Genesis 1:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here again, He curtails the audacity of those who speak carelessly about creation. To prevent anyone from questioning, “Why were whales made? What benefit do they provide? What is the purpose of their existence?”—Moses, with clarity, reiterates: "And God created the great sea creatures, and every living thing that the waters produced according to their kind; and every winged fowl according to its kind,” immediately following with, "And God saw that it was good." He admonishes us not to disparage God’s creations due to a lack of understanding regarding their purpose. Have you heard the Lord declare, "This is good?" How foolish it is for you to ask what purpose was served by their creation and to belittle them as if they were unnecessary. If you have wisdom, you could recognize within the creation of these beings the might and unfathomable love of God: His power is evident in the command that brought them into being, and His love is shown in their existence, established in the vast oceans, where they do not endanger others, but instead inhabit the waters, showcasing the supreme authority of the Creator without posing a threat to humanity. Do you deem it insignificant that they benefit you doubly? They guide the wise toward the knowledge of God and enable them to marvel at His tremendous compassion in delivering humanity from danger posed by them. Not all creation exists solely for our benefit; rather, in His abundant grace, some are for our use, while others serve to declare the greatness of their Creator. Therefore, when you hear that God saw it was good, do not challenge the sacred text, nor entertain frivolous inquiries such as “Why was this or that created?"

The author of Genesis, intending to convey that he refers to the birds found at sea as creeping creatures, included, "And God created the great sea creatures, and every living thing that the water brought forth according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind." Could there not be a winged bird? What necessitated mentioning "every winged bird?" To fly signifies the act of extending one’s arms. One could fly with their hands, as the psalmist declares, "make the hands clap, cry out to God with a joyful voice" (Psalm 46:2), not because hands possess wings, but because the act of flying is akin to stretching out. Thus, the reptile may also be regarded as a bird, as it crawls and extends itself; which is why David states, “creeping things and birds of a feather” (Psalms 148:10). Therefore, "God created the great sea creatures," referring specifically to great sea dragons—other translations interpret as "God created great dragons," rather than "great fishes." Before the dragon, no sea creature was formed. This is affirmed by David when he writes, "Praise the Lord from the earth, sea creatures, and all depths" (Ps. 148:7), and elsewhere stating, "This is a great and vast sea: there are innumerable creatures within, both small and great; ships sail upon it, this serpent which You have made to humble it" (Ps. 103:25-26). In another passage, to illustrate there are many dragons, he notes, "You have broken the heads of serpents in the waters" (Psalm 73:13). Thus, "God made the large fish... and God saw that it was good." Why did God declare it as "good?" Could the goodness pertain to their multitude? Yet, when God formed the stars, the sun, and the moon, it states, "God saw that it was good," despite their abundance. Many are the stars, countless are their host, yet it does not say, "God saw God was good," but rather affirms, "as good." The reason? Although the stars are numerous, they all emit one light and serve a singular purpose: to illuminate. In contrast, there exists a vast diversity of creeping things, birds, and fishes (for fish is distinct, birds another category, and creeping things separate again), each category holds numerous varieties; thus, it is stated, "God has seen how good He is," reflective of the variety within His creation and the resultant praise due to Him.

The term "feathered" is included to imply a broader understanding that extends beyond just birds; it encompasses creatures like fish that have the ability to "fly" underwater. Hence, it does not merely refer to "birds," but captures all that can fly: "And flying feathered creatures." And God saw that it was good. This should be interpreted similarly to the earlier passages.

In the essence of a pine cone, nature seemingly conveys her image, maintaining the blessings conferred by that initial divine command. Each year, fruit is produced in an orderly and successive manner until the designated time is fulfilled. Six Days.

The natural behaviors of certain insects, such as bees and ants, are exemplified in Scripture as lessons for humanity (Proverbs 6:7; Sir 11:3). Moreover, fish and birds are acknowledged by the Creator for fulfilling their roles in serving the welfare of other creatures, particularly humankind.