And God saidThis phrase introduces the divine act of creation through speech, emphasizing the power and authority of God's word. In the biblical context, God's word is not only communicative but also creative, bringing things into existence. This concept is echoed in
John 1:1-3, where the Word is identified with Jesus, indicating the divine nature and creative power of Christ. The act of speaking creation into existence underscores the transcendence and sovereignty of God over the universe.
“Let there be light,”
The command for light marks the first act of creation, symbolizing the dispelling of chaos and darkness. Light is often associated with God's presence and truth throughout Scripture, as seen in passages likePsalm 27:1 andJohn 8:12, where Jesus declares Himself the "light of the world." Theologically, light represents order, knowledge, and life, contrasting with darkness, which symbolizes chaos and evil. This phrase sets the stage for the separation of light from darkness, a theme that recurs throughout the Bible.
and there was light.
The immediate fulfillment of God's command demonstrates His omnipotence and the effectiveness of His word. The creation of light without a physical source, such as the sun, which is created later, highlights the supernatural aspect of this event. This act prefigures the ultimate victory of light over darkness, a theme that culminates in the New Testament with the coming of Christ, who brings spiritual illumination and salvation. The presence of light signifies the beginning of time and the ordering of creation, laying the foundation for the subsequent acts of creation.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
GodThe Creator, who speaks creation into existence. His authority and power are evident in His ability to create by simply speaking.
2.
LightThe first element of creation, symbolizing order, clarity, and the presence of God. It is the separation from darkness, representing the beginning of God's creative work.
3.
Creation EventThe act of God speaking light into existence marks the beginning of the ordered universe and the first day of creation.
Teaching Points
The Power of God's WordGod's word is powerful and effective. Just as He spoke light into existence, His word continues to have the power to transform and create in our lives.
Light as a Symbol of God's PresenceLight represents God's presence, guidance, and truth. In our spiritual journey, we are called to walk in the light, reflecting God's character and truth in a dark world.
Order from ChaosGod's creation of light from darkness illustrates His ability to bring order from chaos. In our lives, God can bring clarity and purpose where there is confusion and disorder.
The Beginning of New CreationJust as light marked the beginning of creation, accepting Christ, the Light of the World, marks the beginning of a new creation in us. We are called to live as children of light.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 1:3?
2.How does Genesis 1:3 demonstrate God's authority over creation through His spoken word?
3.What does "Let there be light" reveal about God's power and purpose?
4.How does Genesis 1:3 connect to John 1:1-5 about Jesus as Light?
5.How can we apply God's creative power in Genesis 1:3 to our lives?
6.In what ways does Genesis 1:3 inspire us to trust God's divine plan?
7.How does "Let there be light" align with scientific explanations of the universe's origin?
8.Why is light the first creation in Genesis 1:3?
9.What does Genesis 1:3 reveal about God's nature and power?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 1?
11.How was there light before the sun existed?
12.If Genesis describes the creation of the sun on the fourth day, how were there "days" before the sun existed?
13.Is God our Sustainer?
14.Did God create light before the sun? (Genesis 1:3-5 vs. Genesis 1:16-19)What Does Genesis 1:3 Mean
And God said• Scripture opens the act of creation with God speaking, underscoring His personal involvement and sovereign authority (Psalm 33:6, 9;Hebrews 11:3).
• God’s word is not merely descriptive; it is performative. When He speaks, reality responds (Isaiah 45:11–12).
• This pattern—divine speech preceding divine action—runs through the entire chapter and reappears in salvation history: “He sent out His word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20).
•John 1:1–3 links this spoken word to the Son, showing that creation and redemption both flow from the same powerful voice.
“Let there be light,”• Light is the first specific creation, highlighting God’s desire to reveal, order, and bless (Psalm 119:105;1 John 1:5).
• By calling light into existence before the sun, moon, and stars (created on Day 4), the text emphasizes that light’s source is God Himself, not merely celestial bodies (Revelation 21:23).
• Throughout Scripture, light becomes a consistent metaphor for truth and life: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
• God’s command here anticipates the spiritual illumination He gives in Christ—“God…has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
and there was light• Immediate fulfillment shows the absolute reliability of God’s word (Isaiah 55:11).
• Creation obeys without delay, modeling the perfect response to divine authority (Psalm 148:5).
• The sudden appearance of light dispels primordial darkness, foreshadowing how God’s grace conquers spiritual darkness (Colossians 1:13).
• “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17), reinforcing that all goodness—including physical and moral light—originates in Him.
summaryGenesis 1:3 reveals a God who speaks with matchless authority, calls light out of darkness, and sees His word instantly fulfilled. The verse introduces a theme that spans the Bible: God’s voice brings life, order, and revelation. From creation’s first dawn to the radiant glory of the New Jerusalem, His light shines, unchanged and victorious.
THE CREATIVE DAYS.
(3)And God said.--Voice and sound there could be none, nor was there any person to whom God addressed this word of power. The phrase, then, is metaphorical, and means that God enacted for the universe a law; and ten times we find the command similarly given. The beauty and sublimity of the language here used has often been noticed: God makes no preparation, He employs no means, needs no secondary agency. He speaks, and it is done. His word alone contains all things necessary for the fulfilment of His will. So in the cognate languages the wordEmir,ruler, is literally,speaker.The Supreme One speaks: with the rest, of hear is to obey. God, then, by speaking, gives to nature a universal and enduring law. His commands are not temporary, but eternal; and whatever secondary causes were called into existence when the Elohim, by a word, created light, those same causes produce it now, and will produce it until God recalls His word. We have, then, here nature's first universal law. What is it?
Let there be light: and there was light.--The sublimity of the original is lost in our language by the cumbrous multiplication of particles. The Hebrew isYhi or wayhi or.Light is not itself a substance, but is a condition or state of matter; and this primaeval light was probably electric, arising from the condensation and friction of the elements as they began to arrange themselves in order. And this, again, was due to what is commonly called the law of gravitation, or of the attraction of matter. If on the first day electricity and magnetism were generated, and the laws given which create and control them, we have in them the two most powerful and active energies of the present and of all time--or possibly two forms of one and the same busy and restless force. And the law thus given was that of gravitation, of which light was the immediate result.
Verses 3-5. - The evolution of the cosmos was accomplished by a series of Divine formative works which extended over a period of six successive days. In the character of those cosmic labors a progression is distinctly visible, though not continuous throughout Unless, with Aristotle, the celestial luminaries are regarded as
ζῶα λογικά, and so classed in the category of organized and living beings, it is impossible to find in their production an advance upon the preceding vegetation. Arbitrary transpositions of the days, as of the third and fourth, in order to make the first half of the creative week an inorganic, and the second half an organic, era, are inadmissible. The arrangement of the days that accords most exactly with the requirements of the case, and most successfully preserves the order and connection of the record, is that which divides them into two triads (Lange, Kalisch, Dana, etc.), as exhibited underneath: -
1. Light.
2. Air, Water.
3. Dry Land and Plants. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים(’ĕ·lō·hîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativesaid,וַיֹּ֥אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say“Let there beיְהִ֣י(yə·hî)Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, belight,”א֑וֹר(’ō·wr)Noun - common singular
Strong's 216:Illumination, luminaryand there wasוַֽיְהִי־(way·hî-)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, belight.אֽוֹר׃(’ō·wr)Noun - common singular
Strong's 216:Illumination, luminary
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OT Law: Genesis 1:3 God said Let there be light (Gen. Ge Gn) 
