And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Parallel translations
- WEB God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
- KJV And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
- NKJV Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
- NASB Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
- NLT Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
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
God speaks light into existence, the first creative word in a dark, formless world. It shows that creation happens by God's effortless command.
Overview
On the first day God addresses the darkness and chaos described in verse 2 by speaking light into being. The phrase 'Let there be' reveals a God who creates not from struggle but by sovereign command, and the immediate result ('and there was light') underscores his power. The New Testament echoes this when Paul says God who commanded light to shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6), and John presents Christ, the Word, as the true light coming into the world.
Cross-references & the web
Theme
- Light & Darkness"Let there be light."
Cross-references · 21
- 2 Cor 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
- John 1:5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
- Isa 45:7I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.
- Isa 60:19No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
- 1 Jn 1:5And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
- Eph 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- John 3:19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- Ps 97:11Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.
- John 1:9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.
- Ps 33:6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
- Ps 33:9For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.
- Ps 148:5Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created.
- 1 Jn 2:8Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.
- Eph 5:14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Job 38:19Where is the way to the home of light? Do you know where darkness resides,
- Ps 104:2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,
- 1 Tim 6:16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
- Ps 118:27The LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
- Job 36:30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.
- Matt 8:3Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
- John 11:43After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Lay
The single best free starting point for Genesis 1–11 — clear, visual, and faithful to the literary design.
Pastoral
The beloved devotional-pastoral classic, free and public domain — warm, quotable, verse by verse.
Commentaries & study tools
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The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 1:3 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.