King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
God made the two great lights — the larger light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night — and the stars.
Berean Standard Bible:
God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.
American Standard Version:
And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he madethe stars also.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And God{H430} made{H6213} two{H8147} great{H1419} lights{H3974}; the greater{H1419} light{H3974} to rule{H4475} the day{H3117}, and the lesser{H6996} light{H3974} to rule{H4475} the night{H3915}: he made the stars{H3556} also.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 136:7
- To him that made great lights: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:
Psalms 136:9
- The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Deuteronomy 4:19
- And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, [even] all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
Psalms 8:3
- ¶ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Isaiah 40:26
- Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these [things], that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that [he is] strong in power; not one faileth.
Psalms 74:16
- The day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
Psalms 148:5
- Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 1:16
Genesis 1:16 is part of the creation narrative found in the opening chapter of the Book of Genesis, which is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. This verse specifically describes the creation of the celestial bodies on the fourth day of creation, according to the text.
In the verse, God creates two great lights: the greater light, which is identified as the sun, to govern the day, and the lesser light, which is the moon, to govern the night. Additionally, God creates the stars. The historical context of this verse reflects an ancient understanding of the cosmos, predating modern scientific knowledge. It is written from an earth-centered perspective, common in ancient cosmologies, where the sun and moon are depicted as lights in the sky rather than celestial bodies with their own properties and distances from Earth.
The themes of Genesis 1:16 include God's sovereignty over creation, the orderliness of the universe, and the establishment of a rhythmic cycle of day and night, which is foundational to the structure of time and life on Earth. The verse underscores the idea that the celestial bodies were created with purpose and function, serving to separate light from darkness and to provide signs to mark seasons, days, and years (as mentioned in Genesis 1:14). This reflects a belief in a purposeful and organized creation, designed by a divine being.
The verse also has theological significance, as it emphasizes the power and majesty of God, who brings forth these significant elements of the physical world by divine command. The creation of the sun, moon, and stars would have been understood as acts of great importance, given their central role in providing light and influencing the rhythms of life on Earth. In Jewish and Christian interpretations, these celestial bodies are often seen as symbols of God's enduring faithfulness and provision for His creation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H1419
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדוֹל
Transliteration: gâdôwl
Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. - Strong's Number: H3974
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָאוֹר
Transliteration: mâʼôwr
Pronunciation: maw-ore'
Description: or מָאֹר; also (in plural) feminine מְאוֹרָה; or מְאֹרָה; from אוֹר; properly, a luminous body or luminary, i.e. (abstractly) light (as an element); figuratively, brightness, i.e.cheerfulness; specifically, a chandelier; bright, light. - Strong's Number: H4475
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶמְשָׁלָה
Transliteration: memshâlâh
Pronunciation: mem-shaw-law'
Description: feminine of מִמְשָׁל; rule; also (concretely in plural) a realm or a ruler; dominion, government, power, to rule. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H6996
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָטָן
Transliteration: qâṭân
Pronunciation: kaw-tawn'
Description: or קָטֹן; from קוּט; abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance); least, less(-er), little (one), small(-est, one, quantity, thing), young(-er, -est). - Strong's Number: H3915
There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַיִל
Transliteration: layil
Pronunciation: lah'-yil
Description: or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as לוּל; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity; (mid-)night (season). - Strong's Number: H3556
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כּוֹכָב
Transliteration: kôwkâb
Pronunciation: ko-kawb'
Description: probably from the same as כַּבּוֹן (in the sense of rolling) or כָּוָה (in the sense of blazing); a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince; star(-gazer).