(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the evening and the morning were the third day.
So there was evening, and there was morning, a third day.
And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.
And the evening{H6153} and the morning{H1242} were the third{H7992} day{H3117}.
1. Themes:
- Creation: Genesis 1:13 is part of the creation narrative in the first chapter of Genesis, emphasizing the divine order and structure in the formation of the world.
- Divine Timing: The verse highlights the concept of time as a series of days, each consisting of an evening and a morning, as established by God.
- Completeness: The phrase "the evening and the morning" suggests the completion of a full day, reinforcing the idea of a consistent and unchanging sequence in the creation process.
2. Historical Context:
- Priestly Source: The creation account in Genesis 1 is often attributed to the Priestly source (P), one of the four sources identified by biblical scholars in the Pentateuch, characterized by a formal, repetitive style and a focus on priestly concerns like order and holiness.
- Ancient Cosmology: The description reflects an ancient cosmology where the earth is seen as a flat disk floating in water, with a dome-like sky (firmament) holding back water above.
- Monotheism: The verse, within its broader context, asserts the monotheistic belief in a single, all-powerful deity who creates by spoken command, contrasting with polytheistic creation myths of the time that often involved conflict among gods.
- Sabbath: The structure of the days of creation sets a pattern for the Sabbath, with the seventh day as a day of rest, which becomes a central aspect of Jewish religious practice and identity.
In summary, Genesis 1:13 is a part of the Priestly creation narrative that establishes the divine order of creation, emphasizing the completeness of each day and setting the stage for the Sabbath. It reflects an ancient understanding of the cosmos and asserts a monotheistic worldview within the historical context of the ancient Near East.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)