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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 1:5 God called the light "day," and the darkness He called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/01_Gen_01_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 1:5 - The First Day" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/1-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/1-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/1-4.htm" title="Genesis 1:4">◄</a> Genesis 1:5 <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm" title="Genesis 1:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/genesis/1.htm">New International Version</a> God called the light &#8220day,&#8221 and the darkness he called &#8220night.&#8221 And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. <a href="/nlt/genesis/1.htm">New Living Translation</a> God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. <a href="/esv/genesis/1.htm">English Standard Version</a> God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. <a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. <a href="/kjv/genesis/1.htm">King James Bible</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. <a href="/nkjv/genesis/1.htm">New King James Version</a> God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. <a href="/nasb_/genesis/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/nasb/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1995</a> God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/nasb77/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/lsb/genesis/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/amp/genesis/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/csb/genesis/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day. <a href="/hcsb/genesis/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> God called the light &#8220day,&#8221 and He called the darkness &#8220night.&#8221 Evening came and then morning: the first day. <a href="/asv/genesis/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/cev/genesis/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> and named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening came, then morning--that was the first day. <a href="/erv/genesis/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/gwt/genesis/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> God named the light [day], and the darkness he named [night]. There was evening, then morning-the first day. <a href="/gnt/genesis/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> and he named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening passed and morning came--that was the first day. <a href="/isv/genesis/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> calling the light "day," and the darkness "night." The twilight and the dawn were day one. <a href="/msb/genesis/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. <a href="/net/genesis/1.htm">NET Bible</a> God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day. <a href="/nheb/genesis/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. There was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/wbt/genesis/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night: and the evening and the morning were the first day. <a href="/web/genesis/1.htm">World English Bible</a> God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and God calls the light “Day,” and the darkness He has called “Night”; and there is an evening, and there is a morning—day one. <a href="/ylt/genesis/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and God calleth to the light 'Day,' and to the darkness He hath called 'Night;' and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day one. <a href="/slt/genesis/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And God will call to the light day, and to the darkness he called night: and the evening shall be, and the morning shall be one day.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he called the light Day, and the darkness Night; and there was evening and morning one day. <a href="/cpdv/genesis/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he called the light, ‘Day,’ and the darknesses, ‘Night.’ And it became evening and morning, one day. <a href="/nabre/genesis/1.htm">New American Bible</a> God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Evening came, and morning followed—the first day. <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. <a href="/hpbt/genesis/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And God called the light the day, and the darkness he called the night, and it was evening and it was dawn, day one.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. <a href="/sep/genesis/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night, and there was evening and there was morning, the first day. <a href="/parallel/genesis/1-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=25" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">The First Day</a> …4And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5<a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: way·yiq·rā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">called</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: lā·’ō·wr (Prep-l, Art:: N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">the light</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·wm (N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">“day,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: wə·la·ḥō·šeḵ (Conj-w, Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">and the darkness</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: qā·rā (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">He called</a> <a href="/hebrew/3915.htm" title="3915: lā·yə·lāh (N-ms) -- Night. Or leyl; also laylah; from the same as luwl; properly, a twist, i.e. Night; figuratively, adversity.">“night.