| Genesis 1:3 | |
|---|---|
← 1:2 1:4 → | |
 Creation of Light, byGustave Doré. | |
| Book | Book of Genesis |
| Hebrew Bible part | Torah |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 1 |
Genesis 1:3 is the thirdverse of the first chapter in theBook of Genesis. In itGod made light by declaration:God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. It is a part of theTorah portion known asBereshit (Genesis 1:1-6:8).
"Let there be light" (like "in the beginning" inGenesis 1:1) has entered into common usage as a phrase. It is themotto (sometimes in itsLatin form,fiat lux) for many educational institutions (using light as a metaphor for knowledge). TheUniversity of California is one example.[1] The phrase also forms the chorus of John Marriott's hymn about Creation, "Thou, Whose Almighty Word."[2]
Augustine of Hippo, in hisCity of God, sees the verse as indicating "not only that God had made the world, but also that He had made it by the word."[3] The words "let there be light" are the first divine words in the Bible.[4] The Latin for "let there be light" is "fiat lux," and this description of creation by command has led to the theological phrase "creation by fiat."[5] In the words ofPeter Kreeft, God "simply spoke... and it came to be."[6]
Gerhard von Rad considers the implication to be "the most radical distinction between Creator and creature. Creation cannot be even remotely considered an emanation from God; it is not somehow an overflow or reflection of his being, i.e., of his divine nature, but is rather a product of his personal will."[7]
The divine "fiat lux" in this passage has "exerted a powerful influence on theEnglish poetic tradition."[8] The many examples includeJohn Dryden's lines "Thus Britain's Basis on a Word is laid, / As by a word the World itself was made."[8]
St Basil emphasises the role of light in making the universe beautiful,[8] as doesSt Ambrose, who writes: "But the good Author uttered the word 'light' so that He might reveal the world by infusing brightness therein and thus make its aspect beautiful."[9]
The light is described as being created here before the sun, moon, and stars, which appear on the fourth day (Genesis 1:14–19).[10] In some Jewish interpretations, the light created here is a primordial light, different in nature from (and brighter than) that associated with the sun.[11] The light has also been interpreted metaphorically,[12] and has been connected toPsalm 104 (a "poem of creation"[13]), where God is described as wrapping himself in light.[14][15]
Some writers have seen a connection between this verse and theBig Bang inphysical cosmology.[10][16][17][18]
Various translations into English of the Hebrew textוַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר (WayyōmerĚlōhîm "yǝhî ôr," wayǝhî ôr) include:
| Translation | Text |
|---|---|
| American Standard Version | "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." |
| Bible in Basic English | "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." |
| Darby Bible | "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." |
| God's Word Translation | "Then God said, "Let there be light!" So there was light." |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible | "Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." |
| Jewish Publication Society (3rd ed.) | "God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. |
| King James Version | "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." |
| The Message | "God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared." |
| New International Version | "And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." |
| New King James Version | "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." |
| Webster's Revision | "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." |
| World English Bible | "God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." |
| Young's Literal Translation | "and God saith, 'Let light be;' and light is." |
| Preceded by | Book of Genesis | Succeeded by |