What Did God Create on the First Day?
The opening verses of the Bible present a profound and poetic description of the beginning of the universe. According to the Book of Genesis, the very first day of creation marks the moment when God brought order, purpose, and existence into the cosmos. This day establishes the foundation for all that follows in the creation narrative.
1. “In the Beginning”: The Act of Creation
Genesis begins with a powerful declaration:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
This single sentence introduces several key ideas:
God as the Creator
The narrative presents God as the ultimate source of all existence. Nothing existed before His creative action—no matter, no space, no time.
The Heavens and the Earth
This phrase is understood by many scholars as a merism—a literary expression meaning the totality of all things. “Heavens and earth” together represent the entire universe in its earliest, unformed state.
2. The Earth Before Formation
Before the first day’s major creative act, the Earth is described as:
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Formless and void (without shape or structure)
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Covered in darkness
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Watery and chaotic
This image represents a world not yet shaped, awaiting God’s ordering power.
“And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2)
The Spirit of God “hovering over the waters” signifies divine presence, readiness, and involvement in shaping creation.
3. The First Act: Creation of Light
The core event of the first day is God’s command:
“Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3)
With these words, God introduces light, the first defined element of creation. This light is not necessarily sunlight—that appears on the fourth day—but a primordial light, marking the distinction between day and night.
Significance of Light
Light symbolizes:
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Order replacing chaos
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Goodness and clarity
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The beginning of time and rhythm
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God’s sovereign control over creation
Scripture says:
“And God saw that the light was good.”
This is the first divine affirmation in the Bible.
4. The First Division: Light from Darkness
God separates light from darkness, establishing the first natural cycle.
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Light = Day
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Darkness = Night
This separation marks the first boundary and the beginning of time as humans understand it.
5. Completion of the First Day
The day ends with the phrase:
“And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” (Genesis 1:5)
This formula becomes the pattern throughout the creation week.
Why “evening first”?
In Hebrew tradition, a day begins at sunset. This rhythm—darkness followed by light—reflects the theme of moving from chaos to order, from obscurity to clarity.
Summary of What God Created on the First Day
✔ Created the heavens and the earth (the universe in its initial form)
✔ Introduced light
✔ Separated light from darkness
✔ Established day and night
✔ Marked the completion of the first day of creation
Conclusion
The first day of creation is foundational, both theologically and symbolically. It introduces God as the purposeful Creator, establishes order in the universe, and begins the framework of time. Light—associated with goodness, clarity, and life—becomes the first gift in the cosmic order, setting the stage for everything that follows in the creation narrative.