“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
- King James Version
Then God said, "Let there be light; and there was light."
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
- American Standard Version (1901)
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
- Basic English Bible
And God said, Let there be light. And there was light.
- Darby Bible
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
- Webster's Bible
God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
- World English Bible
and God saith, `Let light be;' and light is.
- Youngs Literal Bible
And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible
Wesley's Notes for Genesis 1:3
1:3-5 We have here a farther account of the first day's work. In which observe, 1. That the first of all visible beings which God created was light, the great beauty and blessing of the universe: like the first - born, it doth, of all visible beings, most resemble its great parent in purity and power, brightness and beneficence. 2. That the light was made by the word of God's power; He said, Let there be light - He willed it, and it was done; there was light - Such a copy as exactly answered the original idea in the eternal mind. 3. That the light which God willed, he approved of. God saw the light, that it was good - 'Twas exactly as he designed it; and it was fit to answer the end for which he designed it. 4. That God divided the light from the darkness - So put them asunder as they could never be joined together: and yet he divided time between them, the day for light, and the night for darkness, in a constant succession. Tho' the darkness was now scattered by the light, yet it has its place, because it has its use; for as the light of the morning befriends the business of the day, so the shadows of the evening befriend the repose of the night. God has thus divided between light and darkness, because he would daily mind us that this is a world of mixtures and changes. In heaven there is perpetual light, and no darkness; in hell utter darkness, and no light: but in this world they are counter - changed, and we pass daily from one to another; that we may learn to expect the like vicissitudes in the providence of God. 5. That God divided them from each other by distinguishing names. He called the light Day, and the darkness he called night - He gave them names as Lord of both. He is the Lord of time, and will be so 'till day and night shall come to an end, and the stream of time be swallowed up in the ocean of eternity. 6. That this was the first day's work, The evening and the morning were the first day - The darkness of the evening was before the light of the morning, that it might set it off, and make it shine the brighter.