Genesis 1:8

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 1:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Genesis 1:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And God called the firmament heaven, etc.] Including the starry and airy heavens: it has its name from its height in the Arabic language, it being above the earth, and reaching to the third heaven; though others take the word “shamaim” to be a compound of two words, “sham” and “maim”, that is, there are waters, namely, in the clouds of heaven: and the evening; and the morning were the second day; these together made up the space of twenty four hours, which was another natural day; the body of light, created on the first day, having again moved round the chaos in that space of time; or else the chaos had turned round on its own axis in that time, which revolution produced a second day; and…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- IV. The Second Day 6. רקיע rāqı̂ya‛, “expanse;” στερέωμα stereōma, רקע rāqa‛, “spread out by beating, as leaf gold.” This expanse was not understood to be solid, as the fowl is said to fly on the face of it Genesis 1:21. It is also described as luminous Daniel 12:3, and as a monument of divine power Psalms 150:1. 7. עשׂה ‛āśâh “work on,” “make out of already existing materials.” The second act of creative power bears upon the deep of waters, over which the darkness had prevailed, and by which the solid crust was still overlaid. This mass of turbid and noisy water must be reduced to order, and confined within certain limits, before the land can be reached. According to the laws of…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“God: Gen 1:5, Gen 1:10, Gen 5:2 evening: Gen 1:5, Gen 1:13, Gen 1:19, Gen 1:23, Gen 1:31 Genesis 1:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification