Genesis 1:3 kjv

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 nkjv

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 niv

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 esv

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 nlt

Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Genesis 1 verses

Genesis 1 3 Meaning

Genesis 1:3 marks the sovereign God's initial act of bringing order to the primordial, chaotic state described in verse 2. Through a direct and powerful utterance, "Let there be light," God calls existence into being, demonstrating His effortless authority and ability to command reality. This divine fiat results in the immediate manifestation of "light," a fundamental component of creation, signifying a decisive separation from the preceding darkness and initiating a progression toward a formed and filled cosmos.

Genesis 1 3 Context

Genesis 1 provides the foundational narrative of creation, introducing God as the sole, supreme Creator. Verse 1 establishes God's primordial act of creating the heavens and the earth. Verse 2 describes the initial state of the earth as "formless and empty," shrouded in deep darkness, with the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. It sets a scene of primeval chaos awaiting divine organization. Following this, Genesis 1:3 marks the definitive shift from static chaos to dynamic creation. This verse profoundly counters ancient Near Eastern cosmologies prevalent at the time, which often depicted creation as resulting from violent cosmic battles between deities, or from the inherent properties of pre-existing matter, or through sexual procreation among gods. In stark contrast, Genesis presents an unchallenged, transcendent God, Elohim, creating effortlessly through mere utterance, establishing His unparalleled authority and the inherent goodness of His creation without struggle or deficiency. It also subtly but powerfully de-divinizes natural elements, including light, presenting them as created entities rather than autonomous deities.

Genesis 1 3 Word analysis

• "And God said" (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים - vayyō’mer ’ĕlōhîm)

  • וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyō’mer): "And he said." This consecutive imperfect verbal form emphasizes immediate and decisive action. It signifies God speaking authoritatively and intentionally, revealing creation as a purposeful act of speech rather than a magical occurrence or struggle. This is the first recorded instance of divine speech in the Bible, establishing language as God's primary means of revelation and execution of His will.
  • אֱלֹהִים (’ĕlōhîm): "God." This is the most common Hebrew word for God in the Old Testament, a plural noun often used with a singular verb, emphasizing God's majestic plural (fullness, greatness, supreme power) while maintaining His singular identity and unity. It denotes God as the sovereign, all-powerful Creator and Judge. The use of this specific name for God highlights His transcendence and might over all other claimed powers.

• "'Let there be light'" (יְהִי אוֹר - yəhî ’ôr)

  • יְהִי (yəhî): "Let there be" or "There shall be." This jussive verb expresses a divine imperative – a command, a forceful decree that brings reality into being. It signifies God's direct, causal, and effective agency in creation.
  • אוֹר (’ôr): "Light." This refers to a general illumination or energy, distinct from the specific light-giving bodies (sun, moon, stars) created on Day 4. It's the first created entity, a necessary precondition for order and distinction. Theologically, light often symbolizes truth, revelation, goodness, life, and the very presence of God, standing in opposition to chaos, darkness, and ignorance. The creation of light before luminaries emphasizes that light originates from God Himself, not from celestial objects.

• "and there was light" (וַיְהִי אוֹר - vayəhî ’ôr)

  • וַיְהִי (vayəhî): "And there was" or "And it came to be." This perfect tense consecutive indicates the immediate and complete fulfillment of God's command. It powerfully demonstrates the efficacy and irresistibility of God's word. What God declares, instantaneously manifests.
  • אוֹר (’ôr): "Light." The repetition of "light" confirms that the spoken command directly resulted in its perfect manifestation, emphasizing the power of God's word to create and the precision of His acts.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And God said...and there was light": This parallel structure forms the fundamental pattern of creation in Genesis 1. It starkly reveals the effortless and efficacious nature of God's creative power. The divine intent, conveyed through speech, results in immediate reality. This establishes a core biblical principle: God's word does not return to Him empty but accomplishes His purpose (Isa 55:11).
  • The Power of Divine Fiat: The phraseology emphasizes God's direct and sovereign control over all existence. Creation is not an evolutionary process, nor does it require conflict or physical effort on God's part; it is simply decreed into being. This "creation by speaking" is unique to biblical cosmology and underscores God's absolute authority over nothingness.
  • Separation and Order: The very first creative act brings light, separating it from darkness (Gen 1:4). This establishes the crucial theme of separation and the introduction of order from the chaotic state of Gen 1:2. This initial separation lays the groundwork for subsequent divisions and structuring of the cosmos in the following days.

Genesis 1 3 Bonus section

• Theological Precursor to the Logos Doctrine: Genesis 1:3 is foundational for understanding the "Logos" or "Word" in later biblical theology, especially in the New Testament. John 1:1-3 directly links the creation "through him" (the Word) to Genesis, portraying Jesus Christ as the active agent and personification of God's creative Word, establishing a seamless continuity between the Old and New Testaments regarding divine creative power.
• The Goodness of Creation: While the verse doesn't explicitly state "and God saw that it was good" (which appears in Gen 1:4), the immediate effectiveness of the command implies inherent goodness. Light, representing order and clarity, is implicitly good and necessary for life, setting the tone for God's evaluation of subsequent creation.
• Illumination for Understanding: The first act of creation is light, which makes discernment possible. This has parallels in spiritual understanding: just as physical light reveals form, divine light illuminates truth and spiritual reality, enabling us to see God's character and purposes.

Genesis 1 3 Commentary

Genesis 1:3 stands as a profound declaration of God's sovereign power and intentional creation. It reveals God not as a being bound by existing matter or external forces, but as a transcendent Creator whose mere spoken word holds the power to call existence from non-existence. The instantaneous appearance of light following the divine command, without struggle or effort, illustrates God's omnipotence and omnicompetence. This primary act transforms a dark, formless void into a cosmos capable of receiving order and life. The unique creation of light before the sun, moon, and stars underscores that God Himself is the ultimate source of all illumination, whether physical or spiritual, providing a vital polemic against the worship of celestial bodies common in ancient cultures. The recurring pattern of "God said...and it was so" throughout Genesis 1 originates here, establishing that God's word is eternally effective and carries both the power to create and the blueprint for the created order.