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">And there was</a> <a href="/hebrew/6153.htm" title="6153: ‘e·reḇ (N-ms) -- Evening. From arab; dusk.">evening,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">and there was</a> <a href="/hebrew/1242.htm" title="1242: ḇō·qer (N-ms) -- Morn- ing. From baqar; properly, dawn; generally, morning.">morning—</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">the first</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·wm (N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day.</a> 6And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/1-1.htm">John 1:1-5</a> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. ... <a href="/2_corinthians/4-6.htm">2 Corinthians 4:6</a> For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. <a href="/psalms/104-20.htm">Psalm 104:20</a> You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl. <a href="/isaiah/45-7.htm">Isaiah 45:7</a> I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things. <a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a> Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” <a href="/1_john/1-5.htm">1 John 1:5</a> And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. <a href="/psalms/74-16.htm">Psalm 74:16</a> The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun. <a href="/revelation/21-23.htm">Revelation 21:23-25</a> And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. / By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory. / Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there. <a href="/psalms/139-12.htm">Psalm 139:12</a> even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You. <a href="/isaiah/60-19.htm">Isaiah 60:19-20</a> No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. / Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease. <a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Ephesians 5:8</a> For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, <a href="/1_thessalonians/5-5.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:5</a> For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. <a href="/jeremiah/33-20.htm">Jeremiah 33:20</a> “This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time, <a href="/job/38-12.htm">Job 38:12</a> In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place, <a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14-16</a> You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.Day, and.<a href="/genesis/8-22.htm">Genesis 8:22</a> While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.<a href="/psalms/19-2.htm">Psalm 19:2</a> Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.<a href="/psalms/74-16.htm">Psalm 74:16</a> The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.And the evening and the morning were.<a href="/genesis/1-8.htm">Genesis 1:8,13,19,23,31</a> And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/1-4.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/genesis/1-4.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/acts/28-23.htm">Evening</a> <a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">First</a> <a href="/genesis/1-4.htm">Light</a> <a href="/revelation/22-16.htm">Morning</a> <a href="/1_john/3-1.htm">Naming</a> <a href="/revelation/22-5.htm">Night</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/1-18.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/genesis/1-18.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/genesis/1-8.htm">Evening</a> <a href="/genesis/2-11.htm">First</a> <a href="/genesis/1-17.htm">Light</a> <a href="/genesis/1-8.htm">Morning</a> <a href="/genesis/5-2.htm">Naming</a> <a href="/genesis/1-14.htm">Night</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 1</div>1. <a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">God creates heaven and earth;</a> 3. <a href="/genesis/1-3.htm">the light;</a> 6. <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">the firmament;</a> 9. <a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">separates the dry land;</a> 14. <a href="/genesis/1-14.htm">forms the sun, moon, and stars;</a> 20. <a href="/genesis/1-20.htm">fishes and fowls;</a> 24. <a href="/genesis/1-24.htm">cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things;</a> 26. <a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">creates man in his own image, blesses him;</a> 29. <a href="/genesis/1-29.htm">grants the fruits of the earth for food.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/genesis/1.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>God called The act of naming by God signifies authority and dominion. In the Hebrew context, the word "called" (קָרָא, qara) implies a declaration of purpose and identity. By naming the light and darkness, God establishes order in creation, reflecting His sovereign power. This act of naming is not merely a label but an assignment of function and role within the created order.the light ‘day,&#8217 The term "day" (יוֹם, yom) in Hebrew is rich with meaning, often representing a period of time characterized by light. In the ancient Near Eastern context, light is frequently associated with life, goodness, and divine presence. By calling the light "day," God is not only defining a time period but also imbuing it with qualities of clarity, revelation, and activity. This sets a pattern for human understanding of time and work.and the darkness He called ‘night.