look like to invite God to bring His order there?
- How can I trust God’s control over the 'waters above and below' - the things I can’t see or manage - given His actions in creation?
- In what ways have I overlooked the sky, the weather, or the air I breathe as daily signs of God’s sustaining care and creativity?
A Challenge For You
This week, take five minutes each day to step outside, look up at the sky, and remember: this expanse was spoken into being by God. Let it remind you that He brings order out of chaos. Then, write down one area of your life that feels messy, and pray, asking God to bring His clarity and structure to it.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank You for not leaving the world in chaos. You spoke and brought order, making a sky that holds back the waters and gives us air to breathe. I trust that You can do the same in my messy thoughts, my busy life, and my hidden fears. Bring Your peace where I feel scattered. Help me see Your hand in the sky above and in the details of my day. Thank You for being a God who creates - and re-creates - with purpose.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Genesis 1:5
Marks the end of the first day, setting the stage for God’s work on the second day.
Genesis 1:8
God names the expanse 'Heaven,' completing the creative act described in verses 6 - 7.
Connections Across Scripture
Psalm 19:1
Connects the expanse to the ongoing declaration of God’s glory in creation.
Colossians 1:16-17
Affirms that all things, including the heavens, were created through and sustained by Christ.
Jeremiah 4:23
Echoes Genesis 1:2, showing God’s power to bring order from chaos in judgment and renewal.