Genesis 1:3

Genesis 1:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
• New International Version (NIV)And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Context of Genesis 1:3

1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Genesis 1:3 word by word

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Let there beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216

Cross-references for Genesis 1:3

• Psalms 33:6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
• Psalms 148:5Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created.
• Matthew 8:3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
• John 11:43Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
• Job 36:30Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
• Job 38:19“Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
• Psalms 97:11Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
• Psalms 104:2Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
• Psalms 118:27God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
• Isaiah 45:7I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’
• Isaiah 60:19“The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.
• John 1:5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
• John 3:19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
• Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
• 1 Timothy 6:16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Commentaries on Genesis 1:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And God said, Let there be light - אור ויהי אור הי Yehi or, vaihi or . Nothing can be conceived more dignified than this form of expression. It argues at once uncontrollable authority, and omnific power; and in human language it is scarcely possible to conceive that God can speak more like himself. This passage, in the Greek translation of the Septuagint, fell in the way of Dionysius Longinus, one of the most judicious Greek critics that ever lived, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-5Verses 3-5 - III. The First Day 3. אמר 'āmar “say, bid.” After this verb comes the thing said in the words of the speaker, or an equivalent expression. In this respect it corresponds with our English “say.” אור 'ôr “light.” Light is simply what makes a sensible impression on the organs of vision. It belongs to a class of things which occasionally produce the same effect. ויאמר vayo'mer “then said.” Here we have come to the narrative or the record of a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-5Verses 3-5 God said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once there was light. Oh, the power of the word of God! And in the new creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and affections by enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness, by grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been always upon fallen man, if the Son of God had not come and given us…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3And God said: God created everything in chapter 1 by his powerful word (compare Psalm 33:6, 9). “Let there be … and there was": God's command put his will into action to create the world. God is not part of creation or limited by it. He supremely rules over everything (see Nehemiah 9:6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-53. God said--This phrase, which occurs so repeatedly in the account means: willed, decreed, appointed; and the determining will of God was followed in every instance by an immediate result. Whether the sun was created at the same time with, or long before, the earth, the dense accumulation of fogs and vapors which enveloped the chaos had covered the globe with a settled gloom. But by the command of God, light was rendered visible; the thick murky clouds…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 1:3

• God
• Light

In the dictionaries

• God
• Appear
• Beginning
• Call
• Create
• Darkness
• Divide
• Earth
• Embalm
• Evening

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