&#8217 Darkness (חֹשֶׁךְ, choshek) in Hebrew often symbolizes mystery, the unknown, or even adversity. By naming the darkness "night," God delineates the boundaries of time and space, providing a rhythm to creation. Night, while often associated with rest and reflection, is also a time of preparation for the coming day. This duality of day and night reflects the balance and harmony in God’s creation.And there was evening, and there was morning&#8212 The phrase "evening and morning" (עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר, erev vavoker) introduces the concept of a day beginning with evening, which is a distinctive feature of the Hebrew calendar. This sequence emphasizes the transition from darkness to light, symbolizing hope and renewal. It reflects the theological truth that God brings order out of chaos and light out of darkness, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.the first day The "first day" (יוֹם אֶחָד, yom echad) marks the beginning of time as we understand it. The use of "echad" (one) not only denotes the ordinal number but also signifies unity and singularity. This foundational day sets the precedent for the rest of creation, underscoring the intentionality and purposefulness of God’s creative work. It invites believers to recognize the divine order and to trust in God’s perfect timing and plan.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) God called the light Day . . . Night.--Before this distinction of night and day was possible there must have been outside the earth, not as yet the sun, but a bright phosphorescent mass, such as now enwraps that luminary; and, secondly, the earth must have begun to revolve upon its axis. Consequent upon this would be, not merely alternate periods of light and darkness, but also of heat and cold, from which would result important effects upon the formation of the earth's crust. Moreover, in thus giving "day" and "night" names, God ordained language, and that vocal sounds should be the symbols of things. This law already looks forward to the existence of man, the one being on earth who calls things by their names.And the evening and the morning.--Literally, And was an evening and was a morning day one, the definite article not being used till <a href="/genesis/1-31.htm" title="And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.">Genesis 1:31</a>, when we have "day the sixth," which was also the last of the creative days.The word "evening" means a mixture. It is no longer the opaque darkness of a world without light, but the intermingling of light and darkness (comp. <a href="/context/zechariah/14-6.htm" title="And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:">Zechariah 14:6-7</a>). This is followed by a "morning," that is, a breaking forth of light. Evening is placed first because there was a progress from a less to a greater brightness and order and beauty. The Jewish method of calculating the day from sunset to sunset was not the cause, but the result of this arrangement.The first day.--A creative day is not a period of twenty-four hours, but an ?on, or period of indefinite duration, as the Bible itself teaches us. For in <a href="/genesis/2-4.htm" title="These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,">Genesis 2:4</a> the six days of this narrative are described as and summed up in one day, creation being there regarded, not in its successive stages, but as a whole. So by the common consent of commentators, the seventh day, or day of God's rest, is that age in which we are now living, and which will continue until the consummation of all things. So in <a href="/zechariah/14-7.htm" title="But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.">Zechariah 14:7</a> the whole Gospel dispensation is called "one day;" and constantly in Hebrew, as probably in all languages, day is used in a very indefinite manner, as, for instance, in <a href="/deuteronomy/9-1.htm" title="Hear, O Israel: You are to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,">Deuteronomy 9:1</a>. Those, however, who adopt the very probable suggestion of Kurtz, that the revelation of the manner of creation was made in a succession of representations or pictures displayed before the mental vision of the tranced seer, have no difficulties. He saw the dark gloom of evening pierced by the bright morning light: that was day one. Again, an evening cleft by the light, and he saw an opening space expanding itself around the world: that was day two. Again darkness and light, and on the surface of the earth he saw the waters rushing down into the seas: that was day three. And so on. What else could he call these periods but days? But as St. Augustine pointed out, there was no sun then, and "it is very difficult for us to imagine what sort of days these could be" (De Civ. Dei, xi. 6, 7). It must further be observed that this knowledge of the stages of creation could only have been given by revelation, and that the agreement of the Mosaic record with geology is so striking that there is no real difficulty in believing it to be inspired. The difficulties arise almost entirely from popular fallacies or the mistaken views of commentators. Geology has done noble service for religion in sweeping away the mean views of God's method of working which used formerly to prevail. We may add that among the Chaldeans a cosmic day was a period of 43,200 years, being the equivalent of the cycle of the procession of the equinoxes (Lenormant, Les Origines de l'Histoire, p. 233). