What does "yom" really mean?

[GenemZ]

That is a fine conjecture, but what about what the rabbi said about the use of the letter lamed in the Hebrew instead of the of the letter het? He claims that only a "ha" prefix would indicate a literal day, whereas the lamed prefix dictates something else entirely.

(I think that het is probably the letter because the letter hei seems like a less likely choice to combine with vowel notation to produce the pronunciation "ha")

Hmmmm...?

And there was evening, and there
was morning—the first day.
​

What are you trying to tell me about that passage? You're saying that evening and morning constituted an era?


Was it something like...500 years of light? And 500 years of night?


Please, explain how your rabbi's commentary works with this passage?

And there was evening, and there
was morning—the first day.

What was that? Simply one day? Or, some long duration era, referred to as a day?
​

 

[GenemZ]

No one knows what the nature of the lights source the first 3 days. It could have been an angel as they likely were created on day one. They are beings of light, and it would make sense if they were the source. But it could have been anything. We just know light existed before the sun. The author is explicit about that. I don't know why people fight it.

Maybe, we have some hints to be found in the Bible, that make it known.

1 John 1:5

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare
to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
​

That was too easy... Let's not stop there!

Revelation 21:22-24

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun
or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light,
and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and
the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
​

1 Timothy 6:15-16

which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed
and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone
is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one
has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

​

One of God's attributes is being a bearer of great, glorious light! That attribute of God may explain why Lucifer and the morning stars were created originally to be light bearers. For, as "sons of God" they were also created in the image of God.

As for mature Christians who glorify Christ while on earth? Part of their reward may startle to realize!

Daniel 12:3

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of
the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the stars for ever and ever.

​

Matthew 13:43

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom
of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Those who glorify Christ will be rewarded the ability to share in this unique attribute of God! They will reflect this attribute of God in His kingdom!

1 Corinthians 2:9
​

However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him.






.
​

 

[Fascinated With God]

I don't know why people fight it.

Because the absence of a sun renders the literalist interpretation meaningless. There was no sun to define a period of time.

 

[GenemZ]

Because the absence of a sun renders the literalist interpretation meaningless. There was no sun to define a period of time.

God did not need a sun. Its still literally a day... as defined by the following.

Genesis 1:5

God called the light “day,”

and the darkness he called “night.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.



​

God defined a day according to having periods of darkness and light. Nothing was said about having the sun do it. The sun was simply made to become the means to produce daylight to take over what God had established. To have a day does not require the sun. Now it does, because that is how God ordered this creation to be.

If God wanted to use a giant flashlight for that required designated period of light? It still could have been called a "day." The sun was only mentioned later on to make known to us what the source of light is to be established for this creation.

God Himself was the source for producing the light for the first few days of this creation. Most likely, the angels watching thought this creation was to be almost a repeat of days in the previous creation. Of course, this time minus Lucifer who used to be the one heralding in the morning light.

In the previous creation Lucifer, who's name indicates he bore great light, used to be the angel to bring in the morning light of each new day. Then, after Lucifer brought in the morning? God would take over providing the needed light for the rest of the day. That is what we see God doing the first three days of this creation!

There was no sun needed in the previous creation. For, God and the angels produced the needed lights. Lucifer's great power was one of the reasons he felt arrogant and proud.


Lucifer's business card might have read as follows...

Isaiah 14:12a
Amplified Bible

How have you fallen from heaven, O light-
bringer and day star, son of the morning!



Yeshayah 14:12a
Orthodox Jewish Bible

How art thou fallen from Shomayim, O Heilel Ben
Shachar (Bright One of the Dawn, Day Star, Lucifer)!



Isaiah 14:12
Young's Literal Translation

How hast thou fallen from the heavens,
O shining one, son of the dawn!

God did not make the sun bear light for the first few days. So, that later on, men would question what was going on... And, be motivated to search for the answer. An answer that God knew would lead to greater understanding of God's Word.

Philippians 1:9

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound
more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.
​

 

[Fascinated With God]

God Himself was the source for producing the light for the first few days of this creation. Most likely, the angels watching thought this creation was to be almost a repeat of days in the previous creation. Of course, this time minus Lucifer who used to be the one heralding in the morning light.

In the previous creation Lucifer, who's name indicates he bore great light, used to be the angel to bring in the morning light of each new day. Then, after Lucifer brought in the morning? God would take over providing the needed light for the rest of the day. That is what we see God doing the first three days of this creation!

There was no sun needed in the previous creation. For, God and the angels produced the needed lights. Lucifer's great power was one of the reasons he felt arrogant and proud.


Lucifer's business card might have read as follows...

