Genesis

Genesis 1:14–20

¹⁴And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. ¹⁵And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so.

¹⁶God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

¹⁷God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth, ¹⁸to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

¹⁹And there was evening, and there was morning — the fourth day.

²⁰And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.”

Read all of Genesis 1

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 1:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And God	אֱלֹהִ֗ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Let there be	יְהִ֤י	yə·hî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
lights	מְאֹרֹת֙	mə·’ō·rōṯ	Noun - masculine plural	H3974 luminary
in the expanse	בִּרְקִ֣יעַ	bir·qî·a‘	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7549 extended surface
of the sky	הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
to distinguish	לְהַבְדִּ֕יל	lə·haḇ·dîl	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H914 be divided, separate
between	בֵּ֥ין	bên	Preposition	H996 interval, space between
the day	הַיּ֖וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
and	וּבֵ֣ין	ū·ḇên	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H996 interval, space between
the night	הַלָּ֑יְלָה	hal·lā·yə·lāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
and let them be	וְהָי֤וּ	wə·hā·yū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
signs to mark	לְאֹתֹת֙	lə·’ō·ṯōṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural	H226 sign
seasons	וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים	ū·lə·mō·w·‘ă·ḏîm	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H4150 appointed time, place, meeting
and days	וּלְיָמִ֖ים	ū·lə·yā·mîm	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
and years	וְשָׁנִֽים׃	wə·šā·nîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural	H8141 year

Genesis 1:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And let them serve	וְהָי֤וּ	wə·hā·yū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
as lights	לִמְאוֹרֹת֙	lim·’ō·w·rōṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H3974 luminary
in the expanse	בִּרְקִ֣יעַ	bir·qî·a‘	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7549 extended surface
of the sky	הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
to shine	לְהָאִ֖יר	lə·hā·’îr	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H215 be or become light
upon	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the earth	הָאָ֑רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
And it was	וַֽיְהִי־	way·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
so	כֵֽן׃	ḵên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest

Genesis 1:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
God	אֱלֹהִ֔ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
made	וַיַּ֣עַשׂ	way·ya·‘aś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
two	שְׁנֵ֥י	šə·nê	Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
great	הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים	hag·gə·ḏō·lîm	Article; Adjective - masculine plural	H1419 great
lights	הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת	ham·mə·’ō·rōṯ	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3974 luminary
the greater	הַגָּדֹל֙	hag·gā·ḏōl	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
light	הַמָּא֤וֹר	ham·mā·’ō·wr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3974 luminary
to rule	לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת	lə·mem·še·leṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct	H4475 rule, dominion, realm
the day	הַיּ֔וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the lesser	הַקָּטֹן֙	haq·qā·ṭōn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H6996 small, young, unimportant
light	הַמָּא֤וֹר	ham·mā·’ō·wr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3974 luminary
to rule	לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת	lə·mem·še·leṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct	H4475 rule, dominion, realm
the night	הַלַּ֔יְלָה	hal·lay·lāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
And	וְאֵ֖ת	wə·’êṯ	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the stars	הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃	hak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3556 star

Genesis 1:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
God	אֱלֹהִ֖ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
set	וַיִּתֵּ֥ן	way·yit·tên	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
in the expanse	בִּרְקִ֣יעַ	bir·qî·a‘	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7549 extended surface
of the sky	הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם	haš·šā·mā·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
to shine	לְהָאִ֖יר	lə·hā·’îr	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H215 be or become light
upon	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the earth	הָאָֽרֶץ׃	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land

Genesis 1:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
to preside over	וְלִמְשֹׁל֙	wə·lim·šōl	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H4910 rule, have dominion, reign
the day	בַּיּ֣וֹם	bay·yō·wm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
and the night	וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה	ū·ḇal·lay·lāh	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
and to separate	וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל	ū·lă·haḇ·dîl	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H914 be divided, separate
the light	הָא֖וֹר	hā·’ō·wr	Article; Noun - common singular	H216 light
from	וּבֵ֣ין	ū·ḇên	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H996 interval, space between
the darkness	הַחֹ֑שֶׁךְ	ha·ḥō·šeḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2822 darkness, obscurity
And God	אֱלֹהִ֖ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
saw	וַיַּ֥רְא	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
that	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
good	טֽוֹב׃	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good

Genesis 1:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And there was	וַֽיְהִי־	way·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
evening	עֶ֥רֶב	‘e·reḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H6153 (sun)set, evening
and there was	וַֽיְהִי־	way·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
morning	בֹ֖קֶר	ḇō·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
the fourth	רְבִיעִֽי׃פ	rə·ḇî·‘î	Number - ordinal masculine singular	H7243 fourth
day	י֥וֹם	yō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day

Genesis 1:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And God	אֱלֹהִ֔ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Let the waters	הַמַּ֔יִם	ham·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
teem	יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ	yiš·rə·ṣū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H8317 swarm, teem
with living	נֶ֣פֶשׁ	ne·p̄eš	Noun - feminine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
creatures	שֶׁ֖רֶץ	še·reṣ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H8318 swarmers, swarming things
and let birds	וְעוֹף֙	wə·‘ō·wp̄	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H5775 flying creatures, fowl, insects
fly	יְעוֹפֵ֣ף	yə·‘ō·w·p̄êp̄	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5774 fly
above	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the earth	הָאָ֔רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
in	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the open	פְּנֵ֖י	pə·nê	Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
expanse	רְקִ֥יעַ	rə·qî·a‘	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7549 extended surface
of the sky	הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃	haš·šā·mā·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 1:14 Psalm 104:19–20 · Deuteronomy 4:19 · Psalm 74:16–17 · Jeremiah 31:35 · Psalm 148:3 · Psalm 136:7–9 · Amos 5:8 · Psalm 148:6 · Psalm 8:3–4 · Joel 3:15 · Joel 2:30–31 · Psalm 81:3

Genesis 1:16 Psalm 136:7–9 · Deuteronomy 4:19 · Psalm 8:3 · Psalm 74:16 · Psalm 148:5 · Isaiah 40:26 · Job 38:7 · Psalm 148:3 · Psalm 19:6 · 1 Corinthians 15:41 · Matthew 27:45 · Revelation 16:8–9

Genesis 1:17 Psalm 8:3 · Psalm 8:1

Genesis 1:18 Jeremiah 31:35

Genesis 1:20 Psalm 104:24–25 · Genesis 2:19 · 1 Kings 4:33 · Psalm 148:10 · Genesis 1:30 · Genesis 1:22 · Genesis 8:17 · Genesis 1:7

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.