Genesis 1:6

God said, “Let there be an expanse ¹  in the midst of the waters and let it separate water ²  from water.

biblegateway Gen 1:6

And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

biblegateway Gen 1:6

Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."

biblegateway Gen 1:6

And God said, "Let there be space between the waters, to separate water from water."

biblegateway Gen 1:6

God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!"

SABDAweb Gen 1:6

And God said, Let there be a solid arch stretching over the waters, parting the waters from the waters.

bibleoremus Gen 1:6

And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."

biblegateway Gen 1:6

Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."

biblegateway Gen 1:6

God said, “Let there be an expanse ¹  in the midst of the waters and let it separate water ²  from water.

¹ tn The Hebrew word refers to an expanse of air pressure between the surface of the sea and the clouds, separating water below from water above. In v. 8 it is called “sky.”

¹ sn An expanse. In the poetic texts the writers envision, among other things, something rather strong and shiny, no doubt influencing the traditional translation “firmament” (cf. NRSV “dome”). Job 37:18 refers to the skies poured out like a molten mirror. Dan 12:3 and Ezek 1:22 portray it as shiny. The sky or atmosphere may have seemed like a glass dome. For a detailed study of the Hebrew conception of the heavens and sky, see L. I. J. Stadelmann, The Hebrew Conception of the World (AnBib), 37-60.

² tn Heb “the waters from the waters.”