Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
Yom
Many use the argument of
2Peter 3:8 – which in part says that one day is with the Lord is like a thousand years. This is not speaking about creation (which would have to be read into the verse; eisegesis), but rather God’s patience (as verse 9 shows; exegesis).
2Timothy 2:15
Exegesis and eisegesis are two opposing views to the study of the Bible. Exegesis refers to an explanation of the biblical text based on an investigation of the language, history, culture, and context of a passage in its original setting. Eisegesis refers to interpretation of a passage of Scripture based on a subjective understanding of the text. Or in other words what a person thinks it should mean.
Exegesis is the approach to Bible study that does the text justice and seeks true understanding of God's Word. It looks at what the text says in appropriate context, wanting to learn from the text rather than wanting to use the text to support a preconceived notion. 2Timothy 2:15 teaches, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." Those who follow Christ are called to study His Word with diligence and to handle it rightly. Exegesis is a method of study that promotes this.
Eisegesis is often associated with postmodern culture and literary study. While every person brings some level of personal bias to his or her understanding of the Bible, eisegesis focuses on using this bias as the basis for interpretation. Instead of asking, "What does this biblical passage mean?" eisegesis asks, "What does this verse mean to me?" or "How does this passage make me feel?"
An example of Eisegesis for instance
What if someone told you Jonah was in the belly of a fish for 3,000 years instead of 3 days? And that Joshua & the Israelites were marching around Jericho 7,000 years, instead of 7 days!
The meaning of the word ‘day’ in Genesis 1, begins with a study of the Hebrew word yôm.
The word has five meanings:
i. a period of light in a day/night cycle;
ii. a period of 24 hours;
iii. a general or vague concept of time;
iv. a specific point of time; and
v. a period of a year.16
By contrast, the English word ‘day’ has fourteen different definitions. There are many biblical occurrences of yôm: it appears a total of 2291 times
The Hebrew yom occurs 2,282 times outside Genesis 1. It occurs 359 times with a number outside Genesis 1. Some of these occurrences use cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) and some use ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.). However, in all 359 cases, the context clearly shows that a 24-hour day is being referenced.
Yom occurs 19 times outside Genesis 1, together with either the word “morning” or “evening.” In all 19 cases, a 24-hour day is clearly intended.
The words “morning” and “evening” occur together, without “day” 38 times outside Genesis 1. Each of these occurrences refers to a literal 24-hour day.
Finally, the Hebrew yom occurs with the word “night” 53 times outside Genesis 1. Each of these occurrences refers to a 24-hour day.
The original Hebrew text in Genesis chapter 1 not only teaches a six-day creation, but it goes out of its way to do so. The textual construction “And the evening and the morning …” at the end of each creation day (“yom” in Hebrew) indicates that God wants us to know that these days were just like any normal solar day, divided between night-time and daylight.
The very first time the phrase is used, in Genesis 1:5, the Hebrew uses the cardinal number “one” (“echad” in Hebrew). In the following uses of the phrase “…the evening and the morning…”, the Hebrew switches to using ordinal numbers – second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth – referring to each day. It is as if God wishes to make it even more clear that each “yom” consists of day and night. Every time "yom" is used with an ordinal number in the Bible it means day! What we call a “day” consists of a cycle of day-time and night-time divided into 24 hours
God made the plant life on day 3. God made the Sun on day 4. God made the insects on day 5. If it was in fact one thousand years for each day of creation, it would be impossible for plants to survive, considering the plants need the Sun, along with the insects to pollinate the plants. When God says a day he means a day!
According to Exodus 20:9–11, God used the six creation days of Genesis as a model for man’s workweek: work six days, rest one. Apparently, He had us in mind even before He made us (on the sixth day) and wanted to provide an example for us to follow.
God also confirmed that He created everything in six literal days when He wrote the 10 Commandments with his own finger! Exodus 20:11 & Exodus 31:18
The Hebrew yom occurs 2,291 times in the Old Testament, with its meaning clear! Doesn’t it seem weird that the only place it’s questioned is in Genesis 1?
