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.
Parallel translations
- WEB and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.
- BSB to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
- NLT to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The lights rule day and night and separate light from darkness, and God calls it good. Order and goodness mark every layer of creation.
Overview
The heavenly bodies are appointed to govern the rhythms of day and night and to maintain the separation of light from darkness. God's renewed verdict, 'it was good,' continues the refrain affirming the worth of all he makes. This ordered governance of the heavens points to the greater rule of God himself over all things.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Jer 31:35Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
- Ps 19:6His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Lay
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 1:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.