In the first chapter of Genesis, we read of the creation of the universe. We read that this creation took place in six days. Many try to undermine the Scripture by saying that these days were not literal, 24-hour days, but rather long, geological periods which account for the theory that the earth is millions of years old. A closer examination of the text will prove this theory to be false, and show that the days of Genesis 1 were actually literal, 24-hour days.

      If Moses had wanted to convey the notion that the days of the first chapter of Genesis were actually ages, he could have done so much more clearly. If he wanted to convey the idea that the days of the first chapter of Genesis were literal, 24-hour days, there was nothing more he could have written that would have made it any clearer than it is written.

      The word that is translated "day" is yom, and is both used and defined in Genesis 1:5 (Thomspon, 1982). This verse reads, "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."

      Further, when preceded by a numeral (in non-prophetic passages), the Hebrew word yom always carries the meaning of a 24-hour day (Thompson, 1982). The word is used over 100 times in the Old Testament in this sense, and always means a literal, 24-hour day (Thompson, 1982).

      If the days were not 24 hours, but were actually long geological periods, then a botanical problem presents itself (Thompson, 1982). Guy N. Woods wrote, "Botany, the field of plant life, came into existence on the third day. Those who allege that the days of Genesis 1 may have been long geological ages, must accept the absurd hypothesis that plant life survived in periods of total darkness through half of each geologic age, running into millions of years" (1976, p.17). Clearly, any reasonable person must accept the 24-hour day for this reason if no other.

      It is clear in the writing of Moses and in the light of the science of botany that the word yom as used in Genesis 1 means a literal, 24-hour day.

Thompson, Bert (1982), "The Day-Age Theory: A Refutation," Reason & Revelation, 2:29-32, July.

Woods, Guy N. (1976), Questions and Answers: Open Forum, (Henderson, TN: Freed-Hardeman University), Vol. I.

E-MAIL: Jason Carter, jt_carter@yahoo.com
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