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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 1:14-19

This is the history of the fourth day's work, the creating of the sun, moon, and stars, which are here accounted for, not as they are in themselves and in their own nature, to satisfy the curious, but as they are in relation to this earth, to which they serve as lights; and this is enough to furnish us with matter for praise and thanksgiving. Holy Job mentions this as an instance of the glorious power of God, that by the Spirit he hath garnished the heavens (Job 26:13); and here we have an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 1:16

And God made two great lights ,.... This was his own work which he himself did, and not by another; and may be particularly observed to express the folly of idolaters in worshipping these luminaries which were the creations of God, and were placed by him in the heaven to serve some purposes on earth beneficial to men, but not to be worshipped. These two "great lights" are the sun and the moon; and they may well be called great, especially the former, for the diameter of the sun is reckoned... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 1:16

And God made two great lights - Moses speaks of the sun and moon here, not according to their bulk or solid contents, but according to the proportion of light they shed on the earth. The expression has been cavilled at by some who are as devoid of mental capacity as of candour. "The moon," say they, "is not a great body; on the contrary, it is the very smallest in our system." Well, and has Moses said the contrary? He has said it is a great Light; had he said otherwise he had not spoken the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 1:16

Verse 16 16.The greater light I have said, that Moses does not here subtilely descant, as a philosopher, on the secrets of nature, as may be seen in these words. First, he assigns a place in the expanse of heaven to the planets and stars; but astronomers make a distinction of spheres, and, at the same time, teach that the fixed stars have their proper place in the firmament. Moses makes two great luminaries; but astronomers prove, by conclusive reasons that the star of Saturn, which on account... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:14-19

The fourth day. Notice— I. GOD PREPARES HEAVEN AND EARTH FOR MAN . Light needed for the vegetable world. But when the higher life is introduced, then there is an order which implies intelligence and active rational existence. The signs are for those that can observe the signs. The seasons, days, and years for the being who consciously divides his life. II. THE LUMINARIES ARE SAID TO RULE THE DAY AND NIGHT . The concentration of light is the appointed method of its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:16

And God made two great lights . Perhaps no part of the material universe more irresistibly demands a supreme Intelligence as its only proper origin and cause. "Elegantissima haecce solis, planetarum et cometarum compages non nisi consilio et domino entis intelligentis et potentis oriri potuit". The greater light to rule (literally, to make like; hence to judge; then to rule. Mashal ; cf. βασιλευ ì ω —Gesenius ) the day, and the lesser light to rule the night . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:16

The celestial luminaries. I. Display the DIVINE WISDOM . "The heavens declare the glory of God" ( Psalms 19:1 ). M . Comte believed they declared no other glory than that of Hipparchus, Kepler, Newton, and their successors. Newton agreed with the Hebrew poet ( vid . Expos. on Genesis 1:16 ). The astronomical argument in behalf of theism has always been impressive, if not absolutely conclusive. Certainly, granting the Divine existence, nowhere does God's glory shine out more... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 1:14-19

- VI. The Fourth Day14. מאור mā'ôr, “a light, a luminary, a center of radiant light.”מועה mô‛ēd, “set time, season.”Words beginning with a formative מ musually signify that in which the simple quality resides or is realized. Hence, they often denote place.17. נתן nāthan “give, hold out, show, stretch, hold out.” Latin: tendo, teneo; τείνω teinō.The darkness has been removed from the face of the deep, its waters have been distributed in due proportions above and below the expanse; the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 1:16

Genesis 1:16. Two great lights Or enlighteners, מארת , meoroth, distinguishable from all the rest, for their beauty and use. Moses terms the moon a great light, only according to its appearance, and the use it is of to us, and not according to the strictness of philosophy. For there is abundant proof that most of the stars are much greater than the moon; although their immense distance makes them appear so much smaller to us. The greater light Not only greater, as it appears to us, but... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 1:1-31

THE STORY OF CREATIONThe Bible and scienceModern science has revealed so much about the wonders and the size of the physical universe that human beings may seem almost to be nothing. The Bible takes a different view. Human beings are its main concern, for they alone are made in God’s image. The story of creation is but an introduction to the story of God’s dealings with the human race. The Bible demonstrates this order of importance from the outset by fitting the story of creation into a mere... read more

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