And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
What does Genesis 1:17 mean?
In the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars is accounted for. All these are the works of God.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Genesis 1:14-18 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 1:17
- The absolute giving of the heavenly bodies in their places was performed at the time of their actual creation. The relative giving here spoken of is what would appear to an earthly spectator, when the intervening veil of clouds would be dissolved by the divine agency, and the celestial luminaries would stand forth in all their dazzling splendor.
Context in Genesis 1
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Genesis 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as primeval history from creation to Babel. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.