Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:14

What does Genesis 1:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:14 means

On the fourth day, God commanded the creation of "lights in the firmament of heaven" to divide day from night, and to serve as markers for "signs, and for seasons, and for days and years." These celestial bodies were not to be worshipped but were functional; they establish a stable cosmic clock, regulating time and providing navigational aids. This demonstrates God's precise ordering of the cosmos, providing consistent patterns necessary for life on earth and establishing a reliable structure for humanity's understanding of time and natural cycles.

Genesis 1:14 in context

Genesis 1 — The Six Days of Creation

The Bible opens not with an argument for the existence of God but with the announcement of his creative act. In six measured days God speaks the cosmos into being — light, sky, sea, land, plants, sun and moon, fish and birds, animals, and finally man and woman in his own image. Each act ends with the refrain, 'and God saw that it was good.' The chapter establishes God's sovereignty, the goodness of the material world, the dignity of humanity, and the rhythm of work and rest that will shape all of Scripture.

  • Creation ex nihilo
  • The image of God
  • The goodness of creation
  • Sabbath rhythm

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God said, Let there be lights in the arch of heaven, for a division between the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for marking the changes of the year, and for days and for years:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens, to divide between the day and the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;

Context

After establishing the earth and its vegetation, this verse introduces the work of the fourth day: the creation of celestial lights. This command focuses on filling the firmament (created on day two) and further defining the temporal markers established on day one. It highlights the functional purpose of these lights to govern time and seasons, setting the stage for their actual creation and placement in the following verses and preparing for the sustenance of life on earth.

v.13And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

v.14This passage

v.15and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 21:25

    And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;

  • Ezekiel 32:7

    And when I shall extinguish thee, I will cover the heavens, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light.

  • Amos 8:9

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.

  • Joel 3:15

    The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

  • Genesis 9:13

    I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

  • Isaiah 40:26

    Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and for that he is strong in power, not one is lacking.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:14

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Genesis 1:14 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:14 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:14 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:14 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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