Genesis 1:10

Berean Standard Bible

God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

King James Bible

And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

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The text of Genesis 1:10, as presented in the New International Version, reads: “God called the dry ground ‘land,’ and the gathered waters he called ‘seas.’ And God saw that it was good.” This verse, situated within the majestic creation account of Genesis 1, forms part of the narrative of the third day of creation, where God separates the waters to form dry land and seas. As a foundational text in the biblical canon, Genesis 1:10 carries profound theological weight, revealing God’s sovereign power, purposeful order, and benevolent evaluation of His creation. To fully explore its significance, we must consider its literary and historical context, its connections to the broader biblical narrative, its theological implications for God’s character and creation, and its practical relevance for humanity’s relationship with the created world, while attending to the nuances of the Hebrew text and its role in shaping Judeo-Christian thought.

Genesis 1:1-31 presents a carefully structured account of God creating the cosmos in six days, with each day marked by divine speech, action, and evaluation. Verse 10 concludes the second creative act of the third day (following the separation of the waters to create the sky in verses 6-8), where God gathers the waters under the heavens to reveal dry ground and form seas. The literary structure of Genesis 1 is rhythmic, with repeated phrases like “And God said,” “And it was so,” and “God saw that it was good,” emphasizing divine authority and the goodness of creation. The immediate context of verse 10 follows God’s command in verse 9, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear,” which is fulfilled with the words, “And it was so.” Verse 10 then records God’s act of naming the elements—land and seas—and His assessment of their goodness, a pattern that underscores His sovereign ordering of the cosmos.

In the Hebrew text, the verse reads: Vayyiqra’ Elohim layyabbashah ’erets ul’miqveh hammayim qara’ yammim vayyar’ Elohim ki-tov. The verb qara’ (“called”) highlights God’s authority to name, a significant act in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where naming signified dominion and purpose. By naming the dry ground ’erets (“land” or “earth”) and the gathered waters yammim (“seas”), God assigns identity and function to these elements, distinguishing them from the formless and void state of Genesis 1:2. The term miqveh (“gathered”) emphasizes the intentional collection of waters into defined spaces, contrasting with the chaotic, undifferentiated waters of the primordial state. The phrase vayyar’ Elohim ki-tov (“And God saw that it was good”) is a recurring refrain in Genesis 1 (e.g., verses 4, 12, 18), affirming the inherent goodness, order, and suitability of creation for God’s purposes. The adjective tov (“good”) in Hebrew connotes not only aesthetic beauty but also functional integrity and moral perfection, reflecting creation’s alignment with God’s will.

Theologically, Genesis 1:10 reveals several key attributes of God. First, it underscores His sovereignty as Creator. Unlike ancient Near Eastern myths, where gods battle chaotic forces (e.g., Marduk defeating Tiamat in the Babylonian Enuma Elish), Genesis presents God as effortlessly commanding the waters to gather, with no opposition. The waters, often symbolic of chaos in ancient literature (e.g., Psalm 74:13; Job 26:12), are fully subject to God’s word, highlighting His unrivaled power. Second, the act of naming reflects God’s purposeful design, as ’erets and yammim are not random but ordered for habitation and flourishing, preparing the way for vegetation (verse 11) and human life (verse 26). Third, the declaration “it was good” reveals God’s benevolent character, as creation is not merely functional but inherently valuable, designed to reflect His glory and sustain life. This contrasts with dualistic worldviews that view matter as evil, affirming the material world’s goodness as God’s handiwork.

The verse also connects to the broader biblical narrative. The separation of land and seas echoes the covenantal promise to Noah after the flood, where God reestablishes the boundaries of earth and water (Genesis 8:22; 9:11), signaling His faithfulness to sustain creation. The naming of ’erets foreshadows the land as the stage for God’s redemptive plan, particularly the promised land given to Israel (Genesis 12:1; Exodus 3:8). The seas (yammim), while often associated with danger or chaos in Scripture (e.g., Psalm 107:23-26; Jonah 1:4), are under God’s control, as seen in the exodus (Exodus 14:21-22) and Christ’s calming of the storm (Mark 4:39). The goodness of creation in Genesis 1:10 anticipates the eschatological vision of Revelation 21:1, where the sea is “no more,” symbolizing the final removal of chaos and the full realization of God’s ordered kingdom. Christologically, the verse points to Christ as the Word through whom all things were created (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), whose creative power in Genesis 1:10 is fulfilled in His redemptive work, restoring creation’s goodness (Romans 8:19-21).

In its ancient Near Eastern context, Genesis 1:10 would have been a bold theological statement. Mesopotamian and Canaanite cosmogonies often depicted creation as the result of divine conflict, with seas personified as chaotic deities. Genesis 1, however, presents a monotheistic worldview where Elohim alone creates by His word, with no rival powers. The naming of land and seas asserts God’s dominion over elements that other cultures revered or feared, proclaiming His supremacy to an Israelite audience surrounded by polytheistic neighbors. For the original audience, likely exiles or post-exilic Israelites, this verse would have reinforced God’s power to order their chaotic world, offering hope amid displacement.