Isaiah 14:12a
Amplified Bible ​

How have you fallen from heaven, O light-
bringer and day star, son of the morning! ​

Yeshayah 14:12a
Orthodox Jewish Bible​

How art thou fallen from Shomayim, O Heilel Ben
Shachar (Bright One of the Dawn, Day Star, Lucifer)! ​

Isaiah 14:12
Young's Literal Translation​

How hast thou fallen from the heavens,
O shining one, son of the dawn!​

It says in verse 4 of Isaiah 14 that this whole section is about a deceased king of Babylon. Not only is Lucifer not the name of the devil, the Latin word lucifer kept its original positive sense, as is evident from its use as a personal name by, among others, two 4th-century bishops, and its appearance in the Easter Proclamation as a description of Jesus.

 

[Fascinated With God]

God did not need a sun. Its still literally a day... as defined by the following.

Genesis 1:5​

God called the light “day,”​

and the darkness he called “night.”​

And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.​

Well lets take a closer look at the word "morning" H1242:

H1242 in Job 11:17 is used explicitly as an allegory to prosperity, as an allegory to "joy" in Psalms 30:5-6, and in a purely poetic manner in Psalms 59:16 and Psalms 143:8. Often it means "tomorrow" rather than morning in, Lev 22:30, Num 16:5, 1 Sam 9:19, Est 2:14, Zep 3:3 and a number of other places. In Psalms 90:14 it means "early", but not in reference to a time of day, and in Psalms 49:14 it is used as an analogy to death.

So not only does "yom" have a wide array of meanings, but morning is also a quite malleable with explicitly allegorical usage.

 

[GenemZ]

It says in verse 4 of Isaiah 14 that this whole section is about a deceased king of Babylon.

It was speaking of the king, yes. By accusing him of being Satan-like. Like when Jesus called Peter, "Satan."

Matthew 16:21-23​

21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but the things of men.”



​

Peter was not Satan. Was he? And, the King was not Satan. Was he? The King of was not a luminating human torch, either! Nor, could the king bring in the morning of the day.

Add to that!

Ezekiel 28:11-17, tells us quite a bit about Satan's beginnings. But, did so while addressing a king of Tyre!

The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden , the garden of God ; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald...Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filed with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.


​

That was not describing any earthly king. Was it? The king of Tyre as not a guardian cherub (four winged angel).. And, no unbeliever who is human was once created blameless in all his ways! All men are born sinners.


Note verse 17? This part is a real kicker!

Your heart became proud on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.
​

​

That translation took some liberties. Now here it is again in more literal and accurate rendered translations..

Ezekiel 28:17
Darby Translation
​

Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdomby reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground, I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
​

Ezekiel 28:17
1599 Geneva Bible​

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, and thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground. I will lay thee before kings that they may behold thee.

​

The Knox translation rendered it... "dazzling brilliance."


And... that folks, why they called him.... "Lucifer."

Job 38:6-7

On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

​

Read that? What do you think? You guess a bunch of kings began to sing together while angels shouted? All while the earth was being created?

Those morning stars were light bearing angels that played a part in the seasons of the prehistoric animal migrations. That function only took place in the prehistoric creation.. The acted in function just like inanimate stars today do in our world. When angels fell they lost the right to their physical bodies. No more light show.

Well now...

If you wish to continue to resist? Don't think I am going to spend much time trying to convince you. I am not sure you are in the right state of mind to be able to see it. You can say what you want about it. Fine! The fact remains. Many others do know what those Scriptures speak of. They just have not put it together yet.


Have a nice Day. I really wish you would.

 

[GenemZ]

Well lets take a closer look at the word "morning" H1242:

H1242 in Job 11:17 is used explicitly as an allegory to prosperity, as an allegory to "joy" in Psalms 30:5-6, and in a purely poetic manner in Psalms 59:16 and Psalms 143:8. Often it means "tomorrow" rather than morning in, Lev 22:30, Num 16:5, 1 Sam 9:19, Est 2:14, Zep 3:3 and a number of other places. In Psalms 90:14 it means "early", but not in reference to a time of day, and in Psalms 49:14 it is used as an analogy to death.

So not only does "yom" have a wide array of meanings, but morning is also a quite malleable with explicitly allegorical usage.

So what? We do the same things.

We can also have a dawning of an idea. Dawning of a new era! He's beginning to see daylight! He's walking in darkness all day.

So,, what you said are only somewhat interesting side points. On the other hand. Genesis One spoke of days consisting of light and darkness.

Mind getting back on the actual subject? Try letting some daylight through? Some things were not intended to allegorical! They say what they mean! Unless, that is? Someone finds the actual to be inconvenient. Then he must strain at remaking the meaning of something... Like... "It depends, on what your definition of 'is'..is."


Jesus could use allegorical thinking while using what still remained a reality.

John 11:9-10

“Aren’t there 12 hours in a day?” Jesus answered. “If anyone
walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees
the light of this world. If anyone walks during the night, he
does stumble, because the light is not in him.”
​

 

[Fascinated With God]

Mind getting back on the actual subject?

Such hypocrisy. You are the one who just went on extended tangents on angels and Satan, in response to my attempts to get you back on the subject.

Try letting some daylight through? Some things were not intended to allegorical! They say what they mean! Unless, that is? Someone finds the actual to be inconvenient. Then he must strain at remaking the meaning of something... Like... "It depends, on what your definition of 'is'..is."

Yom is nothing like 'is'. Is has only one definition: "Third person singular present indicative of be". Yom has many definitions.

Jesus could use allegorical thinking while using what still remained a reality.

John 11:9-10​

“Aren’t there 12 hours in a day?” Jesus answered. “If anyone
walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees
the light of this world. If anyone walks during the night, he
does stumble, because the light is not in him.” ​

The Light is real, it is not something allegorical. Neither is the Dark Side allegorical.

See! This is what I don't get. You guys insist that Gen 1 is not allegorical, but then you go around dismissing something as fundamental as the exist of the Light and Dark Side as being allegorical. Cal even dismisses the resurrection of Christ as a miracle. You claim to be so pious because of your supposedly literal interpretation of Gen 1, but then you turn around and make expressions of faithlessness.

When you label those things as allegorical you are undermining the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. Taking Gen 1 as allegorical is totally different, it does not undermine Christianity in any way.





.

 

[GenemZ]

No one knows what the nature of the lights source the first 3 days. It could have been an angel as they likely were created on day one. They are beings of light, and it would make sense if they were the source. But it could have been anything. We just know light existed before the sun. The author is explicit about that. I don't know why people fight it.

No one knows? Then, why do you act like you know what it can not be?


Again.. we have some hints to be found in the Bible that make something to be known.

1 John 1:5

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare
to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
​

That was too easy... See? You say YOU KNOW that can not be the provision of light before the sun was put into motion by God? How can you say no one knows? But, you seem to know? Hell, No One?

Now, look here at what the serious Bible student would have stored away in his/her frame of reference, enabling them to think with what I have shared with you, but you stomp in a mental huff, and closed your mind to..

Revelation 21:22-24

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun
or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light,
and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and
the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
​

1 Timothy 6:15-16

which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed
and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone
is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one
has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

​

See? Big hint! One of God's attributes is being a bearer of great and glorious light!

This attribute of God may explain why Lucifer and the morning stars were created originally to be light bearers. For, as "sons of God" they were also created in the image of God.

That's off on a tangent to you? When I am nailing a solution home?! Come on! Let some daylight into that closed mind of yours! You say no one knows what provided the light. But, now? Act as if you do know what it could not have been! Stop walking in darkness and let the Word of God shine into your heart. You might just like the answer if you do.

For those Christians who study and learn sound doctrine and mature to glorify Christ while on earth? Part of their reward may startle to realize! More LIGHT!

Daniel 12:3

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of
the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the stars for ever and ever.

Matthew 13:43

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom
of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
​

Note:

"Whoever has ears, let them hear."

You know there is a big difference between "no one knows" what produced the first days of light With, "no one can know." You have chosen the latter?

Colossians 2:2-3

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united
in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of
God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

​

Please.. Put away your pet theory that is based upon secular reasoning. Treasures of wisdom and knowledge to be found in the Word of God has been hidden from secular thinking and and buried beneath the surface of Scripture.

One must dig in and reach some depth. That only comes through a process of error and corrections in humility. Grace is denied the proud. But, greater grace is given to those who have learned to be humble.

1 Timothy 6:15-16

which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed
and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone
is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one
has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
​

That speaks not of the sun. But, God's Son.

Please... keep an open mind.

 

[GenemZ]

Such hypocrisy. You are the one who just went on extended tangents on angels and Satan, in response to my attempts to get you back on the subject.

For what reason did I go on this alleged tangent? Why did I say what I did? Was it to get away from explaining how we got the first three days without the sun producing the light?

Tell us.. Why did I take the time to show you about the prehistoric state of certain angels? Tell us why.

Can you tell us why? I think you can if you wanted to.

I believe you have a motive for turning a blind eye. For you want to invent an answer of your own to please your natural way of thinking, rather than let the Word of God do it, which would require the supernatural intervention by grace.

 

[Fascinated With God]

For what reason did I go on this alleged tangent? Why did I say what I did? Was it to get away from explaining how we got the first three days without the sun producing the light?

