Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Genesis 1:3

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

KJV

Dixitque Deus : Fiat lux. Et facta est lux.

Vulgate

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός Γενηθήτω φῶς· καὶ ἐγένετο φῶς.

LXX

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

ASV

וַ/יֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽ/יְהִי אֽוֹר

Hebrew

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In this verse

Symbols Light

In the original Hebrew

4 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

א֣וֹר
'vr
noun · 120×
יְהִי֙
yhy
verb · 3549×
יֹּ֣אמֶר
y'mr
verb · 5290×
ךָ
k
noun · 2564×

Intertextual echoes

Quoted or echoed by 2 later passages.

  • 2Cor 4:6 · paraphrase
    "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
    Genesis: let there be light — Paul on new creation illumination
  • Eph 5:14 · allusion
    "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."
    Genesis: light from darkness — awake O sleeper and Christ will shine on you

Themes

Doctrines that cite this verse

Typology

Miracle

Historic Christian voices

15 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§292The Old Testament suggests and the New Covenant reveals the creative action of the Son and the Spirit,132 inseparably one with that of the Father. This creative co-operation is clearly affirmed in the Church's rule of faith: "There exists but one God. . . he is the Father, God, the Creator, the author, the giver of order. He made all things by himself, that is, by his Word and …
§298Since God could create everything out of nothing, he can also, through the Holy Spirit, give spiritual life to sinners by creating a pure heart in them,148 and bodily life to the dead through the Resurrection. God "gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist."149 and since God was able to make light shine in darkness by his Word, he can also giv…
That one God was the author of both Testaments, is confirmed by the authority of a presbyter who had been taught by the apostles. 1. After this fashion also did a presbyter, a disciple of the apostles, reason with respect to the two testaments, proving that both were truly from one and the same God. For [he maintained] that there was no other God besides Him who made and fashio…
2. Having then come unto Him, she says nothing else, but Have mercy on me, and by her cry brings about them many spectators. For indeed it was a pitiful spectacle to see a woman crying aloud in so great affliction, and that woman a mother, and entreating for a daughter, and for a daughter in such evil case: she not even venturing to bring into the Master's sight her that was po…
1. Everywhere indeed a reverential mind is requisite, but especially when we say or hear anything of God: Since neither can tongue speak nor thought hear anything suitable to our God. And why speak I of tongue or thought? For not even the understanding which far excels these, will be able to comprehend anything accurately, when we desire to utter anything concerning God. For if…
In the beginning God created. To expound the term "beginning" of Christ is altogether frivolous. For Moses simply intends to assert that the world was not perfected at its very commencement, in the manner in which it is now seen, but that it was created an empty chaos of heaven and earth. His authority as a prophet is so great that to overthrow it, we must first subvert the who…
Of the goodness of God explained in the creation of things, and of the Trinity as found in the first words of Genesis. The story concerning the origin of the world (Genesis 1) is allegorically explained, and he applies it to those things which God works for sanctified and blessed man. Finally, he makes an end of this work, having implored eternal rest from God. Chapter 1. He Ca…
What is the form of this sacrament? Is the form for the consecration of the bread appropriate? Is the form for the consecration of the blood appropriate? The power of each form The truth of the expression The comparison of the one form with the other Article 1. Whether this is the form of this sacrament: "This is My body," and "This is the chalice of My blood"? Objection 1. It …
Fire is one of the four elements, light and with a greater tendency to ascend than the others. It has the power of burning and also of giving light, and it was made by the Creator on the first day. For the divine Scripture says, And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. Genesis 1:3 Fire is not a different thing from what light is, as some maintain. Others again hol…
God did not create the world directly but through His Logos, the divine Word or Reason, which served as the instrument of creation. The Logos is the bond that holds all things together, the eldest and most universal of all created things, standing between the Creator and the creation as a mediator. This conception profoundly influenced later Christian theology of the Word made …
God spoke and the world came into being from nothing — "Let there be light, and there was light." If the word of God can create from nothing, it can certainly change bread into the body of Christ. Ambrose draws a direct line from the creative power of God's word in Genesis to the transforming power of Christ's word at the Last Supper. The same Logos that made all things now mak…

Cross-references

  • 1John 1:5 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  • 1John 2:8 — Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
  • 1Tim 6:16 — Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
  • 2Cor 4:6 — For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  • 2Cor 4:6 — For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  • Eph 5:8 — For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
  • Eph 5:14 — Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
  • Isa 45:7 — I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
  • Isa 45:7 — I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
  • Isa 60:19 — The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
  • Job 25:3 — Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?
  • Job 36:30 — Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
  • Job 38:19 — Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
  • Job 38:19 — Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
  • John 1:5 — And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
  • John 1:9 — That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
  • John 3:19 — And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  • John 11:44 — And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
  • Jonah 2:10 — And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
  • Mark 1:41 — And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
  • Mark 5:41 — And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
  • Matt 8:3 — And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
  • Ps 33:6 — By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
  • Ps 33:9 — For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
  • Ps 33:9 — For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
  • Ps 74:16 — The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
  • Ps 97:11 — Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
  • Ps 104:2 — Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
  • Ps 118:27 — God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
  • Ps 148:5 — Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.