Genesis 1:13 kjv

And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Genesis 1:13 nkjv

So the evening and the morning were the third day.

Genesis 1:13 niv

And there was evening, and there was morning?the third day.

Genesis 1:13 esv

And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

Genesis 1:13 nlt

And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.

Genesis 1 verses

Genesis 1 13 Meaning

Genesis 1:13 marks the completion of the third twenty-four-hour day of God's creation week. It concludes the period during which God brought forth dry land from the waters and commanded the earth to produce various forms of vegetation. The recurring phrase "And the evening and the morning were..." establishes the chronological rhythm and defined boundary of each creative phase, underscoring God's precise and orderly progression in shaping the world.

Genesis 1 13 Context

Genesis 1:13 serves as the concluding statement for the third day of creation. Immediately prior, verses 9-12 describe God's work for this period: first, separating the gathered waters from the dry land (calling them "Seas" and "Earth" respectively), and second, commanding the earth to bring forth all forms of vegetation (grass, plants bearing seed, and trees bearing fruit). This verse marks the completion of these significant creative acts, setting the stage for the creation of luminaries on Day Four and living creatures on Days Five and Six. The consistent use of "evening and morning" to define each "day" underscores God's ordered and sequential work, establishing time itself as a construct of the Creator. This orderly progression implicitly challenges pagan creation myths, which often depict creation arising from chaotic struggles or lacking a distinct temporal framework.

Genesis 1 13 Word Analysis

• And (וַיְהִי - vayehi): Literally "and there was" or "and it was." This is a narrative Hebrew construct (the waw consecutive imperfect) which denotes sequential action and the completion of a divine decree. It marks the chronological flow of God's creative week.
• the evening (עֶרֶב - erev): Refers to dusk or nightfall. In ancient Israelite reckoning, the day began with evening, following the lunar cycle. Its inclusion emphasizes that a full 24-hour period (darkness to light) had elapsed.
• and the morning (וַיְהִי-בֹקֶר - vayehi boker): Literally "and there was morning," referring to dawn or daylight. This completes the daily cycle, marking the full passage of a singular unit of time as defined by God.
• were (implied by vayehi erev vayehi boker in Hebrew): Denotes that the sequence of evening and morning has completed, thus forming the day.
• the third day (יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי - yom shlishi): "Day third." Yom when combined with an ordinal number (first, second, third, etc.) in the Genesis account consistently denotes a literal 24-hour period. This emphasizes the discrete, complete nature of each phase of creation.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And the evening and the morning": This recurring phrase (used for each day) defines the temporal unit of creation as a complete cycle of light and darkness. It asserts God's sovereignty over time, demonstrating that a "day" could exist and be defined by Him even before the sun, moon, and stars were created (on the fourth day). It emphasizes the cyclical and delimited nature of each creative period.
• "were the third day": This declaration explicitly closes the third creative epoch, highlighting its completion and distinctness. It indicates that God's creative work is purposeful, sequential, and precisely measured in time. The third day is particularly significant as it sees the emergence of dry land and abundant plant life, forming the foundation for sustaining all future life.

Genesis 1 13 Bonus Section

• Double Divine Affirmation: Unlike days one, two, and four, the third day is notable for having two instances of God declaring His work "good" (Gen 1:10 and 1:12). This repetition may highlight the profound foundational importance and blessing of bringing forth the habitable land and the beginning of biological life (vegetation), which provides food and habitat for all that follows.
• Preparatory Significance: The third day's creation of dry land and vegetation is crucial for all subsequent life. Without the ground to stand on and plants for food, the higher forms of life created on days five and six could not exist. This illustrates God's intricate planning and foresight.
• Typological Resonance: In biblical theology, the "third day" often signifies a moment of significant transition, new life, or divine action. This pattern culminates in the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day, transforming death into new, eternal life (Luke 24:7, 46; 1 Cor 15:4). While distinct, the beginning of biological life on the third creation day might echo, in principle, this theme of new life emerging after a period of gestation or waiting.

Genesis 1 13 Commentary

Genesis 1:13 succinctly seals the work of creation on the third day, affirming God's orderly and progressive method. The consistent pattern of "evening and morning" for each day reinforces the reality of six literal, sequential days of creation, each representing a complete divine action. This verse highlights that God established the foundational elements of the earth—separated waters, defined dry land, and teeming plant life—all within this distinct time frame. The declaration "the third day" underscores that this period's creative acts were finished before moving on to the next. It speaks of divine wisdom, intentionality, and a precise timeline, setting apart the biblical account from ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies that often presented chaotic, indefinite, or polytheistic origins. Practically, it teaches us the value of completion and structured work, reflecting God's character.