To detract from the obvious point that a yom under those conditions doesn't have to be anything like a yom today.

Tell us.. Why did I take the time to show you about the prehistoric state of certain angels? Tell us why.

God is the source of the Light mention in Genesis, not the angels. You were just trying to detract from the central issue again.

I believe you have a motive for turning a blind eye. For you want to invent an answer of your own to please your natural way of thinking, rather than let the Word of God do it, which would require the supernatural intervention by grace.

That is a rather cantankerous false accusation. God is the source of the light in Genesis, just as God is the source of the big bang.

My point is that if God is the source of the light and not the sun, then that completely throws off the 24 hour interpretation of yom. As it says in 2 Peter 3:8, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." So if God is the source of the light then you can't count on what the time frame is.

 

[GenemZ]

To detract from the obvious point that a yom under those conditions doesn't have to be anything like a yom today.

God is the source of the Light mention in Genesis, not the angels. You were just trying to detract from the central issue again.

That is a rather cantankerous false accusation. God is the source of the light in Genesis, just as God is the source of the big bang.

My point is that if God is the source of the light and not the sun, then that completely throws off the 24 hour interpretation of yom. As it says in 2 Peter 3:8, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." So if God is the source of the light then you can't count on what the time frame is.

I get it.. You have an agenda to protect.

But, others will listen. They will not distort what I say like you just did. That is why I am not going to bother to take the time to try to straighten out your twisted yarn. Because what I untwist will be once again twisted.

Have a good Yom.

 

[Fascinated With God]

So my premature speculation in a PM that you were giving me a kiss-off was not so far off after all.

Because you don't have an answer to the obvious objections to your views you are bowing out. If you really had the spirit of truth you would not so easily feel disheartened.

 

[GenemZ]

So my premature speculation in a PM that you were giving me a kiss-off was not so far off after all.

Because you don't have an answer to the obvious objections to your views you are bowing out. If you really had the spirit of truth you would not so easily feel disheartened.

I have answers sir. The problem is... you do not have ears.

 

[Fascinated With God]

I had an insane relative who reacted the same. Anyone who didn't agree with her couldn't possibly be listening to her. "You're not listening!" She would say time and time again when we would argue with her nutty ideas.

 

[mark kennedy]

In Deuteronomy 5:29, 11:1, 14:23 and many more places in that book, as well as in Jeremiah 31:36, 32:39, 33:18 & 35:19 & 1 Samuel 2:32-35, yom explicitly means "always".

Let's take a look:

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! (`owlam עוֹלָם H5769) (Deut. 5:29)​

Where are you getting your information and references? The word used here is `owlam.

“Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always. (Strong's H3117 yowm יוֹם ) (Deut. 11:1)​

Yep, in that passage it's properly translated 'always'. In other places it means a regular day.

And know ye this day: H3117 (Deut 11:2)
how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day; H3117 (Deut 11:4)
Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, H3117 (Deut 11:8)​

It's used in different ways.

In Deuteronomy the actual words are "mitzvah yom".

Where are you getting your information? The Hebrew word 'mitzvah' (Strongs H4687 מִצְוָה mitsvah) means 'commandment', I'm not sure how you are connecting the two words. I think you need to take another look at these terms.

All the commandments (H4687) which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. (Deu 8:1)

And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, (H4687) or no. (Deu 8:2)

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments (H4687) of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.(Deu 8:6)

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, (H4687) and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: (Deu 8:11)​

'Yom' can mean day, it can mean 'always' and it's used in proximity with 'mitzvah' in Deut. 8:1, it must means the 'day' the commandment is made. The connection you are trying to make here does not exist.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[miamited]

I don't know if you're genuinely looking for an answer or just trying to solicit an argument. If it is the former please excuse my cynical statement. I'm not sure where your research has given you the definition of "always" but a simple search will reveal that the term essentially means a period of time. It could be a day as in daylight (12 hours), a 24 hour period (day), or sometimes even a longer period like a year. It's definition is specifically tied to the context.

Hi FWG,

Vossler is correct! Yom must be further defined and I find that in the Scriptures, esp. the Genesis account of the creation, God has given fairly definite contextual clues by which we can understand what 'yom' means in those passages. It always amuses me those who get all tied up with 'what does 'yom' mean' discussions. Because they never want to go beyond the individual word and look at the contextual clues which are required for understanding.

Yom is in Hebrew exactly like day in English. Day can mean many different descriptions of time. For one to understand what 'day' means in English, one must also find the contextual clues. Nothing has changed. 'In' that 'day' doesn't mean the same thing as 'on' that 'day'.

God bless you.
In Christ, Ted