Genesis 1:3

1:3 God said, ¹  “Let there be ²  light.” ³  And there was light!

Genesis 1:6-7

1:6 God said, “Let there be an expanse ⁴  in the midst of the waters and let it separate water ⁵  from water. 1:7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. ⁶  It was so. ⁷ 

[1:3]  ¹ tn The prefixed verb form with the vav (ו) consecutive introduces the narrative sequence. Ten times in the chapter the decree of God in creation will be so expressed. For the power of the divine word in creation, see Ps 33:9, John 1:1-3, 1 Cor 8:6, and Col 1:16.

[1:3]  ² tn “Let there be” is the short jussive form of the verb “to be”; the following expression “and there was” is the short preterite form of the same verb. As such, יְהִי (yÿhi) and וַיְהִי (vayÿhi) form a profound wordplay to express both the calling into existence and the complete fulfillment of the divine word.

[1:3]  ³ sn Light. The Hebrew word simply means “light,” but it is used often in scripture to convey the ideas of salvation, joy, knowledge, righteousness, and life. In this context one cannot ignore those connotations, for it is the antithesis of the darkness. The first thing God does is correct the darkness; without the light there is only chaos.

[1:6]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew word refers to an expanse of air pressure between the surface of the sea and the clouds, separating water below from water above. In v. 8 it is called “sky.”

[1:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “the waters from the waters.”

[1:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “the expanse.”

[1:7]  ⁸ tn This statement indicates that it happened the way God designed it, underscoring the connection between word and event.