Genesis 1:16 Parallel Translations

God made the two bright lights: the larger light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

ASV:

And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

BBE:

And God made the two great lights: the greater light to be the ruler of the day, and the smaller light to be the ruler of the night: and he made the stars.

DBY:

And God made the two great lights, the great light to rule the day, and the small light to rule the night, and the stars.

ERV:

And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

JPS:

And God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars.

WBS:

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

WEB:

God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.

YLT:

And God maketh the two great luminaries, the great luminary for the rule of the day, and the small luminary -- and the stars -- for the rule of the night;

Genesis 1:16 Cross References

XREF:

Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Psalm 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

Psalm 136:8 The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

Psalm 136:9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

1:16 And God made two great {n} lights; the greater light to {o} rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.
(n) That is, the sun and the moon, and here he speaks as man judges by his eye: for else the moon is less than the planet Saturn.
(o) To give it sufficient light, as instruments appointed for the same, to serve man's purposes.

WES:

1:14-19 This is the history of the fourth day's work, the creating the sun, moon and stars. Of this we have an account, In general, verse 14, 15. where we have, The command given concerning them. Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven - God had said, Ge 1:3 Let there be light, and there was light; but that was, as it were, a chaos of light, scattered and confused; now it was collected and made into several luminaries, and so rendered both more glorious and more serviceable. The use they were intended to be of to this earth. They must be for the distinction of times, of day and night, summer and winter. They must be for the direction of actions: they are for signs of the change of weather, that the husbandman may order his affairs with discretion. They do also give light upon the earth - That we may walk John 11:9 and work John 9:4 according as the duty of every day requires. The lights of heaven do not shine for themselves, nor for the world of spirits above, they need them not; but they shine for us, and for our pleasure and advantage. Lord, what is man that he should be thus regarded, Ps 8:3,4. In particular, Ge 1:16,17,18, The lights of heaven are the sun, moon and stars, and these all are the work of God's hands. The sun is the greatest light of all, and the most glorious and useful of all the lamps of heaven; a noble instance of the Creator's wisdom, power and goodness, and an invaluable blessing to the creatures of this lower world. The moon is a lesser light, and yet is here reckoned one of the greater lights, because, though in regard of its magnitude, it is inferior to many of the stars, yet in respect of its usefulness to the earth, it is more excellent than they. He made the stars also - Which are here spoken of only in general; for the scriptures were written not to gratify our curiosity, but to lead us to God. Now, these lights are said to rule, Ge 1:16,18; not that they have a supreme dominion as God has, but they are rulers under him. Here the lesser light, the moon, is said to rule the night; but Ps 136:9 the stars are mentioned as sharers in that government, the moon and stars to rule by night. No more is meant, but that they give light, Jer 31:35. The best and most honourable way of ruling is, by giving light, and doing good.

MHC:

1:14-19 In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God. The stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The lights of heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully, and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end of our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God, as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but do not mind our Master's work.

CONC:

Govern Greater Lesser Lights Luminaries Luminary Maketh Rule Ruler Smaller Stars

Govern Great Greater Lights Maketh Night Rule Ruler Small Smaller Stars

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