Genesis 1:5 ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 1:3-5

We have here a further account of the first day's work, in which observe, 1. That the first of all visible beings which God created was light; not that by it he himself might see to work (for the darkness and light are both alike to him), but that by it we might see his works and his glory in them, and might work our works while it is day. The works of Satan and his servants are works of darkness; but he that doeth truth, and doeth good, cometh to the light, and coveteth it, that his deeds may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 1:5

And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night ,.... Either by the circulating motion of the above body of light, or by the rotation of the chaos on its own axis towards it, in the space of twenty four hours there was a vicissitude of light and darkness; just as there is now by the like motion either of the sun, or of the earth; and which after this appellation God has given, we call the one, day, and the other, night: and the evening and the morning were the first day :... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 1:5

Verse 5 5.And God called the light That is, God willed that there should be a regular vicissitude of days and nights; which also followed immediately when the first day was ended. For God removed the light from view, that night might be the commencement of another day. What Moses says however, admits a double interpretation; either that this was the evening and morning belonging to the first day, or that the first day consisted of the evening and the morning. Whichever interpretation be chosen,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 1:3-5

- III. The First Day3. אמר 'āmar, “say, bid.” After this verb comes the thing said in the words of the speaker, or an equivalent expression. In this respect it corresponds with our English “say.”אור 'ôr, “light.” Light is simply what makes a sensible impression on the organs of vision. It belongs to a class of things which occasionally produce the same effect.ויאמר vayo'mer “then said.” Here we have come to the narrative or the record of a series of events. The conjunction is prefixed to the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 1:5

Genesis 1:5. God called, &c. God distinguished them from each other by different names, as the Lord of both. The day is thine, the night also is thine. He is the Lord of time, and will be so till day and night shall come to an end, and the stream of time be swallowed up in the ocean of eternity. The evening Including the following night, and the morning, including the succeeding day, were the first natural day, of twenty-four hours. Some, indeed, by evening understand the... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 1:5

called. Occurs 5 times. App-5 . evening . . . morning. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 . Put for a full day. The beginning and end of anything is put for the whole of it. Compare Ecclesiastes 3:11 ; Ecclesiastes 10:13 ; Ecclesiastes 11:6 . Psalms 92:2 .Isaiah 41:4 ; Isaiah 44:6 ; Isaiah 48:12 .Revelation 1:8 , Revelation 1:11 , Revelation 1:17 ; Revelation 2:8 ; Revelation 21:6 ; Revelation 22:13 . first. For spiritual significance see App-10 . first day = day one. The... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 1:5

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day."Although this verse appears to mean that the separation of light and darkness was the same as creating Day and Night, this meaning is not consistent with the appearance of the sun and moon on the fourth day. It is likely that light and darkness in some cosmic sense were divided on the first day."And there was evening and there was morning, one day ..." This is generally hailed... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:5

Genesis 1:5. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night— He gave them names as Lord of both, for the day is his, the night also is his. He is the Lord of time, and will be so till day and night shall come to an end, and the stream of time be swallowed up in the ocean of eternity. Let us then acknowledge him in the constant succession of day and night, and consecrate both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in him every night, and meditating in his law day... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 1:5

5. first day—a natural day, as the mention of its two parts clearly determines; and Moses reckons, according to Oriental usage, from sunset to sunset, saying not day and night as we do, but evening and morning. :-. SECOND DAY. read more