Biblical • Six Day Creation • Young Earth

“EVENING AND MORNING” CLEARLY DEFINES ONE LITERAL DAY

In the first book of the bible, Genesis, the history of the creation of the heavens and the earth are described by God with a closing statement to each time duration with “an evening and the morning”. Most any Hebrew scholar identifies that the use here is a literal day. The Hebrew 24-hour day started at sundown. Therefore, in modern day vernacular we would say “the sun rose in the morning and the sunset that evening”. Thus absolutely clarifying the duration of this event as intended as a literal 24-hour period.

Updated 09/26/2026

Genesis does not leave the meaning of the creation days undefined

Beginning with the first day, Scripture establishes a consistent pattern: light is called “Day,” darkness is called “Night,” and each creation day is marked by “the evening and the morning.” This same formula is then repeated for six consecutive days, with each day specifically numbered.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:3–5)

Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. (Genesis 1:6–8)

Then continue with your existing passages for Days 3–6 and Genesis 2:1–3.

Conclusion

The pattern could hardly be more consistent. Genesis describes evening and morning, evening and morning, evening and morning, six times in succession, while numbering each as the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth day. After those six days were completed, Scripture identifies a seventh day on which God rested. Read naturally, the text presents creation as six successive days consisting of evenings and mornings, followed by the seventh day of rest.

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