Genesis 1:4

Genesis 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
• New International Version (NIV)God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

Context of Genesis 1:4

2The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. 6Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”

Genesis 1:4 word by word

וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָא֖וֹר כִּי־ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• sawאֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
• goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• dividedבַּ֫יִןbêyn · betweenH996
• dividedבָּדַלbâdal · to separateH914
• the darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822

Cross-references for Genesis 1:4

• Genesis 1:10God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
• Ecclesiastes 2:13I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.
• Ecclesiastes 11:7Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.

Commentaries on Genesis 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4God divided the light from the darkness - This does not imply that light and darkness are two distinct substances, seeing darkness is only the privation of light; but the words simply refer us by anticipation to the rotation of the earth round its own axis once in twenty-three hours, fifty-six minutes, and four seconds, which is the cause of the distinction between day and night, by bringing the different parts of the surface of the earth successively…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. 4Light is the opposite of chaotic darkness (1:2). God considers light to be good, but not darkness (John 1:5). God is the source of this light (Genesis 1:14–19). God separated light, just like he separated water (1:6–8), using his word that creates. Light is associated with life and blessings (Job 38:19–20; Psalms 19:1–6; 97:11; 104:19–20; Isaiah 60:19–20). It limits the darkness that could destroy cosmic order. Darkness often represents fear, death, and…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. divided the light from darkness--refers to the alternation or succession of the one to the other, produced by the daily revolution of the earth round its axis.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 1:4

• God
• Light

In the dictionaries

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

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