Genesis 1:14

Genesis 1:14

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.

a. NLT: 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.

b. NIV: 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,

c. YLT: And God saith, 'Let luminaries be in the expanse of the heavens, to make a separation between the day and the night, then they have been for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs and tokens [of God’s provident care], and [to mark] seasons, days, and years,

e. Septuagint: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, to divide between day and night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: God said, “Let there be luminaries in the firmament of the heaven to separate between the day and the night; and they shall serve as signs, and for festivals, and for days and years.

1. “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night…”

a. [And] God [Strong 430 'elohiym el-o-heem' plural of 433; 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, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

b. said [Strong: 559 'amar aw-mar' a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

c. Let there be [Strong: 1961 hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

d. lights [Strong: 3974 ma'owr maw-ore' or maor {maw-ore'}; also (in plural) feminine mpowrah {meh-o-raw'}; or morah {meh-o-raw'}; from 215; properly, a luminous body or luminary, i.e. (abstractly) light (as an element): figuratively, brightness, i.e.cheerfulness; specifically, a chandelier:--bright, light.]

e. in the firmament [Strong: 7549 raqiya` raw-kee'-ah from 7554; properly, an expanse, i.e. the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky:--firmament.]

f. [of the] heaven [Strong: 8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).]

g. to divide [Strong: 914 badal baw-dal' a primitive root; to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.):-- (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), X utterly.]

h. the day [Strong: 3117 yowm yome 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, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.]

i. from [Strong: 996 beyn bane (sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), + from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.]

j. the night [Strong: 3915 layil lah'-yil or (Isa. 21:11) leyl {lale}; also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity:--((mid-))night (season).]

1). God called the universe into existence by faith. As God spoke the words, “Let there be lights…”, He was speaking them into existence.

a). Psalm 33:6, 9 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

b). Psalm 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

c). God’s Plan For Man, Finis Jennings Dake, Published by Dake Bible Sales, Eleventh Printing, 1984. P. 81, “From a study of all these Scriptures and those on the creation of  all things, it is clear that by the Word of God the materials were brought into existence, and then by His hands He formed the materials into the various parts of the universe. That is, as God spoke, the materials came into existence and as fast as they materialized He used them to form all things with His hands.”

2). God Almighty named the stars.

a). Psalm 147:4 He telleth the number of stars; he calleth them all by their names.

b). 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.

3). Job mentions the names of a few stars.

a). Job 9:8, 9 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

9:9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

2. “…and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.”

a. and let them be [Strong: 1961 hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

b. [for] signs [226 * owth] [Strongs: a signal (lit. or fig.) as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, mark miracle, ensign, token.] [AMG Old Testament Word Study: This word is used most often to describe awe-inspiring events: God’s work to bring the Hebrew people out of Egypt [Exodus 4:8, 9, sign; Numbers 14:22 miracles;]   

1). Witness of the Stars, E. W. Bullinger. Kregel Publications, 1967.  Reproduced from 1893 Edition published in London. P. 177:   “Here the word “signs” is othoth (the plural of oth, from the root meaning ‘to come’). Hence, a sign of something or someone to come.”

c. [and for] seasons [4150 * moed] [Strongs: An appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season…conventually a year, a signal (as appointed beforehand]. [AMG Old testament Word Study: It can signify an appointed time or place, a specific appointed time, usually for a sacred feast or festival, a time of birds migration, the same time next year.]

1). A sign of something to come in its appointed time.  Many Bible scholars believe that Job is the oldest book of the Bible, and that when Job was experiencing all his troubles there was no written revelation. The most prominent revelation was creation, a revelation that included the stars.

a). Job 26:13, 14 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

26:14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? But the thunder of his power who can understand?

b). Regardless of the translation, Job is describing how that God created and designed the signs of the Zodiac.

(1) [NIV] By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent.

(2) [NASB] By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent.

(3) [ASV] By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.

2). The heavens were created for a purpose, their original purpose was to give a primeaval revelation before there was a written word.

3). The Witness of The Stars, E.W. Bullinger: For more than two thousand five hundred years the world was without a written from God. The question is, Did God leave Himself without a witness? The question is answered very positively by the written Word that He did not. In Romans 1:19 it is declared that, “that which may be know of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Burt how was God known? How were His “invisible things,” i.e., His plans and purposes, and His counsels, known since the creation of the world? We are told by the Holy Spirit in Romans 10:18. Having stated in v. 17 that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word (rhema, the thing spoken, sayings) of God,” He asks, “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily.” And we may ask, How have they heard? The answer follows—“Their sound went into all the earth and their words (rhemata, their teaching, message, instruction) unto the ends of the world. What words? What instruction? Whose message? Whose teaching? There is only one answer, and that is, The Heavens! This is settled by the fact that the passage is quoted from Psalms 19, the first part of which is occupied with the Revelation of God written in the Heavens, and the latter part with the Revelation of God written in the Word.

a). Romans 10:17, 18 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

b). Psalm 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

19:5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

19:6 His 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.

4).  In Psalm 147:4 and Isaiah 40:26 we have seen that God created, numbered and named the stars, but what is interesting is that God gives the same names of the stars as Job gives.

a). Job 38:31-33 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

38:32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

38:33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

b). Mazzaroth [4216 * mazzarah] [Strongs: The signs of the zodiac.]