24 hour days in Genesis 1

civic

civic

Well-known member

NINE REASONS WHY THE “DAYS” IN GENESIS 1 MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AS NORMAL (24-HOUR) DAYS​

  1. The Hebrew word yom, translated “day,” is used more than 2,000 times in the Old Testament. In 95% of these cases, the word clearly means a 24-hour day, or the daylight portion of a 24-hour day. Since this is the way the word is most often used in the Old Testament, it should be understood in this way in Genesis 1 unless there are compelling reasons to prefer some other meaning.
  2. God defines what he means by “day” in Genesis 1: “God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness he called ‘night’ ” (Genesis 1:5).
  3. The terms “evening” and “morning” make it clear that normal days are being referred to in Genesis 1. These terms are used in Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31.
  4. The numerical qualifier (e.g., “second day,” “third day”) demands a 24-hour day. This usage is found in Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31; 2:2,3. The word “day” appears with a number over 200 times in the Old Testament, and in every case the reference is to a literal day.
  5. God established the sun and moon “to separate the day from the night,” “to mark seasons and days and years,” and “to govern the day and the night” (Genesis 1:14-18). These passages clearly refer to normal days.
  6. The Ten Commandments given to Israel were spoken by God himself, and were also written directly by God in stone (Exodus 20:1; 31:18; 32:16). Within these Ten Commandments, God described his work of creating the universe: “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:11). Since the Sabbath command is linked in this way to the creation week, the “days” of the creation week must be of the same kind as the “day” Israel was expected to rest.
  7. The primary reason some people want to lengthen the “days” of Genesis 1 is to make room for the evolutionary scenario, which requires billions of years. But evolution is simply incompatible with Genesis 1, and stretching the meaning of the word “day” will not accomplish the reconciliation of the creation and evolution worldviews. They are just too different. Consider the following admission by Pattle P. Pun, professor of biology at Wheaton College. (Note: Dr. Pun writes as a theistic evolutionist.)
It is apparent that the most straightforward understanding of the Genesis record, without regard to all the hermeneutical considerations suggested by [evolutionary] science, is that God created heaven and earth in six solar days, that man was created in the sixth day, that death and chaos entered the world after the Fall of Adam and Eve, that all of the fossils were the result of the catastrophic universal deluge which spared only Noah’s family and the animals therewith. (Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, March 1987, p. 14)

  1. In the New American Standard Bible, Genesis 2:4 says: “This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.” Here is an instance where the word “day” does not refer to a 24-hour day. The phrase “in the day that” is a Hebrew idiom meaning “at the time that” or simply “when” (as the phrase is rendered in the New International Version). But this usage does not invalidate our understanding of “day” meaning a 24-hour day (or the light portion thereof) in Genesis 1. In fact, a similar occurrence of this idiom appears in Numbers 7:84 (see NASB margin), which follows twelve literal days of offerings (Numbers 7:12-83).
  2. II Peter 3:8 says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” But this is a simile (a literary device used for comparison) given to help us understand the Lord’s patience, not a hint as to how we should interpret Genesis 1. The word “like” is not the same as an equal sign! Also: the word “day” is unlikely to carry a figurative meaning in Genesis 1 since it appears for the very first time there. Words are used figuratively only after their literal meaning is well established. Richard Niessen
hope this helps !!!
 
I agree with your assessment. To say the days of Gen 1 are not 24 hour periods is nonsensical. I think there's so many in the religious, Christian community that are so absolutely terrified to be looked upon as unintelligent and ill advised by worldly types they cave in on most anything to keep their respect. They may be sincere and not believe that's what they're doing but to look stupid I really do think is a repulsive thing to their minds.
 
civic said:
  1. God established the sun and moon “to separate the day from the night,” “to mark seasons and days and years,” and “to govern the day and the night” (Genesis 1:14-18). These passages clearly refer to normal days.
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Notice days and years are differentiated in Genesis 1:14.
 
Rockson said:
I agree with your assessment. To say the days of Gen 1 are not 24 hour periods is nonsensical. I think there's so many in the religious, Christian community that are so absolutely terrified to be looked upon as unintelligent and ill advised by worldly types they cave in on most anything to keep their respect. They may be sincere and not believe that's what they're doing but to look stupid I really do think is a repulsive thing to their minds.
Click to expand...
ditto :)
 
civic said:
  1. In the New American Standard Bible, Genesis 2:4 says: “This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.” Here is an instance where the word “day” does not refer to a 24-hour day. The phrase “in the day that” is a Hebrew idiom meaning “at the time that” or simply “when” (as the phrase is rendered in the New International Version). But this usage does not invalidate our understanding of “day” meaning a 24-hour day (or the light portion thereof) in Genesis 1. In fact, a similar occurrence of this idiom appears in Numbers 7:84 (see NASB margin), which follows twelve literal days of offerings (Numbers 7:12-83).
  2. II Peter 3:8 says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” But this is a simile (a literary device used for comparison) given to help us understand the Lord’s patience, not a hint as to how we should interpret Genesis 1. The word “like” is not the same as an equal sign! Also: the word “day” is unlikely to carry a figurative meaning in Genesis 1 since it appears for the very first time there. Words are used figuratively only after their literal meaning is well established. Richard Niessen
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Addressing the OP, one the two above statement, by the way a good topic for discussion

a DAY, 24hr, or Longer, this is the core of the discussion. I cannot go with the 24hr scenario, and here's why. Genesis 1:3 "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." Genesis 1:4 "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." Genesis 1:5 "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."

