A Closer Look At "Day" in Genesis: 12 Hours or 24? Sunrise or Sunset?
Here's some observations and questions to challenge your mental stewpot
I have read many papers, studied and looked at scripture over and over, and kept asking questions. What is the justification for sunrise reckoning of the day? And more importantly, what is the basis and support for sunrise sabbath and observance for only the daylight portion of the day, approximately 12 hours? Are there some things that are getting overlooked? The following are some observations and questions I have developed as I have looked at the account of Genesis 1 and 2, again and again.
"Sunrisers" hereafter refers to those holding a sunrise reckoning of the day, and daylight hours only observance of the Sabbath.
When I read a paper or study on the sunrise position of reckoning the day, usually the first thing I notice is a definition from Strong's Concordance:
Strong's Definition: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours)
Invariably, this seems to be the definition most "sunrisers" are relying on. But is it accurate? You might be interested to know that I have found Strong's to be the only place that I can find that definition at this point. If you have another source, I would sure like to see it. So if there is only one witness with this definition, is it accurate? And what is the source of Strong's information to formulate this definition?
Here's the observations and questions to tickle your mental palate:
How many days are in creation week?
What is the length of those days during creation week?
If one believes in the 7 literal days of creations, then those days must be approximately 24 hours. If there are 7 days (whole units) in the creation week, what is the justification and scriptural support for redefining the "day" in Genesis as only 12 hours? (Particularly on the first 3 days when the sun was not yet appointed.)What is the length of the 7th day in creation week?
If it is not 24 hours, what is the scriptural support for redefining it into another time period in Gensis? (12 hours)
What is the definition of day in the creation week?
Strong's Definition: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours)
This is usually the first, and sometimes only, definition that those of the sunrise persuasion quote. Why is a definition used that could not have existed on the 1st day of creation?
What day was the sun "made" or activated during creation week?
This question of the definition of day has to be defined on day ONE, not on day FOUR. One cannot simply redefine a day into 12 hours without support or confirmation from scripture.
What does evening and morning mean on the 1st day of creation week, when no sun or moon was made/activated?
What is the meaning of day on the 1st day of creation week, when there was no sun and moon in play?
What is the scriptural support for 1/14th?
There are biblical principles for 1/10th, and 1/7th, (ten or seven). If the Sabbath is only 12 hours of daylight on the 7th day, (1/14th of a week) what is the biblical principle and support for 1/14th?
Recent studies about the cycle of 7 (septacircans) within the human body are very interesting. If this is a divine principle by design, what happens to our mind, body, and soul if we are not in harmony with that cycle?
Here's a hypothetical question to consider:
According to sunrise reckoning, and daylight only observance of Sabbath, how would you know when to observe Sabbath if it was on one of the first three days of creation? Evening and morning existed, but no sunrise or sunset. (Remember, this is just hypothetical to make a point)
I'll be interested in your thoughts of course.
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