Genesis 1:14-19
“14 And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:14-19 Meaning
Genesis 1:14-19 is a passage that describes the fourth day of creation when God spoke the sun, moon, and stars into existence.
These celestial bodies were created to serve specific purposes, including marking seasons, days, and years, as well as providing light on the earth.
Explanation and Commentary of Genesis 1:14-19
In Genesis 1:14, God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.” This verse reveals God’s order and purpose in creating the sun, moon, and stars.
God’s creation of the lights in the heavens served practical functions, such as providing light during the day and night, but it also had symbolic significance. The lights were created for signs and seasons, which could imply that they were meant to be a guidance for us, helping us discern the passing of seasons and the passage of time.
The creation of the sun, moon, and stars also had a purpose in representing God’s power and sovereignty over creation. In Psalm 19:1, it says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” The immensity and beauty of the celestial bodies point to the greatness of God’s creative power.
Context of Genesis 1:14-19
Genesis 1:14-19 is part of the creation account in the book of Genesis. In the preceding verses, God has already created light, separated the waters, and created vegetation.
The creation of the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day is a continuation of God’s work of forming the earth into a habitable place for living creatures.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Genesis 1:14-19
“Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens”: God commanded the creation of the sun, moon, and stars, and they appeared in the expanse of the heavens.
“to separate the day from the night” The lights in the heavens were established to mark the distinction between day and night, providing light during the day and darkness during the night.
“And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years”: The celestial bodies serve as signs, guiding navigation and indicating the changing of seasons. They also mark the passing of days and years, establishing a way to measure time on earth.
Bible Study on Genesis 1:14-19
The creation of the sun, moon, and stars reminds us of God’s divine power and wisdom. It underscores the precision and order with which God formed the universe. The uniqueness and significance of the creation of the sun and the moon in relation to the earth reveal God’s attentiveness to the needs of his creation.
The purpose of the lights in the heavens also points to the faithfulness and provision of God. The sun provides warmth and light during the day, sustaining life on earth and enabling growth. The moon’s reflective light and the stars’ twinkling beauty bring wonder and awe. These celestial bodies remind us that God’s creation is designed to display his glory and provide for his creation.
Additionally, the mention of seasons, days, and years in Genesis 1:14 demonstrates God’s intent for humans to understand and measure time. The consistent cycles of days, months, and years not only allow for practical purposes but also serve as reminders of the faithfulness of God in sustaining and upholding the world he created.
Also Read: Genesis 1:9-13 Meaning and Commentary
Biblical Translations of Genesis 1:14-19
Genesis 1:14-19 King James Version (KJV)
“14 And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth:’ and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:14-19 English Standard Version (ESV)
“14 And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:14-19 New Living Translation (NLT)
“14 Then God said, ‘Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. 15 Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.’ And that is what happened. 16 God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, 18 to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:14-19 New King James Version (NKJV)
“14 Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth’; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:14-19 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“14 Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. 15 They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.’ And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. 17 God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, 18 to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:14-19 New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
“14 Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the sky. They will separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs to mark off the seasons, days and years. 15 They will be in the sky to give light on the earth.’ And that’s exactly what happened. 16 God made two great lights. He made the larger light to rule over the day. He made the smaller light to rule over the night. He also made the stars. 17 God put the lights in the huge space of the sky. He put them there to give light on the earth. 18 He put them there to rule over the day and the night. He put them there to separate light from darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, and there was morning. It was day four.”
Final Thoughts
Genesis 1:14-19 affirms the divine order and purpose in the creation of the sun, moon, and stars. This passage invites us to marvel at the beauty and complexity of the universe and acknowledge God as the ultimate source of creation.
It also encourages us to appreciate the practical and symbolic significance of the lights in the heavens, as they mark the passing of time and bear witness to God’s glory. As we gaze at the skies, may we be reminded of God’s faithfulness and continue to worship and honor him as the Creator of all things.