so a "DAY" is connected with "LIGHT". and the Light here in day #1 is different from the "LIGHT" in DAY 4

LIGHT, in DAY #1 is the Hebrew term,
H216 אוֹר 'owr (ore) n-f.
1. illumination.
2. (concretely) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.).
[from H215]
KJV: bright, clear, + day, light (-ning), morning, sun.
Root(s): H215

LIGHT, in DAY #4 is the Hebrew term,
H215 אוֹר 'owr (ore) v.
1. to be luminous.
2. (causative) to make luminous.
{literally and metaphorically}
[a primitive root]
KJV: X break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.

see the difference? in Day #1. the LIGHT is 1. illumination. and the LIGHT In DAY #4 is luminous. big difference. the LIGHT in Day #1 is WISDOM, invisible to the eye, which is illumination. and the Light in Day #4 is visible to the eye, NATURAL light and is luminous. both has the Ability to allow the viewer to "SEE". but one sees with the mind, and the other with the spirit.
remember, Genesis 1:5 "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."
so a day here cannot be a 24hr. DAY. and too to get a 24hr day only on DAY #4, is to have a sun shining, and the Earth turning on its axis. note, the Sun, and the Earth and everything else was "CREATED" in the BEGINNING, but was made later. what do 101G means. for instance, the Sun was CREATED in the beginning, but only was made to shine on day #4. it was in place, but God just had not Ignited it to burn/Shine until day 4.

as you correctly stated in Genesis 2:4, (Using the KJV), "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens," well a GENERATION in a "DAY?". we all need to read verse 4 again. yes, it's a figurative usage, but we still use it today...... "Back in the DAY? here in verse 4 we have a GENERATIONS with a "S" at the end, meaning more than one.... Generation in a, a, a, "DAY. so, a day cannot be a single "24hr yom", because a "DAY" here in Gensis , (OUTSIDE of the 4th DAY), is called LIGHT.

so now we must find out what this "LIGHT" means here in Genesis 1:5 "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."

so, by finding out what the "LIGHT" is then we may KNOW what a "DAY" is. 101G personally believe a DAY is a Godly EVENT in making something, without a 24hr. time limit. now this is just 101G's personal Opinion according to what the BIBLE say.

so if any are interested, or may have another LINE of reasoning please put it on the table. as said, this is what this site is all about..... LEARNING. and in LEARNING, we all can decide what is Good and acceptable. Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

now this is my opening salvo... (smile), so to speak. and have some animation as to what, or Who a "DAY" is by understanding the term "LIGHT".

101G.
 
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My second salvo, and I will keep it short. if one did notice the Light in DAY #1 is a NOUN, vs the Light in DAY #4 is a verb.

now NT,
John 1:4 "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:5 "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
LIGHT here is G5457 φῶς phos (fōs') n. notice a noun, indicating a PERSON, as in DAY #1 in Genesis.
luminousness.
{in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative}
[from an obsolete phao “to shine or make manifest” (especially by rays)]
KJV: fire, light

“to shine or make manifest”......

101G.
 
Wrangler said:
We should all understand how this connects to evolution. Well done @civic.
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it may well destroy evolution. and here's why. if 101G is correct, MAN was FORMED on DAY #3, (before the animals and the plants), and MANKIND was "MADE" on Day #6... Notice how 101G worded that.

101G.
 
Brakelite said:
The grass, trees, fruit bearing shrubs and vines etc were created on day 3. How did they survive millions of years without the sun, which wasn't created until the next day?
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is there anything God cannot do. question, do plants survival depends on White Light only, meaning is photosynthesis based on white light from the sun? yes or no?

101G.
 
101G said:
is there anything God cannot do. question, do plants survival depends on White Light only, meaning is photosynthesis based on white light from the sun? yes or no?

101G.
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For millions of years? No-one can know as it didn't happen. They did have the sun...24 hours later. God didn't have to install fluorescent lighting and line the garden with aluminium foil to keep his trees alive.
 
Brakelite said:
For millions of years? No-one can know as it didn't happen. They did have the sun...24 hours later. God didn't have to install fluorescent lighting and line the garden with aluminium foil to keep his trees alive.
Click to expand...
is not God the LIGHT? listen, Revelation 21:23 "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

why think carnal?

101G.
 
Brakelite said:
The grass, trees, fruit bearing shrubs and vines etc were created on day 3. How did they survive millions of years without the sun, which wasn't created until the next day?
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also when God made man on day 3 did he need the sun to see? or water to drink, or air to breathed? NO.

