Scripture Analysis: Genesis 1:3

Welcome back! Today we're in for a treat. We're going to analyze Genesis 1:3, and I think it'll be a nice, light lesson (was that a pun?) because it's a short verse and some of the words repeat. Let's dive in!

行きましょう！ Click the link to see the lesson!

Just as a quick refresher, the name Genesis is 創世記 (そうせいき). It means "account of the beginning of the world."

Let's read today's scripture!

First in English:

And God said: “Let there be light.” Then there was light.
Source

Then in Japanese:

神は言った。「光よ，輝け」。すると光が輝いた。
Source

Vocabulary

神 (かみ) : (n) God.

は : (particle) marks the topic.

言った : (v) past tense form of "to say."

光 (ひかり) : (n) light.

よ : (particle) In this context, it's like calling out to or addressing the noun the particle follows.

輝け (かがやけ) : (v) imperative form of "to shine." A request to shine.

すると : (conjunction) thereupon.

が : (particle) marks the topic.

輝いた (かがやいた) : (v) past tense of "to shine."

Grammar

神は (God, marked as the topic by "") 言った。(said)「光よ，(light) 輝け (shine) 」。すると (thereupon) 光が (light, marked as the topic by "") 輝いた (shone)。

神は言った。「光よ，輝け」。すると光が輝いた。

I would translate this verse as "God said, 'Light, shine!' Thereupon, the light shone."

Now let's compare our translation to the English version.

And God said: “Let there be light.” Then there was light.

This one matches up pretty closely!

Did you know? Today's Bible verse was originally written in the Hebrew language. Isn't it cool, though, that we can study it in both English and Japanese and still understand the meaning?

Great job today! Aren't we thankful that we have light to brighten our lives? Personally, I enjoy light in the form of sunlight, candlelight, lava lamps and dewdrop string lights... and lightning bugs, of course! See you next time!

またね！
-Kitty