here we must observe both a certain connection with and a distinction from the
146 Unfinished Literal Commentary on Genesis saying And it was made thus, and immediately adding about evening and morning. It was by naming them that the works performed over the basic mate rial and the specific form imposed on it were signified—unless by any chance some better and more sublime explanation should occur to anyone engaged in this inquiry.
Genesis 1:24: The production of land animals
53. And God said: Let the earth throw up live soul according to its kind; of quadrupeds and of serpents and of beasts of the earth according to kind and cattle according to kind. And it was made thus (Gn 1 :24). Why live is added when it says soul, and what according to kind may mean, and on the usual conclusion saying and it was made thus, the reader is referred to the discussion of these points above, and must be satisfied with that. But while the word "beast" in English signifies generally every kind of non-rational animal, here at least different species are to be distinguished, so that we take quadrupeds to be all beasts of burden, serpents to mean all reptiles, beasts, wild ones at least, to be all untamed quadrupeds, while cattle are quadrupeds which do not help us by working for us, but give their produce to those who stock them.
Genesis 1:25-26: The actual making of the land animals
16, 54. And God made the beasts of the earth according to kind, and cattle according to kind, and all serpents of the earth according to kind(Gn 1 :25). This repetition, saying and God made, when it had already said, and it was made thus, should be treated according to the rule given above. Certainly here by the word "cattle" I think all those quadrupeds are signified which live under the care of human beings. And God saw that it was good—to be taken in the usual way.
The making of man; both connected with and distinguishedfrom the making ofother animals
55. And God said: Let us make man to our image and likeness (Gn 1 :26). And here we must observe both a certain connection with and a distinction from the animals. On the one hand it says man was made on the same day as the beasts; they are all of them together land animals, after all. And yet on the other hand, because of the pre-eminence of reason, with respect to which man is made to the image of God and his likeness, it speaks separately about him, after concluding about the other land animals in the usual way by saying And God saw that it was good.