A common problem that skeptics like to point out is that Genesis 1:15 seems to teach that the moon emits its own light. This, of course, contradicts the knowledge we have today that the moon merely reflects the light of the sun. This is a common objection brought up that supposedly proves that the Bible is false. Does this passage teach that the moon generates its own light? Let’s take a look.
Genesis 1:14-19 says: “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”
Contrary to what skeptics may think there is an answer to this so-called “problem.” Even in our scientific culture we use language every day that is earth-centric. Even the weatherman will say that the sun will rise and set even though we know that the earth revolves around the sun. It only rises and sets from an earthly perspective. We will say things such as “when the stars come out at night” even though the stars are always out, we just cannot see them during the day because of the sun’s light.
From our point-of-view on earth, the moon does give off light, although technically it is the sun’s light being reflected. When we look at Genesis 1 we will notice that the text never actually says that the moon generates its own light. The point of the passage (its context) is what the light does to earth and its inhabitants. The sun “governs” the day while the moon “governs” the night.
John Upchurch notes, “If the moon were a light source – instead of simply a light – there would likely be no night at all for it to govern.”[1] He continues: “We can easily demonstrate this concept when we imagine someone reflecting light into our eyes from a mirror. The mirror is not the source of light, but it does emit a powerful beam that can momentarily blind – something even biblio-skeptics would have to admit. And when such a beam is blinding someone, it is doubtful that how the light reaches the person’s eyes would matter so much as the fact that it is.”[2]
The point of the passage (Genesis 1:14-19) is what the lights in the sky (the sun, moon, and stars) do. Not only do they give light to the earth, but they mark off seasons, days, and years for everyone who lives on the planet. The purpose of Genesis 1 is to give humanity an overview of how God created. It does not give us the most detailed version of the account. It is up to humans using their God-given abilities to use observational science to learn the details about God’s creation.
Amber Bessis
May 21, 2016 9:06 pmThe earth is flat the sun and moon are the same size we are in an enclosed world with a dome firmament and so on the bible is correct the scientists are liars
JLinNation (@jlinnation)
August 2, 2016 6:27 amlol no. The bible was written by man. Man back then didn’t see want we can see now with technology.
Besides the Sumerian Solar System which dates thousand of years before the bible clearly shows our solar systems and the planets rebolving around the Sun. The Sumerians said they got this knowledge from their God’s called the Anunnakki. Who were Aliens from the Planet Nibiru.
Your plagiarized bible is based on the Sumerian tablets.
April S
February 17, 2017 6:15 pmIt’s so nice to finally have the wool removed from my eyes and to see that others are brave enough to speak the truth! The devil’s deception runs deep.
Christopher Naue
May 29, 2016 8:55 amAmen Amber, if people would really pay attention to the cycles of the moon they would notice that it doesn’t make any sense according to what we learned in school. We’re told the earth’s shadow is cast upon the moon. Upon closer observation you’ll notice that when the sun is out and, the moon is cycling with the sun during the day you will see the moon change by the light on the moon grow toward full or down to nothing. You’ll see the earth couldn’t possibly cause the shadow changing on the moon, especially when we see the sun during the day with the moon in the sky.
To have the earth effect the shadow on the moon, you would have to have the earth between the sun and Moon. Thats not to say God doesn’t use the sun to illuminat the moon, but if he does he somehow casts a shadow or, more likely limits the light the moon gives in its set times of cycle.
King James Bible, Mark 13:24
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.
Also according to a study I once read, the moons light is actually a cooling light, opposite to measuring the light of the Sun, which we know gives off lots of heat. So it seems to me that God created them independently as it says, and to fit his purpose of apparently balancing the the atmosphere so we can live. As hot as the Sun can be, it makes perfect sence to me that God uses the moon to balance with the Sun, as well as for times, and seasons.
I didn’t believe in the flat earth thing until I studied it, and came to find out the Bible perfectly describes the Earth as fixed in its foundation and, unmovable. The God of this world has blinded the minds of people with so called science, to attempt to hide the one true God’s creation and, to discredit the Bible. I wish I had time to go on, but please study for yourself and, ask God for guidance, wisdom and understanding.
Allan Rasco
March 16, 2017 8:02 amContrary to what the article above says, the word of YHWH says He made two great lights (plural). The moon, although a lesser light than the sun, is a light none the less, and can be proven to GIVE OFF HER OWN LIGHT! The word of YHWH says, during the tribulation, “…THE MOON SHALL NOT GIVE OFF HER LIGHT…”(Matt.24:29). The word of YHWH also says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”(1 Thessalonians 5:21). A simple laser thermometer purchased at Wal-Mart for under $20 can be used to prove the moon gives off a COLD LIGHT and is not giving off, as NASA claims, reflected radiant sunlight! Objects placed in moon light get colder yet they should get warmer if the moon is reflecting radiant sunlight. The fact that objects get colder when bathed in moon light while a similar object placed nearby but shaded from the moonlight get warmer not only proves the moon gives off “her own (cold) light, it also validates the Bible which says it gives off its own light! Do what YHWH said, “test all things”, and you will see NASA withheld vital information (that is called a lie) by not mentioning this easily verifiable fact. This secular Science Organization exists solely to cast doubt on the word of YHWH and hide the truth about His creation from the world. Apparently, when they first started telling this lie many years ago, they didn’t realize that cheap lasers would one day be in the hands of the masses. (See video below)
Sadly, the author of the article is oblivious that they are being used to perpetuate Satanic lies about Cosmology which is meant to cast doubt on the Holy Word of YHWH. Perhaps they will do as YHWH instructed and test what is said here, that the moon gives off a cold light, and then repent and remove the article above.
Who will you believe dear reader, NASA (which in Hebrew means “to deceive” – http://robschannel.com/nasa-in-hebrew), or Almighty YHWH God who says He created the Moon to govern the night and give off her own (cold) light? TEST & SEE for yourself, you will be surprised, but at least you will know the truth. And if you keep going in your research about what the Word of YHWH (and true science) says about the firmament, sun, moon, stars, and the earth, you will be shocked at just how many lies NASA and Company (Scientism) has told about His unique creation.
Mike Griffin
May 30, 2017 2:08 amIf you shine a light into a mirror and reflect it on a wall, you would never call the mirror a light because you know it is a mirror. The bible QUOTES God saying he created TWO lights. Surely the smartest most powerful being ever would not mistake his own creation for something it’s obviously not.
Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan
June 3, 2017 11:53 pmHave you heard the people who are claiming that the sun looks whiter than it used to, that it used to be more yellow? Maybe you’ve seen it yourself?
The Hebrew word for white in the feminine is lavanah. The Hebrew for moon in levanah.
What people are beginning to see is the identity of the sun and the moon. They are still experiencing them as two separate bodies, but they are noticing the color change – as well as some other changes in the solar system. Eventually, they will see them integrated.
People who do not understand what is happening and have a negative turn of mind have ventured all kinds of strange theories: flat Earth, that the moon really isn’t a moon, that NASA is conducting experiments….In truth, they are beginning to perceive the identity of the astronomical bodies. Too bad the take it negatively. It’s a wonderful, enlightening thing!
Abraham Daniel
July 19, 2018 7:44 amI believe a reflected light of the sun cannot reach earth at this far distance and shine so beautifully.Therefore the Biblical words THE MOON SHALL NOT GIVE OFF HER LIGHT…”(Matt.24:29) is more correct than the science statement
Anonymous
July 23, 2019 1:38 pmThis article assumes that the main stream theories of our modern planetarium is truth. It’s not. We are not on a spinning ball. You seem to adopt all the mainstream ideas that the moon gets her light from the sun and that the planet spins around the moon. This is false. The Bible also teaches that the earth does not and will never move. This in itself debunks Heliocentrism. The correct model is geocentrism. Study to show thyself approved
Rick Dade
December 20, 2019 10:26 am1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Paul calls the bodies, Im not geek or Greek, Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews Smart!! NASA LIES just count the was,
No proof the earth spins, or moves, only fake CGI on & on & on, fake space. Space may be the final frontier but its made in a Hollywood Basement.
Look up Ancient Hebrew Cosmology. We live in an enclosed system, no OUTER SPACE ONLY OUTER DARKNESS.
Let Yeshua words be true and every man a lier
Anonymous
January 15, 2020 3:20 amScripture tells us TWO LIGHTS where created one to rule the day and one the night. The sun does not illuminate moons light. NASA will continue to lie. Im gonna go with what scripture says.
DAVID Bryant
February 12, 2020 7:40 pmI AM IN OCALA FL. FOR THE WINTER.THIS IS 2/12/20.I SEE THE SUN SET AT 6:18, SKY AT THIS TIME STILL BLUE FROM EAST TO WEST, NOT DARK YET. NOW THE MOON WILL RISE AT 10;13 TONIGHT. THE SKY WILL BE DARK AT THIS TIME. IF YOU CAN SEE THE HORIZON IN THE EAST YOU WILL BEGIN TO SEE THE LIGHT OF THE MOON ON THE EASTERN HORIZON. THE SUN HAS BEEN SET NOW FOR 4 HOURS. CAN’T SEE THE SUN BUT CAN SEE LIGHT FROM THE MOON JUST OVER THE HORIZON. HOW CAN THE MOON, WHICH IS JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER FULL MOON, REFLECT THE SUN HAVING BEEN SET NOW FOR 4 HOURS, SUN IN THE WEST, MOON IN THE FAR OPPOSITE EAST, EARTH IN BETWEEN? ONE ADDED THING, HERE IN OCALA, THE SHADOW PART OF THE MOON IS ON TOP AT THIS TIME.