Menu
Bible Gateway Plus logo
Bible Gateway logo
account
Share feedback on the new Bible Gateway
Bible Gateway Plus logo
Bible Gateway logo
Share feedback on the new Bible Gateway
  • Read
    • Reading Plans
    • Advanced Search
    • Available Versions
    • Audio Bibles
  • Study
    • Scripture Engagement
    • More Resources
  • Explore
    • Bible News
    • Newsletters
    • Devotionals
    • Bible Gateway App
    • Bible Audio App
  • Store
    • Bibles
    • Deals
    • More
  • Bible Gateway Plus
NIV
Version
Bible Books Bible Books
NIV
Version
Read
Study
Explore
Store
Bible Gateway Plus
Light Mode Dark Mode
Font Size
Log In show menu
Next
Listen to Genesis 1-2AudioPrint PrintSettingsSettingsShare ShareParallelParallelExpandExpandCollapse

Genesis 1-2  New International Version

The Beginning

1 In the beginning(A) God created(B) the heavens(C) and the earth.(D) 2 Now the earth was formless(E) and empty,(F) darkness was over the surface of the deep,(G) and the Spirit of God(H) was hovering(I) over the waters.

3 And God said,(J) “Let there be light,” and there was light.(K) 4 God saw that the light was good,(L) and he separated the light from the darkness.(M) 5 God called(N) the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.”(O) And there was evening, and there was morning(P)—the first day.

6 And God said,(Q) “Let there be a vault(R) between the waters(S) to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it.(T) And it was so.(U) 8 God called(V) the vault “sky.”(W) And there was evening, and there was morning(X)—the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place,(Y) and let dry ground(Z) appear.” And it was so.(AA) 10 God called(AB) the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters(AC) he called “seas.”(AD) And God saw that it was good.(AE)

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation:(AF) seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.(AG)” And it was so.(AH) 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds(AI) and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.(AJ) 13 And there was evening, and there was morning(AK)—the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights(AL) in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night,(AM) and let them serve as signs(AN) to mark sacred times,(AO) and days and years,(AP) 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.(AQ) 16 God made two great lights—the greater light(AR) to govern(AS) the day and the lesser light to govern(AT) the night.(AU) He also made the stars.(AV) 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night,(AW) and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.(AX) 19 And there was evening, and there was morning(AY)—the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures,(AZ) and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”(BA) 21 So God created(BB) the great creatures of the sea(BC) and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it,(BD) according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind.(BE) And God saw that it was good.(BF) 22 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.”(BG) 23 And there was evening, and there was morning(BH)—the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures(BI) according to their kinds:(BJ) the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so.(BK) 25 God made the wild animals(BL) according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds.(BM) And God saw that it was good.(BN)

26 Then God said, “Let us(BO) make mankind(BP) in our image,(BQ) in our likeness,(BR) so that they may rule(BS) over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,(BT) over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created(BU) mankind(BV) in his own image,(BW)
    in the image of God(BX) he created them;
    male and female(BY) he created them.(BZ)

28 God blessed them and said to them,(CA) “Be fruitful and increase in number;(CB) fill the earth(CC) and subdue it. Rule over(CD) the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.(CE)”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.(CF) 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life(CG) in it—I give every green plant for food.(CH)” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made,(CI) and it was very good.(CJ) And there was evening, and there was morning(CK)—the sixth day.

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.(CL)

2 By the seventh day(CM) God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.(CN) 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,(CO) because on it he rested(CP) from all the work of creating(CQ) that he had done.

Adam and Eve

4 This is the account(CR) of the heavens and the earth when they were created,(CS) when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[b] and no plant had yet sprung up,(CT) for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth(CU) and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams[c] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed(CV) a man[d](CW) from the dust(CX) of the ground(CY) and breathed into his nostrils the breath(CZ) of life,(DA) and the man became a living being.(DB)

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden;(DC) and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees(DD) that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life(DE) and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.(DF)

10 A river(DG) watering the garden flowed from Eden;(DH) from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah,(DI) where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[e](DJ) and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.[f] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris;(DK) it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.(DL)

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden(DM) to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;(DN) 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,(DO) for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”(DP)

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(DQ)

19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals(DR) and all the birds in the sky.(DS) He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called(DT) each living creature,(DU) that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

But for Adam[g] no suitable helper(DV) was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;(DW) and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[h] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[i](DX) he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;(DY)
she shall be called(DZ) ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.(EA)”

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united(EB) to his wife, and they become one flesh.(EC)

25 Adam and his wife were both naked,(ED) and they felt no shame.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 1:26 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see Syriac); Masoretic Text the earth
  2. Genesis 2:5 Or land; also in verse 6
  3. Genesis 2:6 Or mist
  4. Genesis 2:7 The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah); it is also the name Adam (see verse 20).
  5. Genesis 2:12 Or good; pearls
  6. Genesis 2:13 Possibly southeast Mesopotamia
  7. Genesis 2:20 Or the man
  8. Genesis 2:21 Or took part of the man’s side
  9. Genesis 2:22 Or part

Cross references

  1. Genesis 1:1 : Ps 102:25; Pr 8:23; Isa 40:21; 41:4, 26; Jn 1:1-2
  2. Genesis 1:1 : ver 21, 27; Ge 2:3
  3. Genesis 1:1 : ver 6; Ne 9:6; Job 9:8; 37:18; Ps 96:5; 104:2; 115:15; 121:2; 136:5; Isa 40:22; 42:5; 51:13; Jer 10:12; 51:15
  4. Genesis 1:1 : Ge 14:19; 2Ki 19:15; Ne 9:6; Job 38:4; Ps 90:2; 136:6; 146:6; Isa 37:16; 40:28; 42:5; 44:24; 45:12, 18; Jer 27:5; 32:17; Ac 14:15; 17:24; Eph 3:9; Col 1:16; Heb 3:4; 11:3; Rev 4:11; 10:6
  5. Genesis 1:2 : Isa 23:1; 24:10; 27:10; 32:14; 34:11
  6. Genesis 1:2 : Isa 45:18; Jer 4:23
  7. Genesis 1:2 : Ge 8:2; Job 7:12; 26:8; 38:9; Ps 36:6; 42:7; 104:6; 107:24; Pr 30:4
  8. Genesis 1:2 : Ge 2:7; Job 33:4; Ps 104:30; Isa 32:15
  9. Genesis 1:2 : Dt 32:11; Isa 31:5
  10. Genesis 1:3 : ver 6; Ps 33:6, 9; 148:5; Heb 11:3
  11. Genesis 1:3 : 2Co 4:6*; 1Jn 1:5-7
  12. Genesis 1:4 : ver 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31; Ps 104:31; 119:68; Jer 31:35
  13. Genesis 1:4 : ver 14; Ex 10:21-23; Job 26:10; 38:19; Ps 18:28; 104:20; 105:28; Isa 42:16; 45:7
  14. Genesis 1:5 : ver 8, 10; Ge 2:19, 23
  15. Genesis 1:5 : Ps 74:16
  16. Genesis 1:5 : ver 8, 13, 19, 23, 31
  17. Genesis 1:6 : S ver 3
  18. Genesis 1:6 : S ver 1; Isa 44:24; 2Pe 3:5
  19. Genesis 1:6 : ver 9; Ps 24:2; 136:6
  20. Genesis 1:7 : Ge 7:11; Job 26:10; 38:8-11, 16; Ps 68:33; 148:4; Pr 8:28
  21. Genesis 1:7 : ver 9, 11, 15, 24
  22. Genesis 1:8 : S ver 5
  23. Genesis 1:8 : Job 9:8; 37:18; Ps 19:1; 104:2; Isa 40:22; 44:24; 45:12; Jer 10:12; Zec 12:1
  24. Genesis 1:8 : S ver 5
  25. Genesis 1:9 : Job 38:8-11; Ps 33:7; 104:6-9; Pr 8:29; Jer 5:22; 2Pe 3:5
  26. Genesis 1:9 : Ps 95:5; Jnh 1:9; Hag 2:6
  27. Genesis 1:9 : S ver 7
  28. Genesis 1:10 : S ver 5
  29. Genesis 1:10 : Ps 33:7
  30. Genesis 1:10 : Job 38:8; Ps 90:2; 95:5
  31. Genesis 1:10 : S ver 4
  32. Genesis 1:11 : Ps 65:9-13; 104:14
  33. Genesis 1:11 : ver 12, 21, 24, 25; Ge 2:5; 6:20; 7:14; Lev 11:14, 19, 22; Dt 14:13, 18; 1Co 15:38
  34. Genesis 1:11 : S ver 7
  35. Genesis 1:12 : S ver 11
  36. Genesis 1:12 : S ver 4
  37. Genesis 1:13 : S ver 5
  38. Genesis 1:14 : Ps 74:16; 136:7
  39. Genesis 1:14 : S ver 4
  40. Genesis 1:14 : Jer 10:2
  41. Genesis 1:14 : Ps 104:19
  42. Genesis 1:14 : Ge 8:22; Jer 31:35-36; 33:20, 25
  43. Genesis 1:15 : S ver 7
  44. Genesis 1:16 : Dt 17:3; Job 31:26; Jer 43:13; Eze 8:16
  45. Genesis 1:16 : Ps 136:8
  46. Genesis 1:16 : Ps 136:9
  47. Genesis 1:16 : Job 38:33; Ps 74:16; 104:19; Jer 31:35; Jas 1:17
  48. Genesis 1:16 : Dt 4:19; Job 9:9; 38:7, 31-32; Ps 8:3; 33:6; Ecc 12:2; Isa 40:26; Jer 8:2; Am 5:8
  49. Genesis 1:18 : Jer 33:20, 25
  50. Genesis 1:18 : S ver 4
  51. Genesis 1:19 : S ver 5
  52. Genesis 1:20 : Ps 146:6
  53. Genesis 1:20 : Ge 2:19
  54. Genesis 1:21 : S ver 1
  55. Genesis 1:21 : Job 3:8; 7:12; Ps 74:13; 148:7; Isa 27:1; Eze 32:2
  56. Genesis 1:21 : Ps 104:25-26
  57. Genesis 1:21 : S ver 11
  58. Genesis 1:21 : S ver 4
  59. Genesis 1:22 : ver 28; Ge 8:17; 9:1, 7, 19; 47:27; Lev 26:9; Eze 36:11
  60. Genesis 1:23 : S ver 5
  61. Genesis 1:24 : Ge 2:19
  62. Genesis 1:24 : S ver 11
  63. Genesis 1:24 : S ver 7
  64. Genesis 1:25 : Ge 7:21-22; Jer 27:5
  65. Genesis 1:25 : S ver 11
  66. Genesis 1:25 : S ver 4
  67. Genesis 1:26 : Ge 3:5, 22; 11:7; Ps 100:3; Isa 6:8
  68. Genesis 1:26 : Isa 45:18
  69. Genesis 1:26 : ver 27; Ge 5:3; 9:6; Ps 8:5; 82:6; 89:6; 1Co 11:7; 2Co 4:4; Col 1:15; 3:10; Jas 3:9
  70. Genesis 1:26 : Ac 17:28-29
  71. Genesis 1:26 : Ge 9:2; Ps 8:6-8
  72. Genesis 1:26 : Ps 8:8
  73. Genesis 1:27 : S ver 1
  74. Genesis 1:27 : Ge 2:7; Ps 103:14; 119:73
  75. Genesis 1:27 : S ver 26
  76. Genesis 1:27 : Ge 5:1
  77. Genesis 1:27 : Ge 5:2; Mt 19:4*; Mk 10:6*; Gal 3:28
  78. Genesis 1:27 : Dt 4:32
  79. Genesis 1:28 : Ge 33:5; Jos 24:3; Ps 113:9; 127:3, 5
  80. Genesis 1:28 : S Ge 17:6
  81. Genesis 1:28 : S ver 22; Ge 6:1; Ac 17:26
  82. Genesis 1:28 : ver 26; Ps 115:16
  83. Genesis 1:28 : Ps 8:6-8
  84. Genesis 1:29 : Ge 9:3; Dt 12:15; Ps 104:14; 1Ti 4:3
  85. Genesis 1:30 : Ge 2:7; 7:22
  86. Genesis 1:30 : Job 38:41; Ps 78:25; 104:14, 27; 111:5; 136:25; 145:15; 147:9
  87. Genesis 1:31 : Ps 104:24; 136:5; Pr 3:19; Jer 10:12
  88. Genesis 1:31 : S ver 4; 1Ti 4:4
  89. Genesis 1:31 : S ver 5
  90. Genesis 2:1 : Dt 4:19; 17:3; 2Ki 17:16; 21:3; Ps 104:2; Isa 44:24; 45:12; 48:13; 51:13
  91. Genesis 2:2 : Dt 5:14
  92. Genesis 2:2 : ver 2-3; Ex 20:11; 31:17; 34:21; Jn 5:17; Heb 4:4*
  93. Genesis 2:3 : Ex 16:23; 20:10; 23:12; 31:15; 35:2; Lev 23:3; Ne 9:14; Isa 58:13; Jer 17:22
  94. Genesis 2:3 : Ps 95:11; Heb 4:1-11
  95. Genesis 2:3 : S Ge 1:1
  96. Genesis 2:4 : Ge 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1, 9; 37:2
  97. Genesis 2:4 : Ge 1:1; Job 38:8-11
  98. Genesis 2:5 : Ge 1:11
  99. Genesis 2:5 : Job 38:28; Ps 65:9-10; Jer 10:13
  100. Genesis 2:7 : Isa 29:16; 43:1, 21; 44:2
  101. Genesis 2:7 : S Ge 1:27
  102. Genesis 2:7 : Ge 3:19; 18:27; Job 4:19; 10:9; 17:16; 34:15; Ps 90:3; Ecc 3:20; 12:7
  103. Genesis 2:7 : Ge 3:23; 4:2; Ps 103:14; Jer 18:6; 1Co 15:47
  104. Genesis 2:7 : S Ge 1:2; Job 27:3; Isa 2:22
  105. Genesis 2:7 : S Ge 1:30; Isa 42:5; Ac 17:25
  106. Genesis 2:7 : Job 12:10; 32:8; 33:4; 34:14; Ps 104:29; Isa 57:16; Eze 37:5; 1Co 15:45*
  107. Genesis 2:8 : ver 10, 15; Ge 3:23, 24; 4:16; 13:10; Isa 51:3; Eze 28:13; 31:9, 16; 36:35; Joel 2:3
  108. Genesis 2:9 : Eze 31:8
  109. Genesis 2:9 : Ge 3:22, 24; Pr 3:18; 11:30; S Rev 2:7
  110. Genesis 2:9 : Eze 47:12
  111. Genesis 2:10 : Nu 24:6; Ps 46:4; Eze 47:5
  112. Genesis 2:10 : S ver 8
  113. Genesis 2:11 : Ge 10:7; 25:18
  114. Genesis 2:12 : Nu 11:7
  115. Genesis 2:14 : Ge 41:1; Da 10:4
  116. Genesis 2:14 : Ge 15:18; 31:21; Ex 23:31; Nu 22:5; Dt 1:7; 11:24; Jos 1:4; 2Sa 8:3; 1Ki 4:21; 2Ki 23:29; 24:7; 1Ch 5:9; 18:3; 2Ch 35:20; Jer 13:4; 46:2; 51:63; S Rev 9:14
  117. Genesis 2:15 : S ver 8
  118. Genesis 2:16 : Ge 3:1-2
  119. Genesis 2:17 : Ge 3:11, 17
  120. Genesis 2:17 : Ge 3:1, 3; 5:5; 9:29; Dt 30:15, 19; Jer 42:16; Eze 3:18; S Ro 5:12; S 6:23
  121. Genesis 2:18 : Pr 31:11; 1Co 11:9; 1Ti 2:13
  122. Genesis 2:19 : Ps 8:7
  123. Genesis 2:19 : S Ge 1:20
  124. Genesis 2:19 : S Ge 1:5
  125. Genesis 2:19 : Ge 1:24
  126. Genesis 2:20 : Ge 3:20; 4:1
  127. Genesis 2:21 : Ge 15:12; 1Sa 26:12; Job 33:15
  128. Genesis 2:22 : 1Co 11:8, 9, 12; 1Ti 2:13
  129. Genesis 2:23 : Ge 29:14; Eph 5:28-30
  130. Genesis 2:23 : S Ge 1:5
  131. Genesis 2:23 : 1Co 11:8
  132. Genesis 2:24 : Mal 2:15
  133. Genesis 2:24 : Mt 19:5*; Mk 10:7-8*; 1Co 6:16*; Eph 5:31*
  134. Genesis 2:25 : Ge 3:7, 10-11; Isa 47:3; La 1:8
Genesis 3
Next
dropdown
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