101G.
 
101G said:
also when God made man on day 3 did he need the sun to see? or water to drink, or air to breathed? NO.

101G.
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KJV Genesis 1:26, 31
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.....
....31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
 
GINOLJC, to all.
Brakelite said:
KJV Genesis 1:26, 31
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.....
....31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Click to expand...
ERROR, MANDKIND, (Male and Female), was made on day 6, but MAN, (the induvial), was made on day 3. supportive scripture, please notice the term "before". Genesis 2:4 "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens," Genesis 2:5 "And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground." Genesis 2:6 "But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground." Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Chapter 2 is a detailed account of chapter 1.

now one other scripture that support that man was here "before" the animals also. Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:19 "And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof."

Notice, Adam was alone, no animals at all, and then God formed the animals out of the ground and brought them to Adam, now watch something. "the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air". notice EVERY FOWL of the AIR. question, "when was the fowl of the air was created?" let's check the record.

Genesis 1:20 "And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." Genesis 1:21 "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:22 "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth." Genesis 1:23 "And the evening and the morning were the fifth day."

well now, if Adam was made on day 6, and the scriptures clearly say Adam was alone and then God Formed the animals, which of, the Fowl was formed on Day 5, meaning God formed them after Adam and brought them to him, then you have a problem. listen, Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:19 "And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof."

so, the animals was to be a Help meet to Adam.... not a help mate. for the Hebrew term for Help Meet is,
H5828 עֵזֶר `ezer (ay'-zer) n-m.
aid.
[from H5826]
KJV: help.

and the root of this word is,
H5826 עָזַר `azar (aw-zar') v.
to surround, i.e. protect or aid.
[a primitive root]
KJV: help, succour.

well now a "succour" is not a MATE for you, but a HELPER, or an ASSISTANCE to you. meaning just what the indigenous people around the worl been saying that Man must LIVE with Nature in Harmony. the animals was place here on this planet to assist, or aide man in maintaining this planet. this is why we have global warming, and other Natural disaster today. because we, Mankind has ignored what our HELP MEET was place here to do. the balance of nature was put in the Man hands. and we have mismanaged the PLANTS, and the Animals. which we, were here before, and was given dominion over.

well Adam, according to the Scriptures, was here before the animals. and he was here before the plants, meaning day three. and now we have an Enviromental disaster on our hands because we have mismanaged what God gave man , (the Plants and Animals), to have dominion over. so in reading of the scriptures, chapter tell us in great detail that Man was here before any plant life, or animal life. be it in the sea, or on land.

re-read those scriptures again. ok,

may God bless. and open your eyes.

101G
 
101G said:
GINOLJC, to all.

ERROR, MANDKIND, (Male and Female), was made on day 6, but MAN, (the induvial), was made on day 3. supportive scripture, please notice the term "before". Genesis 2:4 "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens," Genesis 2:5 "And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground." Genesis 2:6 "But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground." Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Chapter 2 is a detailed account of chapter 1.

now one other scripture that support that man was here "before" the animals also. Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:19 "And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof."

Notice, Adam was alone, no animals at all, and then God formed the animals out of the ground and brought them to Adam, now watch something. "the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air". notice EVERY FOWL of the AIR. question, "when was the fowl of the air was created?" let's check the record.

Genesis 1:20 "And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." Genesis 1:21 "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:22 "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth." Genesis 1:23 "And the evening and the morning were the fifth day."

well now, if Adam was made on day 6, and the scriptures clearly say Adam was alone and then God Formed the animals, which of, the Fowl was formed on Day 5, meaning God formed them after Adam and brought them to him, then you have a problem. listen, Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:19 "And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof."

so, the animals was to be a Help meet to Adam.... not a help mate. for the Hebrew term for Help Meet is,
H5828 עֵזֶר `ezer (ay'-zer) n-m.
aid.
[from H5826]
KJV: help.

and the root of this word is,
H5826 עָזַר `azar (aw-zar') v.
to surround, i.e. protect or aid.
[a primitive root]
KJV: help, succour.

well now a "succour" is not a MATE for you, but a HELPER, or an ASSISTANCE to you. meaning just what the indigenous people around the worl been saying that Man must LIVE with Nature in Harmony. the animals was place here on this planet to assist, or aide man in maintaining this planet. this is why we have global warming, and other Natural disaster today. because we, Mankind has ignored what our HELP MEET was place here to do. the balance of nature was put in the Man hands. and we have mismanaged the PLANTS, and the Animals. which we, were here before, and was given dominion over.

well Adam, according to the Scriptures, was here before the animals. and he was here before the plants, meaning day three. and now we have an Enviromental disaster on our hands because we have mismanaged what God gave man , (the Plants and Animals), to have dominion over. so in reading of the scriptures, chapter tell us in great detail that Man was here before any plant life, or animal life. be it in the sea, or on land.

re-read those scriptures again. ok,

may God bless. and open your eyes.

101G
Click to expand...
Interesting. I will look at this further.
 

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