On the fifth day thou didst command the seventh part, where the water had been gathered together, to bring forth living creatures, birds, and fishes; and so it was done: See Gen 1.20-23. The seventh part, where the water had been gathered together refers to the portion of the earth covered by water (see verse 42). Good News Bible says “the part of the earth covered by water.” Contemporary English Version has simply “the ocean.” Living creatures translates the Latin word animalia, which refers to creatures that breathe as opposed to plants. Here it refers to other living creatures in the water, such as shellfish. Contemporary English Version renders living creatures, birds, and fishes as “birds, fishes, and other living creatures,” which is a helpful model. Good News Bible says simply “birds and fish.” The Genesis account does not really say that birds were created from the water; it simply has birds and fish created at the same time. However, here the text says the birds came from the water. Contemporary English Version says the ocean was “filled with birds,” which is incorrect. The writer seems to think the ocean produced birds, but he does not say the ocean was full of birds. Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• “On the fifth day you commanded [that other one-seventh of the earth] the ocean to produce birds, fish, and other living creatures. And so it was [or, And it happened].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.