Genesis 1

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:16

Genesis 1:16. The stars also— The abrupt manner in which this passage seems to be introduced, has caused some writers to imagine it an interpolation: whereas the abruptness of the manner is owing principally to the parenthesis; remove which, and the passage runs thus: And God made two great lights, and also the stars: which Moses only mentions briefly, to shew that they were the workmanship of the same Divine Creator. Grotius has produced several passages, to prove that the ancients considered... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:20

Genesis 1:20. And God said, Let the waters, &c.— The formation of things inanimate being completed, the all-wise Creator proceeds, from the most noble of these, the heavenly bodies, to those which are next in degree, the least noble of the animate creation, namely, the inhabitants of the waters. Houbigant justly prefers the English translation here to all those which render the original by the word reptilia, reptiles, or creeping things, under which denomination, certainly, neither the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:21

Genesis 1:21. Created great whales— The word התנינם hathaninim, which we render great whales, signifies "any kind of large aquatic or amphibious animals;" under which, whales, crocodiles, and the like, may properly be classed. The sacred writer intends only to inform us by that expression of the creation of that class of aquatic or amphibious creatures which are of the more enormous size. REFLECTIONS.—The greatest, as well as the least, owe to God their breath and being; and the whale, which... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:22

Genesis 1:22. And God blessed them, &c.— Not only their being, but the continuance of it is provided for. Life is a fleeting thing; succession is needful. God hath commanded it shall be, and, in virtue of his blessing, the heavens are stocked with fowl, and the fish replenish the waters; and all for the use of man. O that he were wise, that he knew the bountiful Giver! read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:24

Genesis 1:24. Let the earth bring forth, &c.— From the fish and the fowl the great Creator proceeds to the superior order of terrestrial animals; which are classed under the three ranks of: 1st, cattle, all tame and domestic animals; 2nd, creeping things, all of the reptile kind; and 3rdly, beasts of the earth, all of the savage kind. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:25

Genesis 1:25. And God made, &c.— As a sufficient proof that the earth did not generate the animals of itself, by any prolific power in it, the formation of them is here appropriated to God. For the sacred writer, by these words, would give us to understand, that the Creator, as the absolute Master of nature, gave both to the earth and to animals all their fecundity and energy: all is the effect of God's omnipotence. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:26

Genesis 1:26. Let us make man in our image— Behold the finishing stroke of the Divine Creator, Man, the last and greatest work of God. Animal life was produced: but now at last the crown of creation is brought forth in a rational soul. The earth, like a stately palace furnished for his reception, seems to call for the great inhabitant; one who can be the tongue of this lower world, and render to the great Author of all, the praise of his glorious works. The plurals us and our, afford an evident... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:27

Genesis 1:27. Male and female created he them— Man is but half himself without his partner woman. From this original pair descend the numerous generations of men that have overspread the earth. How foolish and vain then is the pride of pedigree, when the beggar on the dunghill can claim the most ancient and ennobled extraction, as the son of Adam, who was the son of God! Luke 3:38. We have, in the literal sense, one Father; we are brethren of one family, the same blood runs in our veins, and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:28

Genesis 1:28. God blessed them, &c.— He pronounced his blessing upon them: he gave them the earth as their possession, and commanded them to multiply and replenish it with inhabitants. Children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord. And subdue it— Man by his superior wisdom is furnished with methods to make the fiercest animals yield, and the strongest to serve him; and he hath dominion over all, by grant from God himself. We have forfeited it by sin,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:29

Genesis 1:29. It shall be for meat— It is evident from this grant of food to man, in the present verse, and from that to the brute animals in the next, that the use of flesh in the beginning was allowed to neither: and, consequently, that the now carnivorous animals then fed upon grass, &c. as the tame ones amongst us do at present. The ancients mention this as one characteristic of the golden age: "Not so the golden age, who fed on fruit, Nor durst with bloody meals their hands pollute." read more

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:16

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:20

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:22

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:24

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:25

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:26

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:27

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:28

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:29

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