How can we know how long the days where in the week of creation?
In Genesis 1, we see the word “day” used 10 times. Day is taken from the Hebrew word “Yom.” They both function the same way meaning: 1) a 24 hour period of time, 2) the daylight portion of the day, 3) a past age, 4) a future age. The critical thing in understanding this and any word or passage in scripture is understanding the context in which the word is being used. Before we take a closer look at Genesis 1, let’s breakdown each possibility further.
24 hours
· Genesis 22:4, “Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.”
This passage gives us two reasons for the word “day” being a 24-hour day. First, we see day being used with a number. When day is used with a number it is identifying a specific day. When a specific day is identified we know it is a 24-hour day.
Second, when we back up one verse we see “Abraham rose up early in the morning”, this language is giving us information based upon something we already know. We know that “morning” is the normal start of each and every 24-hour day, so this gives us further understanding of the meaning of “day.”
· Exodus 20:11, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
This passage uses the word day to mean a literal 24-hour day, but for two different reasons. The first two applications of the word “day” are used in conjunction with a number. Again, this is telling us that we are talking about a specific day with a known time period.
The second use of the word “day” also means a 24-hour day, but it is making its stand because of the previous information in the verse. The “seventh day” and the “Sabbath day” are the same days and therefore both mean a 24-hour day (Genesis 2:2-3).
Daylight
· Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Here, the word “day” means the daylight portion of the day, because it is set beside the word night. Using the words day and night together complete a 24-hour day.
· Genesis 29:7, “And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.”
The context of this usage of “day” points to certain comments about the way the flock should be handled. Cattle are gathered at the end of the day and this verse says that it is not yet time. Also, the word “high” next to “day” indicates a specific point in the day in which the sun might be at its brightest or the middle of the day.
Past age
· Psalm 77:2, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not; my soul refused to be comforted.”
This use of the word “day” is being used to refer to an event that has already happened. The verse could read, “In some period of time in the past, I sought (past tense).” The tense of the verb is key here.
· Deuteronomy 4:32, “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?”
Both uses of the word “day” in this passage refer to an event that has occurred in the past. All of this is based upon the past tense words used surrounding them, such as “are past” and “since.”
Also, the verses preceding verse 32, talk about events to come and then in verse 32, it transitions to events having already occurred. This contrasting helps us to see “day” as a past event.
Future age
· Revelation 6:17, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
First, we know that this is not referring to a single day, because it does not follow any of the 24-hour guidelines (morning, evening, number, etc.). Since that is the case we know we are dealing with an undefined period of time.
Second, the use of “day” is referring to an event that has already come, but we must back out further to gain the full impact of the context of this word. We know that John wrote the book of Revelation about events that are to come (Revelation 1:1, “God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass...”)
So, even though the sentence structure requires us to see “day” as an event that has come, the broader look at the entire book and intent of the author would lead us to see “day” as an event yet to come.
· Matthew 7:22, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”
First, sentence structure makes this a future event by saying “in that day.” Second, in the previous verse Jesus is telling His audience about a future event, entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Since they had not yet entered the Kingdom of Heaven, He must be telling them of a future age.
Context is so important in interpreting all scripture.
So what definition can we apply to “day” in Genesis 1? We must know the context of how the word is being used. When we look outside of Genesis 1 and see “day” used with morning, evening or a number the word day always means a 24 hour day.
In what context is “day” being used in Genesis 1? As we scan across the chapter we see Moses, the author of Genesis, close each day with the following, “And the evening and the morning were the (number) day.”
This phrasing is used with each day in the week of creation. It is a sound interpretation of scripture to look at the clear meaning of the author within the context of the passage to understand the true meaning of what is being conveyed. The six days in the week of creation where literal, 24-hour days.