Practically, Genesis 1:10 has significant implications for humanity’s relationship with creation. The goodness of the land and seas calls believers to stewardship, recognizing the earth as God’s gift to be cared for, not exploited (Genesis 2:15). The verse challenges modern environmental neglect, urging respect for the boundaries and purposes God assigned to creation. Theologically, it invites reflection on God’s faithfulness, as the stability of land and seas reflects His covenantal commitment to sustain the world (Psalm 104:5-9). For believers, the “goodness” of creation points to worship, as the created order testifies to God’s glory (Psalm 19:1). The verse also offers comfort in times of chaos, assuring believers that the God who ordered the waters remains sovereign over life’s uncertainties.

In conclusion, Genesis 1:10 is a theologically rich verse that reveals God’s sovereign power, purposeful design, and benevolent character in creation. By naming the land and seas and declaring them good, God establishes an ordered, life-sustaining world that reflects His glory and prepares the way for humanity’s vocation. Rooted in the literary structure of Genesis 1 and resonating with the broader biblical narrative, the verse counters ancient and modern worldviews that deify or devalue the material world, affirming its goodness as God’s handiwork. For believers, it calls for worship, stewardship, and trust in the Creator who brings order out of chaos and sustains His creation for His redemptive purposes. As a foundational text, Genesis 1:10 invites contemplation of God’s majesty and humanity’s place within His good creation, pointing ultimately to the hope of a renewed heavens and earth in Christ.

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Beloved saints of God, people formed not by accident but by divine purpose, grace and peace be to you in the name of the Creator and Redeemer, the One who spoke light into the darkness and order into the chaos. Today, we stand before one of the earliest utterances of the Almighty recorded in Scripture, a verse that may seem small in length but is deep as the oceans it describes and firm as the land it proclaims. “God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”

In this holy moment of creation, we are not merely given a description of geography or an account of material formation. We are invited to see through the eyes of God. We are drawn into the heart of divine purpose. For what God forms, He names. What He names, He sets in order. And what He sets in order, He calls good. Do not overlook the power of these divine actions. God calls, God separates, God names, and then He beholds His work—not with apathy, not with hesitation, but with delight.

When God called the dry land Earth, He gave it identity. When He gathered the waters into Seas, He gave them boundaries. And when He saw what He had made, He declared it good. And so we see in this one verse the sovereign activity of a God who brings clarity to chaos, who brings beauty through boundaries, who brings goodness through governance.

The earth did not name itself. The seas did not choose their borders. All things in creation find their origin, their identity, and their purpose through the voice of God. So it must be with us. O Church, remember this: we do not self-define. We do not assign our own boundaries or forge our own identity. We are what He calls us. We are who He says we are. And when He looks upon what He has made in righteousness, He says, “It is good.”

In a generation that rejects limits and despises definitions, Genesis 1:10 confronts us with a holy truth: that God’s creative love includes distinction. He does not blend the land with the sea, but He draws a line between them. He makes each according to its purpose. The land is for habitation, the sea for its depths. Each is glorious. Each is necessary. And each fulfills its design only within its divinely appointed place.

The boundaries of God are not barriers to life; they are the framework of fruitfulness. When He sets the boundaries for the sea, He is not diminishing it—He is shaping it to roar and surge with majesty within His command. When He gathers the waters and lets dry land appear, He is not diminishing the water—He is making room for new creation to flourish. The limits God places are not limitations in the worldly sense; they are the borders of blessing.

And so it is with our lives. Are we not also formed by the gathering and separating work of God? Does He not gather our scattered pieces, bring order to our chaos, and call us by name? Does He not distinguish what is holy from what is profane, what is eternal from what is temporary, what is light from what is darkness? The gospel itself is a great dividing act—separating death from life, sin from righteousness, and the old man from the new. And after that sacred separation, God looks upon His work in us and calls it good—not because of what we have done, but because of what He is doing in us.

What peace there is in knowing that our God is not a God of confusion, but of order. What strength there is in trusting that He who established the foundations of the earth can also establish your life. What joy there is in hearing the Creator say, “It is good.” And what hope there is in knowing that even when the earth was formless and void, even when darkness was on the face of the deep, the Spirit of God was hovering, waiting to bring beauty from the void.

Today, if your life feels like deep water, if your soul is without form, if your identity feels lost, turn again to the God who calls the earth out of the sea. Turn again to the One who names, who orders, and who sees. Let Him name you. Let Him separate you from what defiles. Let Him define your borders and purpose. For it is only in His ordering that we find peace. It is only in His calling that we find identity. And it is only in His seeing that we are truly known.

He calls the land Earth. He calls the waters Seas. He calls you Beloved. He calls you My people. And one day, He will call your name and you will rise. For the God who created the land and the sea is the same God who re-creates hearts and raises the dead. His Word does not change. His eye does not grow dim. And still, when He looks upon His work in the light of His Son, He declares, “It is good.”

So then, Church of the Living God, rest in His design. Stand firm on the dry land of His truth. Trust in the boundaries He has set. Do not be swept away by the seas of confusion or the waves of rebellion. Stand where He has placed you. Shine where He has formed you. And rejoice that the One who made heaven and earth is not done speaking, not done calling, not done blessing.

For the day is coming when the heavens will be made new and the earth renewed. The seas will roar no more with judgment, but will sing with praise. And the same voice that spoke in Genesis will speak again: “Behold, I make all things new.”

Until then, may we remain faithful. May we hear the voice that speaks order into our lives. And may we, too, be found good in the eyes of our God. Amen.

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O Lord Most High, Creator of the heavens and the earth, we bow before You in holy reverence and deep gratitude. You are the God who was in the beginning, who speaks and it is done, who commands and it stands fast. You are the God who draws out light from darkness, order from chaos, purpose from emptiness. We stand in awe of Your wisdom, Your sovereignty, and the beauty of Your ways.

In the beginning, O God, You hovered over the face of the deep, and by the breath of Your mouth You began to speak the universe into being. And when You gathered the waters, when You caused the dry land to appear, You called it Earth, and the seas You named Seas, and You saw that it was good. You did not create in confusion, but in clarity. You did not speak disorder, but design. You separated and defined, You named and delighted, and we stand today as those who live within the masterpiece of Your Word.

Holy Father, teach us to see as You see. Train our hearts to love the distinctions You make, to embrace the order You establish, and to walk in the goodness You declare. In a world that blurs lines and mocks limits, help us to rejoice in the boundaries that bless. You, O Lord, have made the land firm and the waters deep, and each according to its purpose glorifies You. So let our lives also reflect that same divine order. Let our hearts be shaped by Your Word, our minds renewed by Your truth, our steps guided by Your wisdom.

Lord, we confess that we have often rebelled against the borders You set. We have tried to build our own kingdoms without foundations. We have attempted to define ourselves by the winds of culture instead of the breath of Your Spirit. We have mixed what You have separated and blurred what You have made clear. Forgive us, O God. Cleanse us from our confusion and rebellion. Bring our hearts back into alignment with the rhythm of creation, the cadence of heaven’s order.

We ask, Almighty God, that You would once again gather what has been scattered in us. Where the waters of our soul have been restless, speak peace. Where the land of our life has remained barren, call forth fruitfulness. Separate us from the flood of sin. Set our feet on solid ground. Name us again—not by what the world says, but by what You call us. Call us Your people. Call us beloved. Call us redeemed. For You alone have the power to speak identity into existence. You alone have the right to name what You have formed.

God of beginnings, we thank You that Your gaze sees the end from the start. You saw the land and the sea and You called it good—not because it was finished, but because it was right, because it was Yours, because it bore Your purpose. And so, we take hope today: if You saw the beginning of creation and called it good, then surely You can look upon the humble beginnings of our faith, our calling, our surrender—and declare it good as well. Not because we are perfect, but because Your will is being done in us.

We lift up Your Church to You, Lord, Your chosen people scattered across the earth like dry lands among many seas. Let Your Spirit gather us into unity without compromise. Let us be distinct in holiness, unwavering in truth, fruitful in the land You have given. Let Your Word continue to shape us, to correct and to cultivate. May Your eye find delight in us as it did in creation’s first rising. May You once again say of Your people, “It is good.”

Let the restless waves of unbelief be stilled. Let the foundations of truth be revealed. Let the Spirit hover once more over the deep. Let the land rise again where it has sunk. Let the Church, like the earth in the beginning, take its shape beneath the power of Your voice.

And Lord, we do not only ask for a restoration of order in our lives and churches, but also in our nations, in our families, and in our world. Where the flood of evil threatens to drown truth, gather the waters and let dry land appear. Where confusion reigns, bring Your creative word. Where identity is lost, speak again with naming power. Where goodness has been forgotten, cause the world to remember that You are the One who defines it.

We bless You, Creator and King, for You are not a silent observer but a speaking, shaping, naming, delighting God. You are the God who calls forth good from the dust and purpose from the void. You are not finished with creation, and You are not finished with us.

So we yield to Your voice. We bow to Your design. We embrace Your definitions. We rejoice in Your sight. Let our lives reflect the beauty of Your beginning. Let us be as land made firm by Your Word. Let us be as seas held in reverent boundary by Your command. And let our whole being, body and soul, rise up in agreement with You, saying yes and amen to all You have said is good.

In the name of the Word who was with God and was God, in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom all things were made and by whom all things hold together, we pray.

Amen.