Yom
Many use the argument of
2Peter 3:8 – which in part says that one day is with the Lord is like a thousand years. This is not speaking about creation (which would have to be read into the verse; eisegesis), but rather God’s patience (as verse 9 shows; exegesis).
2Timothy 2:15
Exegesis and eisegesis are two opposing views to the study of the Bible. Exegesis refers to an explanation of the biblical text based on an investigation of the language, history, culture, and context of a passage in its original setting. Eisegesis refers to interpretation of a passage of Scripture based on a subjective understanding of the text. Or in other words what a person thinks it should mean.
Exegesis is the approach to Bible study that does the text justice and seeks true understanding of God's Word. It looks at what the text says in appropriate context, wanting to learn from the text rather than wanting to use the text to support a preconceived notion. 2Timothy 2:15 teaches, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." Those who follow Christ are called to study His Word with diligence and to handle it rightly. Exegesis is a method of study that promotes this.
Eisegesis is often associated with postmodern culture and literary study. While every person brings some level of personal bias to his or her understanding of the Bible, eisegesis focuses on using this bias as the basis for interpretation. Instead of asking, "What does this biblical passage mean?" eisegesis asks, "What does this verse mean to me?" or "How does this passage make me feel?"
An example of Eisegesis for instance
What if someone told you Jonah was in the belly of a fish for 3,000 years instead of 3 days? And that Joshua & the Israelites were marching around Jericho 7,000 years, instead of 7 days!
The meaning of the word ‘day’ in Genesis 1, begins with a study of the Hebrew word yôm.
The word has five meanings:
i. a period of light in a day/night cycle;
ii. a period of 24 hours;
iii. a general or vague concept of time;
iv. a specific point of time; and
v. a period of a year.16
By contrast, the English word ‘day’ has fourteen different definitions. There are many biblical occurrences of yôm: it appears a total of 2291 times
The Hebrew yom occurs 2,282 times outside Genesis 1. It occurs 359 times with a number outside Genesis 1. Some of these occurrences use cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) and some use ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.). However, in all 359 cases, the context clearly shows that a 24-hour day is being referenced.
Yom occurs 19 times outside Genesis 1, together with either the word “morning” or “evening.” In all 19 cases, a 24-hour day is clearly intended.
The words “morning” and “evening” occur together, without “day” 38 times outside Genesis 1. Each of these occurrences refers to a literal 24-hour day.
Finally, the Hebrew yom occurs with the word “night” 53 times outside Genesis 1. Each of these occurrences refers to a 24-hour day.
The original Hebrew text in Genesis chapter 1 not only teaches a six-day creation, but it goes out of its way to do so. The textual construction “And the evening and the morning …” at the end of each creation day (“yom” in Hebrew) indicates that God wants us to know that these days were just like any normal solar day, divided between night-time and daylight.
The very first time the phrase is used, in Genesis 1:5, the Hebrew uses the cardinal number “one” (“echad” in Hebrew). In the following uses of the phrase “…the evening and the morning…”, the Hebrew switches to using ordinal numbers – second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth – referring to each day. It is as if God wishes to make it even more clear that each “yom” consists of day and night. Every time "yom" is used with an ordinal number in the Bible it means day! What we call a “day” consists of a cycle of day-time and night-time divided into 24 hours
God made the plant life on day 3. God made the Sun on day 4. God made the insects on day 5. If it was in fact one thousand years for each day of creation, it would be impossible for plants to survive, considering the plants need the Sun, along with the insects to pollinate the plants. When God says a day he means a day!
According to Exodus 20:9–11, God used the six creation days of Genesis as a model for man’s workweek: work six days, rest one. Apparently, He had us in mind even before He made us (on the sixth day) and wanted to provide an example for us to follow.
God also confirmed that He created everything in six literal days when He wrote the 10 Commandments with his own finger! Exodus 20:11 & Exodus 31:18
The Hebrew yom occurs 2,291 times in the Old Testament, with its meaning clear! Doesn’t it seem weird that the only place it’s questioned is in Genesis 1?
