King James Bible
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
God commands the earth itself to produce vegetation, demonstrating His sovereign word that empowers creation to participate in its own formation. This marks the third day's work where dry land becomes productive, transitioning from barren ground to life-sustaining habitat. God establishes the principle of reproduction through seeds, ensuring each plant species maintains its distinct identity across generations. The phrase 'after his kind' introduces the concept of fixed biological categories, with built-in mechanisms for perpetual regeneration. This emphasizes the self-contained reproductive capacity God embedded within creation—plants carry their own future within themselves. The design shows divine wisdom in creating sustainable life systems that function independently once established. The immediate fulfillment of God's command demonstrates His absolute authority over creation. This formulaic phrase throughout Genesis 1 confirms that divine speech translates directly into physical reality without delay or resistance.