Genesis 1:20 — Compare Translations

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”

23 words · Balance of accuracy and readability

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. ^{moving: or, creeping} ^{life: Heb. soul} ^{fowl: Heb. let fowl fly} ^{open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven}

48 words · Formal / word-for-word

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”

25 words · Essentially literal

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”

22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity

God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life! Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!"

17 words · Contemporary paraphrase

Then God said, 'Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.'

26 words · Most literal English translation