The Meaning of Genesis 1:14 Explained

Genesis 1:14

KJV: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

YLT: And God saith, 'Let luminaries be in the expanse of the heavens, to make a separation between the day and the night, then they have been for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years,

Darby: And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens, to divide between the day and the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;

ASV: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And God  said,  Let there be lights  in the firmament  of the heaven  to divide  the day  from the night;  and let them be for signs,  and for seasons,  and for days,  and years: 

What does Genesis 1:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 1:6-19 - Sky, Earth, Seasons
There were successive stages in creation. The days probably represent long periods. It is so with the new creation in our hearts. See 2 Corinthians 5:17. In nature the clouds that float above us are separated from the waters at our feet so in Christian experience we must seek to quench our thirst not only from below, but from above. See Colossians 3:1-4. Our wells must be filled from Heaven. Notice how in creation there are repeated separations, as between Day and Night, Seas and Lands; so as we live in the Spirit, we are quicker to distinguish not only between white and black, but the different shades of gray. The test of plant-life is the power of reproducing their kind; we are always reproducing ourselves in others, and sowing wheat or poppies. If God maintains suns and planets in bright and ordered beauty, He can keep us, Isaiah 40:26-27. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 1

1  God creates heaven and earth;
3  the light;
6  the firmament;
9  separates the dry land;
14  forms the sun, moon, and stars;
20  fishes and fowls;
24  cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things;
26  creates man in his own image, blesses him;
29  grants the fruits of the earth for food

What do the individual words in Genesis 1:14 mean?

And said God let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide between the day and between the night and let them be for signs and seasons for days and years
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֱלֹהִ֗ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יְהִ֤י  let  there  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מְאֹרֹת֙  lights 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מָאֹור  
Sense: light, luminary.
בִּרְקִ֣יעַ  in  the  firmament 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רָקִיעַ  
Sense: extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament.
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם  of  the  heavens 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
לְהַבְדִּ֕יל  to  divide 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּדַל  
Sense: to divide, separate.
בֵּ֥ין  between 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
הַיּ֖וֹם  the  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וּבֵ֣ין  and  between 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
הַלָּ֑יְלָה  the  night 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וְהָי֤וּ  and  let  them  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְאֹתֹת֙  for  signs 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים  and  seasons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
וּלְיָמִ֖ים  for  days 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וְשָׁנִֽים  and  years 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.