Trinitarian Implications of Genesis 1:20-22
Genesis 1:20-22 describes the fifth day of creation, focusing on the emergence of aquatic life and birds. The passage, in the Tyndale translation, reads: "And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth" [1].
The literary context places this passage within the broader creation account of Genesis 1, where God systematically brings order and life into existence through spoken commands. Each creative act is followed by God's assessment that "it was good," culminating in the blessing and command to "be fruitful and multiply" [1]. This command is specifically given to the creatures of the sea and air, marking the first instance of a divine blessing in the biblical narrative.
While the passage does not explicitly mention the Trinity, some theological traditions interpret the plural pronouns used elsewhere in Genesis, such as "Let us make man in our image" (Genesis 1:26), as hinting at a plurality within the Godhead [3]. However, Genesis 1:20-22 itself primarily emphasizes God's singular creative power and authority. The repeated phrase "God said" and "God created" underscores a monotheistic understanding of creation.
The blessing in verse 22, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth," highlights God's desire for life to flourish and propagate [1]. This command is echoed later in the creation of humanity (Genesis 9:1) [4]. The phrase "after their kind" (Genesis 1:21) emphasizes the distinct categories of created life, a concept also seen in descriptions of animals entering Noah's ark (Genesis 6:20) [2].
The passage functions as a foundational text for understanding God as the sovereign creator of all life, particularly marine and avian species. It establishes the divine origin of the natural world and the inherent goodness of creation.
Sources
- Genesis “Genesis 1:22 (Tyndale) — and God blessed them saynge. Growe and multiplye ad fyll the waters of the sees and let the foules multiplye vpo the erth.”
- Genesis “Genesis 6:20 (LITV) — from the birds according to its kind, and from the cattle according to its kind, from every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind. Two from each shall come in to you to keep alive.”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 3:22: 3:22 like us: The plural probably reflects God’s conversation with his angelic court (see study note on 1:26). • the tree of life . . . live forever! Mercifully, God prevented humankind from eating of the tree of life and having to live forever in a fallen state. Through Jesus Christ, however, eternal life is once again made available (see Rev 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 28.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1-6 1:1-31 1:2 1:28 1:29-30 2:1 2:1-25 2:15 2:19 3:1 3:1-24 3:7 3:16 4:1 4:1-26 4:7 5:1 5:1-32 6:1 6:1-22 6:11-16 7:1-24 7:11 8:1-22 9:1 9:1 9:1-29 9:2 9:24 10 10:1 10:1 10:1-32 10:21 11:1 11:1 11:1-32 11:28 12:1 12:1 12:1 12:1-20 12:4 12:4 12:6 13:1 13:1-20 14:1-24 15:1-21 15:7 16:1-16 16:2 16:8 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1-27 18:1 18:1 18:1-33 18:19 19:1-38 20:1 20:1 20:1-18 21:1-34 21:15 22:1-24 22:18 23:1-20 24:31 25:1 25:13-16 35:7 48:1 Exodus 6:3 12:40 Leviticus 7:18 17:4 18:25 Numbers 6:2”