King James Bible
"And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so."
God creates the 'firmament' (Hebrew: raqia), conceived in ancient cosmology as a solid dome or expanse that forms the sky. This act on the second day establishes the basic structure of the cosmos as understood by ancient Near Eastern peoples. The primordial waters are separated into two realms: earthly waters below and heavenly waters above the dome. This division explains both the source of rain (waters above) and the seas below, creating habitable space between them. This formulaic phrase emphasizes the immediate and complete fulfillment of God's creative command. It underscores divine sovereignty—what God speaks comes into being without resistance or delay.