On the sixth day thou didst command the earth to bring forth before thee cattle, beasts, and creeping things: See Gen 1.24-25. To bring forth may be rendered “to produce” or “to give life to” (Contemporary English Version). The phrase before thee may be omitted (so Good News Bible). It adds nothing to the text. The Latin word translated cattle (iumentum) refers to large domestic animals, animals used for work. Contemporary English Version says “tame animals,” but this is incorrect. Tame animals are wild animals that have been captured and tamed, made to submit to human control. Domestic animals, such as those meant here, are animals that are raised by humans, usually on farms. The Latin word for beasts (bestia) refers to wild animals. Creeping things renders a late Latin word (reptilis), which refers to creatures that crawl or creep, not necessarily “reptiles” (Contemporary English Version, Myers). The Hebrew word for “creeping things” (remes) in Gen 1.24 refers to creatures that crawl or swarm. Basically it includes everything in the animal kingdom except mammals, birds, and fish. Since most of these are small creatures, Good News Bible refers to them as “small” animals.

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• “On the sixth day you commanded the earth to produce domestic animals, wild animals, and all kinds of small creatures [for you to see].

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.