Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 1:20

20. ¶ And God said, Let the Waters bring forth abundantly the moving Creature that hath Life, and Fowl that may flie above the Earth, in the open Firmament of Heaven.

Or, Creeping thing. A word which belongs to all those living Creatures, who move with their Bellies close to the Element they move in: Hence it is used both of Birds which fly in the Air, Lev. 11. 20. and of things creeping upon the Earth, as v. 24. of this chapter, and of Fishes that swim in the Sea, as here.

The particle that or which is oft wanting, and to be understood in the Hebrew Language, as Gen. 39. 4. Iob 41. 1. Isa. 6. 6. according to this Translation the Fowl have their matter from the Water as well as the Fishes, which seems most probable as from this, so also from the following verses, in which they are both mentioned together as made of the same materials, and as works of the same day, and both are blessed together, and both are distinguished and separated from the productions of the Earth, which were the works of the sixth day, v. 24, &c. And whereas it is said, Gen. 2. 19. Out of the ground the Lord God formed every Beast of the Field, and every Fowl of the Air; It may be answered, that the word ground or earth may be there understood more largely, as it is confessedly in some other places of Scripture, for the lower part of the World consisting of Earth and Water. For it is most reasonable to expound that short and general passage from the foregoing Chapter wherein the original both of Beasts and Fowls are largely and distinctly described. Moreover the Fowl seem to have been made of both these Elements, viz. of soft and moist Earth, possibly taken from the bottom of the Water, in which case they were brought forth by the Water, as is said here, and formed out of the ground, as there. As Eve is said to be made of Adams Bone and Rib, Gen. 2. 21. and of his Flesh, v. 23. Which shews that with the Rib Flesh was taken from Adam, though it be not said so, v. 21. So here the Fowl were made both of Water and Earth, as their temper and constitution shews, though but one of them be here expressed. But these words are by some Translated thus, And let the Fowl flye. But according to that Translation the mention of the Fowl, both here and in the following verse, seems to be very improper and forced. For it is preposterous and contrary to the method constantly used in this whole chapter, to speak of the motion of any living Creature, and the place thereof, before its original and production be mentioned. Besides, either the original of the Fowls is described here, or it is wholly omitted in this chapter, which is not credible.

Marginal references: Heb. The creeping swimming Creature, a living soul.; Heb. Let the Fowl flie.; Heb. Face of the Firmament of Heaven.