Genesis 1:4
Verse
Context
Sermons
Zac PoonenZac Poonen
Erlo StegenZac Poonen
Don Courville
George CuttingSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
God divided the light from the darkness - This does not imply that light and darkness are two distinct substances, seeing darkness is only the privation of light; but the words simply refer us by anticipation to the rotation of the earth round its own axis once in twenty-three hours, fifty-six minutes, and four seconds, which is the cause of the distinction between day and night, by bringing the different parts of the surface of the earth successively into and from under the solar rays; and it was probably at this moment that God gave this rotation to the earth, to produce this merciful provision of day and night. For the manner in which light is supposed to be produced, see Gen 1:16, under the word sun.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
divided the light from darkness--refers to the alternation or succession of the one to the other, produced by the daily revolution of the earth round its axis.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And God saw the light, that it was good,.... Very pleasant and delightful, useful and beneficial; that is, he foresaw it would be good, of great service, as Picherellus (k) interprets it; for as yet there were no inhabitants of the earth to receive any advantage by it; see Ecc 11:7 besides, it was doubtless good to answer some present purposes, to prepare for the work of the two following days, before the great luminary was formed; as to dispel the darkness of heaven, and that which covered the deep; to rarefy, exhale, and draw up the lighter parts of the chaos, in order to form the wide extended ether, the expanded air, and the surrounding atmosphere, while the Spirit of God was agitating the waters, and separating them from the earthy parts; and which also might serve to unite and harden those which were to form the dry land, and also to warm that when it appeared, that it might bring forth grass, herbs, and fruit trees: and God divided the light from the darkness: by which it should seem that they were mixed together, the particles of light and darkness; but "by what way is the light parted", severed and divided from darkness, is a question put to men by the Lord himself, who only can answer it, Job 38:24 he has so divided one from the other that they are not together at the same place and time; when light is in one hemisphere, darkness is in the other (l); and the one by certain constant revolutions is made to succeed the other; and by the motion of the one, the other gives way; as well as also God has divided and distinguished them by calling them by different names, as Aben Ezra, and is what next follows: (k) In Cosmopoeiam, p. 267. (l) Milton in the place above referred to says, it was divided by the hemisphere. Paradise Lost, B. 7. l. 243, &c.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:4 Light is antithetical to chaotic darkness (1:2); the light is declared good but the darkness is not (cp. John 1:5). God is the source of this light (cp. Gen 1:14-19). God separated the light, as he did water (cp. 1:6-8), by his creative word. Light is associated with life and blessing (Job 38:19-20; Pss 19:1-6; 97:11; 104:19-20; Isa 60:19-20) and sets a boundary on the darkness that would destroy cosmic order. Darkness often typifies terror, death, and evil (see Gen 15:12; Job 18:6, 18; Ps 88:12; Eph 5:11-12; 1 Jn 1:5).
Genesis 1:4
The First Day
3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.4And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Through the Bible - Genesis - Part 1
By Zac Poonen3.0K58:47GenesisGEN 1:4PSA 1:2PSA 92:14MAT 6:33LUK 24:322CO 3:18REV 22:21In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that God has the power to remake and perfect us, just as He did with the creation of man in His image. The speaker highlights the importance of hearing God speak in order to be transformed. The sermon draws parallels between the corrupted state of the earth in Genesis and the fallen state of humanity due to the influence of Satan. However, the message of Genesis is that God is in the business of remaking and redeeming ruined situations. The sermon also introduces the book of Genesis as a significant text that explores the beginnings of creation, sin, redemption, and the contrast between true and counterfeit religion.
(Genesis) - Part 2
By Zac Poonen2.0K1:00:04GenesisGEN 1:4PSA 119:130MAT 6:33JHN 1:12CO 6:14HEB 5:141JN 1:5In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of God's declaration that His creation is good. He points out that there is one day in the creation account where God does not say it is good, which is the end of the second day. The speaker then highlights the first message given by the Apostle John, which emphasizes that God is light and there is no darkness in Him. The sermon also emphasizes the theme of separation between light and darkness, both in the physical creation and in the spiritual realm.
Light Separated From Darkness
By Erlo Stegen8531:06:49SeparationGEN 1:1GEN 1:4ISA 60:19MAT 4:19JHN 12:35In this sermon, the preacher begins by emphasizing the importance of light and darkness in the Bible. He references the creation story in Genesis, where God separates light from darkness and declares it good. He then moves on to a passage in John where Jesus speaks about the light being among the people for a little while longer. The preacher shares a personal testimony of a bridegroom who had a similar experience to the bride, where God revealed to him the woman he was meant to marry. The sermon concludes with a discussion about the consequences of leaving the faith and the importance of remaining faithful to God.
