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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 1:4 And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/01_Gen_01_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 1:4 - The First Day" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</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/1-4.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/1-4.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 4</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="/ad4.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/1-3.htm" title="Genesis 1:3">◄</a> Genesis 1:4 <a href="/genesis/1-5.htm" title="Genesis 1:5">►</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="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><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"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And God saw the light, that <i>it was</i> good: and God divided the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And God saw the light, that <i>it was</i> good; and God divided the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) <i>and</i> He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />God looked at the light and saw that it was good. He separated light from darkness <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />God saw the light was good. So God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />God was pleased with what he saw. Then he separated the light from the darkness, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />God saw that the light was beautiful. He separated the light from the darkness, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And God sees that the light [is] good, and God separates between the light and the darkness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And God seeth the light that it is good, and God separateth between the light and the darkness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And God will see the light that it is good, and God will separate between the light and between the darkness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And God saw the light that it was good; and he divided the light from the darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And God saw the light, that it was good; and so he divided the light from the darknesses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And God saw the light that it is beautiful and God separated between the light unto the darkness.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided between the light and the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/1-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=19" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/1.htm">The First Day</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><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">And God</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: way·yar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">saw</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: hā·’ō·wr (Art:: N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">the light</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">was good,</a> <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">and He</a> <a href="/hebrew/914.htm" title="914: way·yaḇ·dêl (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be divided, separate. A primitive root; to divide.">separated</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: hā·’ō·wr (Art:: N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">the light</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: ū·ḇên (Conj-w:: Prep) -- An interval, space between. ">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: bên (Prep) -- An interval, space between. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: ha·ḥō·šeḵ (Art:: N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">the darkness.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-5.htm">John 1:5</a></span><br />The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-6.htm">2 Corinthians 4:6</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-7.htm">Isaiah 45:7</a></span><br />I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/1-5.htm">1 John 1:5</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-2.htm">Psalm 104:2</a></span><br />He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-17.htm">James 1:17</a></span><br />Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Ephesians 5:8</a></span><br />For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a></span><br />But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/60-19.htm">Isaiah 60:19-20</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-23.htm">Revelation 21:23-25</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/27-1.htm">Psalm 27:1</a></span><br />Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14-16</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/5-5.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:5</a></span><br />For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-16.htm">Isaiah 42:16</a></span><br />I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.</p><p class="hdg">that.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/1-10.htm">Genesis 1:10,12,18,25,31</a></b></br> And God called the dry <i>land</i> Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that <i>it was</i> good… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:13</a></b></br> Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/11-7.htm">Ecclesiastes 11:7</a></b></br> Truly the light <i>is</i> sweet, and a pleasant <i>thing it is</i> for the eyes to behold the sun:</p><p class="hdg">the light from the darkness.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/revelation/16-19.htm">Divided</a> <a href="/james/2-4.htm">Division</a> <a href="/revelation/14-6.htm">Good</a> <a href="/genesis/1-3.htm">Light</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-28.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/matthew/25-32.htm">Separateth</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/1-5.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/genesis/1-5.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/genesis/1-7.htm">Divided</a> <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Division</a> <a href="/genesis/1-10.htm">Good</a> <a href="/genesis/1-5.htm">Light</a> <a href="/genesis/1-7.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/genesis/1-7.htm">Separateth</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">God creates heaven and earth;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-3.htm">the light;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">the firmament;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-9.htm">separates the dry land;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-14.htm">forms the sun, moon, and stars;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-20.htm">fishes and fowls;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-24.htm">cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">creates man in his own image, blesses him;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/1-29.htm">grants the fruits of the earth for food.</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And God saw that the light was good</b><br>This phrase emphasizes God's approval of His creation. The concept of "good" in the biblical context often denotes something that fulfills its intended purpose. Light, in this sense, represents order, clarity, and the presence of God, contrasting with chaos and disorder. The approval of light as "good" sets a precedent for the rest of creation, where God repeatedly acknowledges the goodness of His work. This also foreshadows the moral and spiritual symbolism of light throughout Scripture, such as in <a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>, where Jesus declares Himself the "light of the world," indicating purity, truth, and divine presence.<p><b>and He separated the light from the darkness</b><br>The act of separation here is significant, as it introduces the concept of distinction and order in creation. This separation is not just physical but also symbolic, representing the division between good and evil, knowledge and ignorance, and life and death. The theme of separation continues throughout the Bible, such as in the separation of Israel from other nations (<a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Leviticus 20:26</a>) and the separation of believers from the world (<a href="/2_corinthians/6-17.htm">2 Corinthians 6:17</a>). This act of dividing light from darkness also prefigures the ultimate separation at the end of time, as described in <a href="/matthew/25-31.htm">Matthew 25:31-46</a>, where the righteous are separated from the unrighteous.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The Creator, who is actively involved in the process of creation, discerning and declaring the goodness of what He has made.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/l/light.htm">Light</a></b><br>The first element of creation that God calls "good," symbolizing order, clarity, and the presence of God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/darkness.htm">Darkness</a></b><br>The absence of light, which God separates from the light, establishing a distinction between the two.