Second Day -Genesis 1:6-8

Genesis 1:6-8 ESV
And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis 1:6-8 LXX
και ειπεν ο θεοσ γενηθητω στερεωμα εν μεσω του υδατοσ και εστω διαχωριζον ανα μεσον υδατοσ και υδατοσ και εγενετο ουτωσ 7 και εποιησεν ο θεοσ το στερεωμα και διεχωρισεν ο θεοσ ανα μεσον του υδατοσ ο ην υποκατω του στερεωματοσ και ανα μεσον του υδατοσ του επανω του στερεωματοσ 8 και εκαλεσεν ο θεοσ το στερεωμα ουρανον και ειδεν ο θεοσ οτι καλον και εγενετο εσπερα και εγενετο πρωι ημερα δευτερα

The word "expanse" in this translation is based on the Hebrew word:
h7549. רקיע raqia; from 7554 ; an extended surface, expanse:-- expanse(16), expanse of heaven(1). Strong.
Other translations variously translate it as firmament, sky, and even vault.

The Septuagint uses the Greek word στερεωμα, which means firmness.
στερέωμα,ατος,τό [στερεόω] firmness Col 2:5. CGEL

God is bringing form and shape to creation. Now that there is light, we see order begin to appear. It takes place at the middle or center of the waters. He is about to divide creation again, this time separating the waters. From the waters below, earth will emerge.

It is helpful to remember that this is written from the perspective of man on earth, in the language of an earlier time. That said, it's truth remains. From the sky overhead comes the rain and causes the water on earth to be replenished. There is a secondary meaning that might be applied, using waters to signify those that populate heaven and earth. Just as God will draw boundaries between the sea and earth, He does so between heaven and earth. This echoes the boundary between light and darkness.

In the Job and Proverbs verses below we are told He draws a circle on the face of the deep waters. This speaks of His sovereignty and majesty.
It is His word that brings this about and will endure.



Jeremiah 51:15-16
“It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
16 When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

Psalms 148:4-6
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Job 26:8-11
He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
and the cloud is not split open under them.
9 He covers the face of the full moon
and spreads over it his cloud.
10 He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters
at the boundary between light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble
and are astounded at his rebuke.


Proverbs 8:27-31
When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.