Genesis 1:24 says, “And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.’ And it was so.” God completes the creation of animals at the beginning of day six. Looking back at all the days of creation we see the three kinds of animals that God made. They are mentioned several times after this. According to Hosea 4:3 we see them mentioned in prophecy, “Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.” They are also mentioned in the Psalms and in Zephaniah. But in verse 24, God creates three kinds of land creatures. In this English translation the three kinds of land animals are livestock, creeping things, and beasts of the earth.
Locomotion seems to be the dividing line between plants who are stuck to the ground to the birds that have free reign in the air and fish who roam the seas at will. Now God deals with the animals that have movement on the dry ground. In verse 28, they are called “every living thing that moves on the earth.” Speaking of some Jewish commentators, Kissling says, “They argue that livestock walk on top of the ground, creatures that move along the ground slide on it, while the NIV’s (New International Version) ‘wild animals’ are animals which dig through it, i.e., ‘animals of the earth.’ They note that part of the punishment of the serpent has to do with its ‘manner of locomotion.’”[1] The translator’s handbook helps with thos attempting to translate this passage in other languages adds a little more detail. It says, “Cattle translates a word that here refers to domestic animals. See also 34:23; 47:18. Creeping things refers not only to reptiles like snakes, lizards, or turtles, but also to insects, rodents, and all kinds of small animals. Beasts of the earth is literally ‘living things of the earth,’ referring to wild animals, or perhaps dangerous animals.”[2]
Genesis 1:25 lays out the three kinds pretty clearly. It reads, “And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” The overall goodness of God’s creation should cause several positive responses from us. According to Boice there are four of them. First, we should be thankful for the world around us with its variety. Second, we should find real delight in it. We should appreciate it’s beauty. Anyone who might forget their schedule for a minute and take a look around at the plants, creatures won’t be able to help but notice the variety should have pleasure it in all. Thirdly, it should have a sense of responsibility towards it. But finally, and most importantly one should recognize the wonder and glory of the one who made it all. Here’s how Boice concludes his argument, “Finally, after he has contemplated nature and has come to value it, the Christian should turn once again to the God who made it and sustains it moment by moment and should learn to trust him.”[3]
[1] Kissling, Paul J. 2004–. Genesis. The College Press NIV Commentary. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.
[2] Reyburn, William David, and Euan McG. Fry. 1998. A Handbook on Genesis. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies.
[3] Boice, James Montgomery. 1998. Genesis: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.