Book of Genesis Creation Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #1

Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." (NRSV 1:26)

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (KJV 1:26)

Humankind is pretty powerful here (dominion!). But wait a second—who's with God? What's with the "us"? For some thoughts on that, check out "God" under in our "Figures" section.

Quote #2

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (NRSV 1:27)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (KJV 1:27)

First came man, then came woman. That's how the story goes, right? So where is it here? Here, man and woman get the go simultaneously. Why do you think people tend to focus more on the second creation story?

Quote #3

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens (NRSV 2:4)

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens (KJV 2:4)

God already created the heavens and the earth, didn't he? Why the repeat? And what's the difference between this verse and what goes down in 1:1-2:4?