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 5. - And God called (literally, called to) the light Day, and (literally, to) the darkness he called Night. "None but superficial thinkers," says Delitzsch, "can take offence at the idea of created things receiving names from God. The name of a thing is the expression of its nature. If the name be given by man, it fixes in a word the impression which it makes upon the human mind; but, when given by God, it expresses the reality, what the thing is in God's creation, and the place assigned it there by the side of other things." The things named were the light and the darkness; not the durations, but the phenomena. The names called were day, yore, and night, layela, which, again, were not time-measures, but character-descriptions. Ainsworth suggests that yore was intended to express "the tumult, stir, and business of the day," in all probability connecting it with yam, which depicts the foaming or the boiling of the sea; and that layela, in which he seems to detect the Latin ululare, is indicative of "the yelling or the howling of wild beasts at night." Gesenius derives the former from the unused root yore, which signifies to glow with heat, while the latter he associates with lul, also unused, to roll up, the idea being that the night wraps all things in obscurity. Macdonald sees in the naming of the creatures an expression of sovereignty and lordship, as when Adam named the beasts of the field. And the evening and the morning were the first day. Literally, And evening was and morning was, day one. Considerable diversity of sentiment prevails with regard to the exact interpretation of these words. On the one hand, it is assumed that the first creative period is here described as an ordinary astronomical or sidereal day of twenty-four hours' duration, its constituent parts being characterized in the usual way, as an evening and a morning. In the judgment of Kalisch and others the peculiar phrase, "Evening was, and morning was," is simply equivalent to the later Hebrew compound "evening-morning" (<a href="/daniel/8-14.htm">Daniel 8:14</a>), and the Greek νηχθήμερον (<a href="/2_corinthians/11-25.htm">2 Corinthians 11:25</a>), both of which denote a natural or civil day, though this is challenged, in the case of the Hebrew compound, by Macdonald. The language of the fourth commandment (<a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Exodus 20:11</a>) is also appealed to as removing, it beyond the sphere of doubt that the evening and the morning referred to are-the component sections of an earthly day. As to the proper terminus a quo of this initial day, however, the advocates of this interpretation are at variance among themselves; Delitzsch taking the terms ereb (literally, "the setting," from arab, (1) to mix; (2) to set, to depart, like the sun) and boker (literally, "the breaking forth," from bakar, to cleave, to open) in an active sense, and applying the former to the first fading of the light, and the latter to the breaking of the dawn after the first interval of darkness has passed, thus reckoning the creative days from daybreak to daybreak; while Murphy and Kalisch, who agree with him in regarding the days as ordinary solar days, declare they must be reckoned, Hebraico more, from sunset to sunset. But if the first day commenced with an evening or obscure period (Has ereb no connection with arab, to mix? May it not describe the condition of things when light and darkness were commingled?), that can be discovered only in the chaotic darkness out of which the light sprang. Hence, on the other hand, as it seems improbable that this was of no more than twelve hours' duration, and as the presumption is that the light-period would be commensurate in length, it has been argued that day one was not a sun-measured day, but a period of indefinite extent. Of course the length of day one practically determines the length of all the six. If it was a solar day, then they must be considered such. But as the present sidereal arrangements for the measurement of time were not then established, it is clearly gratuitous to proceed on the assumption that it was Hence, neither is it to be accepted without-demonstration that they were not likewise periods of prolonged duration. It is obvious they were if it was; and that it was appears to be suggested by the terms in which it is described. This conclusion, that the creation days were long periods, and not simply solar days, is confirmed by a variety of considerations. . . . <a href="/commentaries/genesis/1-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>God אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative called וַיִּקְרָ֨א (way·yiq·rā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> To call, proclaim, read the light לָאוֹר֙ (lā·’ō·wr) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> Illumination, luminary “day,” י֔וֹם (yō·wm) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> A day and the darkness וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ (wə·la·ḥō·šeḵ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness He called קָ֣רָא (qā·rā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> To call, proclaim, read “night.” לָ֑יְלָה (lā·yə·lāh) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3915.htm">Strong's 3915: </a> A twist, night, adversity And there was וַֽיְהִי־ (way·hî-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be evening, עֶ֥רֶב (‘e·reḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6153.htm">Strong's 6153: </a> Evening and there was וַֽיְהִי־ (way·hî-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be morning— בֹ֖קֶר (ḇō·qer) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1242.htm">Strong's 1242: </a> Dawn, morning the first אֶחָֽד׃ (’e·ḥāḏ) Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> United, one, first day. י֥וֹם (yō·wm) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> A day <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/1-5.htm">Genesis 1:5 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/1-5.htm">OT Law: Genesis 1:5 God called the light Day and (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/1-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 1:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/1-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 1:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>