A Marriage Changed by God
By Zac Poonen80256:56GEN 1:4DEU 22:5ISA 49:15MAT 7:12EPH 1:18JAS 1:261PE 3:7This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinctions and roles within marriage, highlighting the need to recognize and respect the differences between husband and wife, as well as the importance of separating earthly concerns from heavenly priorities. It encourages patience, wisdom, and a focus on building a strong foundation in marriage to raise children who will honor God.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 103
By Don Courville28326:46Radio ShowGEN 1:4GEN 1:31EXO 34:4EXO 34:6In this sermon, the speaker uses a personal anecdote about helping his four-year-old son build a Lego airplane to illustrate the idea that life can seem overwhelming and confusing, but God has a plan and everything works out for good. The speaker emphasizes the goodness of God and how it is reflected in His actions. He references Exodus 34:6-7, where God proclaims His name and attributes, including being merciful, gracious, and abundant in goodness and truth. The speaker encourages the audience to seek a deeper understanding of God's goodness and to trust in His plan for their lives.
Steps Rightly Directed, a False Way Detected
By George Cutting0GEN 1:4PSA 119:104ROM 12:22CO 6:14EPH 5:11JAS 4:41JN 1:5George Cutting emphasizes the importance of using the Word of God as the ultimate standard for every aspect of our lives, as seen in Psalm 119:104 and 119:128, where the Psalmist expresses a strong preference for God's precepts over false ways. The Holy Ghost speaks decisively through the Scriptures, highlighting the clear distinction between right and wrong paths. Cutting warns against compromising with darkness and encourages a firm stance like David's, who loved God's law and hated vain thoughts.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
God divided the light from the darkness - This does not imply that light and darkness are two distinct substances, seeing darkness is only the privation of light; but the words simply refer us by anticipation to the rotation of the earth round its own axis once in twenty-three hours, fifty-six minutes, and four seconds, which is the cause of the distinction between day and night, by bringing the different parts of the surface of the earth successively into and from under the solar rays; and it was probably at this moment that God gave this rotation to the earth, to produce this merciful provision of day and night. For the manner in which light is supposed to be produced, see Gen 1:16, under the word sun.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
divided the light from darkness--refers to the alternation or succession of the one to the other, produced by the daily revolution of the earth round its axis.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And God saw the light, that it was good,.... Very pleasant and delightful, useful and beneficial; that is, he foresaw it would be good, of great service, as Picherellus (k) interprets it; for as yet there were no inhabitants of the earth to receive any advantage by it; see Ecc 11:7 besides, it was doubtless good to answer some present purposes, to prepare for the work of the two following days, before the great luminary was formed; as to dispel the darkness of heaven, and that which covered the deep; to rarefy, exhale, and draw up the lighter parts of the chaos, in order to form the wide extended ether, the expanded air, and the surrounding atmosphere, while the Spirit of God was agitating the waters, and separating them from the earthy parts; and which also might serve to unite and harden those which were to form the dry land, and also to warm that when it appeared, that it might bring forth grass, herbs, and fruit trees: and God divided the light from the darkness: by which it should seem that they were mixed together, the particles of light and darkness; but "by what way is the light parted", severed and divided from darkness, is a question put to men by the Lord himself, who only can answer it, Job 38:24 he has so divided one from the other that they are not together at the same place and time; when light is in one hemisphere, darkness is in the other (l); and the one by certain constant revolutions is made to succeed the other; and by the motion of the one, the other gives way; as well as also God has divided and distinguished them by calling them by different names, as Aben Ezra, and is what next follows: (k) In Cosmopoeiam, p. 267. (l) Milton in the place above referred to says, it was divided by the hemisphere. Paradise Lost, B. 7. l. 243, &c.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:4 Light is antithetical to chaotic darkness (1:2); the light is declared good but the darkness is not (cp. John 1:5). God is the source of this light (cp. Gen 1:14-19). God separated the light, as he did water (cp. 1:6-8), by his creative word. Light is associated with life and blessing (Job 38:19-20; Pss 19:1-6; 97:11; 104:19-20; Isa 60:19-20) and sets a boundary on the darkness that would destroy cosmic order. Darkness often typifies terror, death, and evil (see Gen 15:12; Job 18:6, 18; Ps 88:12; Eph 5:11-12; 1 Jn 1:5).