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_goodness_of_creation.htm">The Goodness of Creation</a></b><br>God’s declaration that the light is "good" reminds us of the inherent goodness in God’s creation. We should appreciate and steward the world around us as a reflection of God’s goodness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_separation.htm">The Power of Separation</a></b><br>The act of separating light from darkness illustrates God’s authority and order. In our lives, we are called to discern and separate good from evil, living in the light of God’s truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_enlightenment.htm">Spiritual Enlightenment</a></b><br>Just as God brought physical light into the world, He brings spiritual light into our hearts through Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to walk in this light and reflect it to others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God’s Sovereignty</a></b><br>The creation account underscores God’s sovereignty over all things. Trusting in His control can bring peace and assurance in our daily lives.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">And God saw.</span>--This contemplation indicates, first, lapse of time; and next, that the judgment pronounced was the verdict of the Divine reason.<p><span class= "bld">That it was good.</span>--As light was a necessary result of motion in the world-mass, so was it indispensable for all that was to follow, inasmuch as neither vegetable nor animal life can exist without it. But the repeated approval by the Deity of each part and portion of this material universe (comp. <a href="/psalms/104-31.htm" title="The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.">Psalm 104:31</a>) also condemns all Manichaean theories, and asserts that this world is a noble home for man, and life a blessing, in spite of its solemn responsibilities.<p><span class= "bld">And God divided . . . --</span>The first three creative days are all days of order and distribution, and have been called "the three separations." But while on the first two days no new thing was created, but only the chaotic matter (described in <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm" title="And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.">Genesis 1:2</a>) arranged, on day three there was the introduction of vegetable life. The division on the first day does not imply that darkness has a separate and independent existence, but that there were now periods of light and darkness; and thus by the end of the first day our earth must have advanced far on its way towards its present state. (See Note, <a href="/genesis/1-5.htm" title="And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.">Genesis 1:5</a>.) It is, however, even more probable that the ultimate results of each creative word are summed up in the account given of it. No sooner did motion begin, than the separation of the air and water from the denser particles must have begun too. The immediate result was light; removed by a greater interval was the formation of an open space round the contracting earth-ball; still more remote was the formation of continents and oceans; but the separations must have commenced immediately that the "wind of Elohim" began to brood upon and move the chaotic mass. How far these separations had advanced before there were recurrent periods of light and darkness is outside the scope of the Divine narrative, which is not geological, but religious.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And God saw the light, that it was good</span>. The anthropomorphism of this verse is suggestive, as teaching that from the first the absolute and all-sufficient Elohim was an intelligent Spectator of the operation of his own laws and forces, and was profoundly interested in the results which they achieved - an amount and degree of interference with the vast machine of nature which would satisfy any rational theist of today. God <span class="accented">saw</span>, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> examined and judged the newly-finished product, investigated its nature and its properties, contemplated its uses, admired its excellences, noted its correspondence with his own Divine idea; and in all these respects he pronounced it good. Afterwards it is the particular arrangement effected, or condition induced, by the creative word that evokes the Divine commendation; here it is the creature itself - "perhaps as the one object in nature which forms the fittest representation of the Creator himself, who is Light, and in whom is no darkness at all (<a href="/1_john/1-5.htm">1 John 1:5</a>), and of the true Light, which lighteth every man (<a href="/john/1-9.htm">John 1:9</a>)" (Macdonald). <span class="cmt_word">And God divided between the light and the darkness</span>. The celestial, bodies not having been constituted light-holders for the earth until the fourth day forbids the supposition that the luminous matter, on being eliminated from the chaotic mass, was forthwith transported towards and concentrated in the sun. The sun itself, it is now well known, is "a solid mass of highly igneous matter engirt by a bed of dense clouds, on the top of which there lies, encircling all, a floating phosphorescent or luminous atmosphere, the lower part of it splendid, but the upper of luster altogether dazzling, from which streams the flood of light that enlivens all surrounding spheres" (Nichol's 'Cyclopedia,' art. Sun). "If, therefore, with Laplace, we may assume that the physical history of the sun was the archetype of that of the various planetary bodies that compose our system, we must think of them also, in the process of condensation, developing luminous atmospheres, which would continue encircling them, and in fact making them suns, until, through their further condensation, those phosphorescent bands were broken up, and, becoming disengaged from their parent globes, were attracted towards, and subsequently centralized in, the photosphere of the sun. So far as our earth is concerned, that happened on the fourth day. On the first day the light would either ensphere it in a radiant cloud, or exist apart from it, like a sun, though always in the plane of its orbit" (Delitzsch). If the former, then manifestly, though revolving on its axis, the earth would not experience the vicissitude of day and night, which some conjecture was not at this time established; if the latter, then the same succession of light and darkness would be begun as was afterwards rendered permanent by the fourth day's work. The chief reasons for the latter alternative are the supposed necessity of understanding the term day as a period of twenty-four hours, and the apparent impossibility of explaining how the light could be divided from the darkness otherwise than by the diurnal revolution of the earth. The Hiphil of <span class="hebrew">בָּדַל</span>, however, means to disjoin what was previously mixed, and may simply refer to the separation of the luminous particles from the opaque mass. By that very act the light was divided from the darkness. It was henceforth to be no more commingled. "The light denotes all that is simply illuminating in its efficacy, all the luminous element; the darkness denotes all that is untransparent, dark, shadow-casting; both together denote the polarity of the created world as it exists between the light-formations and the night-formations - the constitution of the day and night" (Lange). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/1-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And seeing</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֧רְא</span> <span class="translit">(way·yar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the light</span><br /><span class="heb">הָא֖וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> </span><span class="str2">Illumination, luminary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[was] good,</span><br /><span class="heb">ט֑וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(ṭō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, agreeable, good</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">separated</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaḇ·dêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_914.htm">Strong's 914: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be divided, separate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the light</span><br /><span class="heb">הָא֖וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> </span><span class="str2">Illumination, luminary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבֵ֥ין</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> </span><span class="str2">An interval, space between</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the darkness.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ḥō·šeḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> </span><span class="str2">The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/1-4.htm">Genesis 1:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/1-4.htm">OT Law: Genesis 1:4 God saw the light and saw that (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/1-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 1:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/1-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 1:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 1:5" /></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>