Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 1:14-19
This is the history of the fourth day's work, the creating of the sun, moon, and stars, which are here accounted for, not as they are in themselves and in their own nature, to satisfy the curious, but as they are in relation to this earth, to which they serve as lights; and this is enough to furnish us with matter for praise and thanksgiving. Holy Job mentions this as an instance of the glorious power of God, that by the Spirit he hath garnished the heavens (Job 26:13); and here we have an... read more
John Gill
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 1:16
And God made two great lights ,.... This was his own work which he himself did, and not by another; and may be particularly observed to express the folly of idolaters in worshipping these luminaries which were the creations of God, and were placed by him in the heaven to serve some purposes on earth beneficial to men, but not to be worshipped. These two "great lights" are the sun and the moon; and they may well be called great, especially the former, for the diameter of the sun is reckoned... read more
John Gill
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 1:17
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven ,.... He not only ordered that there they should be, and made them that there they might be, but he placed them there with his own hands; and they are placed, particularly the sun, at such a particular distance as to be beneficial and not hurtful: had it been set nearer to the earth, its heat would have been intolerable; and had it been further off it would have been of no use; in the one case we should have been scorched with its heat, and in... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 1:16
And God made two great lights - Moses speaks of the sun and moon here, not according to their bulk or solid contents, but according to the proportion of light they shed on the earth. The expression has been cavilled at by some who are as devoid of mental capacity as of candour. "The moon," say they, "is not a great body; on the contrary, it is the very smallest in our system." Well, and has Moses said the contrary? He has said it is a great Light; had he said otherwise he had not spoken the... read more
John Calvin
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 1:16
Verse 16 16.The greater light I have said, that Moses does not here subtilely descant, as a philosopher, on the secrets of nature, as may be seen in these words. First, he assigns a place in the expanse of heaven to the planets and stars; but astronomers make a distinction of spheres, and, at the same time, teach that the fixed stars have their proper place in the firmament. Moses makes two great luminaries; but astronomers prove, by conclusive reasons that the star of Saturn, which on account... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:14-19
The fourth day. Notice— I. GOD PREPARES HEAVEN AND EARTH FOR MAN . Light needed for the vegetable world. But when the higher life is introduced, then there is an order which implies intelligence and active rational existence. The signs are for those that can observe the signs. The seasons, days, and years for the being who consciously divides his life. II. THE LUMINARIES ARE SAID TO RULE THE DAY AND NIGHT . The concentration of light is the appointed method of its... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:16
And God made two great lights . Perhaps no part of the material universe more irresistibly demands a supreme Intelligence as its only proper origin and cause. "Elegantissima haecce solis, planetarum et cometarum compages non nisi consilio et domino entis intelligentis et potentis oriri potuit". The greater light to rule (literally, to make like; hence to judge; then to rule. Mashal ; cf. βασιλευ ì ω —Gesenius ) the day, and the lesser light to rule the night . The... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:16
The celestial luminaries. I. Display the DIVINE WISDOM . "The heavens declare the glory of God" ( Psalms 19:1 ). M . Comte believed they declared no other glory than that of Hipparchus, Kepler, Newton, and their successors. Newton agreed with the Hebrew poet ( vid . Expos. on Genesis 1:16 ). The astronomical argument in behalf of theism has always been impressive, if not absolutely conclusive. Certainly, granting the Divine existence, nowhere does God's glory shine out more... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:17-18
And God set (literally, gave) them (i.e. sun, moon, and stars) in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and ever the night, and to divide the light from the darkness . An intimation that on this day the astronomical arrangements for the illumination of the globe and the measurement of time were permanently settled. And God saw that it was good . Laplace was inclined to question the Divine verdict with regard at least to the moon, which he... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 1:14-19
- VI. The Fourth Day14. מ×
