Genesis 1:17

Genesis 1:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
• New International Version (NIV)God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
• New King James Version (NKJV)God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth,

Context of Genesis 1:17

15The lights in the sky will give light to the earth.’ And what God said happened. 16God made two great lights. The brighter light ruled over the day. The less bright light ruled over the night. God also made the stars. God put all these lights in the sky to shine their light on the earth. 18They were to rule over the day and night. They were to make the time of light separate from the time of dark. God looked at what he had made. He saw that it was good. 19Evening passed and then it was morning. That was the fourth day.

Genesis 1:17 word by word

וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• setנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• them in the firmamentרָקִיעַrâqîya‛ · expanseH7549
• of the heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• to give lightאוֹר'ôr · to lightH215
• upon the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for Genesis 1:17

• Genesis 9:13I have put my rainbow among the clouds in the sky. It will show you clearly that I have made this covenant with everything on the earth.
• Job 38:12But you, Job, did you ever command the morning to begin? No! You have never in your whole life told the sun when it should rise.
• Psalms 8:1Lord, our ruler, your name is famous all over the world. The sky above shows how great you are.
• Acts 13:47The Lord God has also told us to do this. He said: “I have chosen you to be like a light to the Gentiles. You must go to people everywhere in the world. You must tell them how God wants to save them.” ’

Commentaries on Genesis 1:17

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14-19Verses 14-19 - VI. The Fourth Day 14. מאור mā'ôr “a light, a luminary, a center of radiant light.” מועה mô‛ēd “set time, season.” Words beginning with a formative מ m usually signify that in which the simple quality resides or is realized. Hence, they often denote place. 17. נתן nāthan “give, hold out, show, stretch, hold out.” Latin: tendo, teneo; ́ teinō darkness has been removed from the face of the deep, its waters have been distributed in due…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-19Verses 14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully, and shine in their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-31On days four through six, God filled the domains that had been formed during days one through three (1:3–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1914. let there be lights in the firmament--The atmosphere being completely purified, the sun, moon, and stars were for the first time unveiled in all their glory in the cloudless sky; and they are described as "in the firmament" which to the eye they appear to be, though we know they are really at vast distances from it.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 1:17

• Firmament
• God
• Sun

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Appear
• Astronomy
• Beginning
• Call
• Create
• Darkness
• Divide
• Earth

Commentaries on Genesis 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings