Genesis 1:24

Let the earth, &c. The work of the sixth, like that of the third, day is twofold. Furthermore, the creation of the land animals on the sixth day seems to correspond to the creation of the earth on the third day.

The creation of the land animals immediately precedes that of mankind. It is implied that they are closer both in structure and in intelligence to the human race than the animals of the water and air. On the other hand, the words "let the earth bring forth" (the same phrase as is used in Genesis 1:11 of the creation of the vegetable world) emphasize the difference in origin between the land animals ("let the earth bring forth") and mankind, who are described (Genesis 1:26) as, in a special manner, "created" by God Himself.

the living creature viz. "living soul," as above (Genesis 1:20). Here the words are used especially of the land animals. To speak of animals having "a soul" is strange to modern ears. But it was not so to the Israelites, who realized, perhaps better than we do, man's kinship with the animal world, in virtue of that principle of nephesh, the mystery of life, which is shared by the animals and human beings.

after its kind viz. the various species of the animals about to be mentioned.

cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth This is a rough threefold classification of the animals dwelling on the earth: (1) "the cattle" (Heb. behêmah, LXX τετράποδα ("quadrupeds"), Lat. jumenta("cattle")), under which head are here probably classed all the domestic animals, e.g. oxen, sheep, horses, asses, camels, as in Jonah 4:11. Here it seems to be implied that the domestic animals were tame originally, and not through association with mankind. (2) "creeping things"; LXX ἑρπετά, Lat. reptilia. In this class seem to be included not only snakes and lizards, but also the smaller animals, generally, and the insect world. (3) "the beasts of the earth"; LXX θηρία τῆς γῆς, Lat. bestias terrae, viz. the wild beasts, strictly so called, as distinguished from the domestic animals.