God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:17-18 NKJV
Hello friends, and welcome to today’s Scripture thought.
In verse 16, we learned that God (‘ĕlōhîm) made the sun, moon, and stars. In these verses, He set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to divide the light from the darkness.
The phrase “to give light” is transliterated from the Hebrew word ‘ôr, and can mean:
- to be or become light, shine
- to shine (of the sun)
- to become bright
- to be illuminated
- to become lighted up
- to give light, shine (of sun, moon, and stars)
- to illumine, light up, cause to shine, shine
- to kindle, light (candle, wood)
- lighten (of the eyes, his law, etc)
- to make shine (of the face)
The word “divide” is transliterated from the Hebrew word bāḏal, and can mean:
- to divide, separate
- to divide, separate, sever
- to separate, set apart
- to make a distinction, difference
- to divide into parts
- to separate oneself from (reflexive of 1a2)
- to withdraw from
- to separate oneself unto
- to be separated
- to be excluded
- to be set apart
(from the Strong’s Concordance)
Daily Bread for Women 