NIV Foundation Study Bible

More on the NIV

  • Unleash God's Word!

Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV Application Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Bringing the Ancient Message of the Bible into Your World
NIV Application Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Bringing the Ancient Message of the Bible into Your World
Retail: $54.99
Our Price: $35.00
Save: $19.99 (36%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Retail: $19.98
Our Price: $7.50
Save: $12.48 (62%)
Buy Now
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible, Gilded Edges, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible, Gilded Edges, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles
Bible Gateway Plus logo
Bible Gateway logo

Font Size

Font Size

Dark Mode

Light Mode Dark Mode

About

  • About
  • Learn About the Bible
  • Statement of Faith
  • Mobile App
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Newsroom
  • Support Us

Help

  • FAQs
  • Tutorials
  • Use Bible Gateway on Your Site
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Site: Terms of use
  • Widget: Terms of use

Our Network

  • FaithGateway
  • StudyGateway
  • ChurchSource
  • HarperCollins Christian Publishing
  • Grupo Nelson
  • Editorial Vida
  • Thomas Nelson
  • WestBow Press
  • Zondervan
  • MasterLectures

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Preferences

  • Versión en español
  • Preferences
Sign Up for Bible Gateway: News & Knowledge
Get weekly Bible news, info, reflections, and deals in your inbox.

By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, operated by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 501 Nelson Pl, Nashville, TN 37214 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateway’s emails at any time. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com.

Preferences

  • Versión en español
  • Preferences