The Meaning of Genesis 1:16 Explained

Genesis 1:16

KJV: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

YLT: And God maketh the two great luminaries, the great luminary for the rule of the day, and the small luminary -- and the stars -- for the rule of the night;

Darby: And God made the two great lights, the great light to rule the day, and the small light to rule the night, and the stars.

ASV: And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And God  made  two  great  lights;  the greater  light  to rule  the day,  and the lesser  light  to rule  the night:  [he made] the stars  also. 

What does Genesis 1:16 Mean?

Study Notes

greater light
The "greater light" is a type of Christ, the "Sun of righteousness" Malachi 4:2 . He will take this character at His second advent. Morally the world is now in the state between; Genesis 1:3-16 ; Ephesians 6:12 ; Acts 26:18 ; 1 Peter 2:9 . The sun is not seen, but there is light. Christ is that light John 1:4 ; John 1:5 ; John 1:9 but "shineth in darkness," comprehended only by faith. As "Son of righteousness" He will dispel all darkness. Dispensationally the Church is in place as the "lesser light," the moon, reflecting the light of the unseen sun. The stars Genesis 1:16 are individual believers who are "lights"; Philippians 2:15 ; Philippians 2:16 ; John 1:5 .
A type is a divinely purposed illustration of some truth. It may be:
(1) a person Romans 5:14
(2) an event 1 Corinthians 10:11
(3) a thing Hebrews 10:20
(4) an institution Hebrews 9:11
(5) a ceremonial 1 Corinthians 5:7
Types occur most frequently in the Pentateuch, but are found, more sparingly, elsewhere. The antitype, or fulfilment of the type, is found, usually, in the New Testament.
made The word does not imply a creative act; vs. Genesis 1:14-18 are declarative of function merely.

Context Summary

Genesis 1:6-19 - Sky, Earth, Seasons
There were successive stages in creation. The days probably represent long periods. It is so with the new creation in our hearts. See 2 Corinthians 5:17. In nature the clouds that float above us are separated from the waters at our feet so in Christian experience we must seek to quench our thirst not only from below, but from above. See Colossians 3:1-4. Our wells must be filled from Heaven. Notice how in creation there are repeated separations, as between Day and Night, Seas and Lands; so as we live in the Spirit, we are quicker to distinguish not only between white and black, but the different shades of gray. The test of plant-life is the power of reproducing their kind; we are always reproducing ourselves in others, and sowing wheat or poppies. If God maintains suns and planets in bright and ordered beauty, He can keep us, Isaiah 40:26-27. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 1

1  God creates heaven and earth;
3  the light;
6  the firmament;
9  separates the dry land;
14  forms the sun, moon, and stars;
20  fishes and fowls;
24  cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things;
26  creates man in his own image, blesses him;
29  grants the fruits of the earth for food

What do the individual words in Genesis 1:16 mean?

And made God - two lights great the light greater to rule the day and lesser the night and [He made] the stars
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־ שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים הַמָּא֤וֹר הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת־ הַקָּטֹן֙ הַלַּ֔יְלָה וְאֵ֖ת הַכּוֹכָבִֽים

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ  And  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֱלֹהִ֔ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שְׁנֵ֥י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת  lights 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מָאֹור  
Sense: light, luminary.
הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
הַמָּא֤וֹר  the  light 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָאֹור  
Sense: light, luminary.
הַגָּדֹל֙  greater 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת  to  rule 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מֶמְשָׁלָה  
Sense: rule, dominion, realm.
הַיּ֔וֹם  the  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַקָּטֹן֙  lesser 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָטָן 
Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.
הַלַּ֔יְלָה  the  night 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וְאֵ֖ת  and  [He  made] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַכּוֹכָבִֽים  the  stars 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּוכָב  
Sense: star.