Genesis 1:17 nasb — God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,

NASB

"God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,"

— Genesis 1:17, NASB

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Genesis 1:17 in Other Translations

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Genesis 1 — Context

14

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;

15

and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.

16

God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.

17

God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,

18

and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.

19

There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

20

Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."

Genesis 1:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Genesis 1:17 say?
Genesis 1:17 in the NASB reads: “God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,”
Where is Genesis 1:17 in the Bible?
Genesis 1:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 17.
Who wrote Genesis?
Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). Anciently attributed to Moses; many modern scholars view Genesis as a compilation of older oral and written sources finalized in or after the Babylonian exile. It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Genesis about?
Genesis is the book of beginnings — the origin of the universe, humanity, sin, and the covenant family God chose to bless the nations. It traces creation, the fall, the flood, and the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, laying the foundation for the rest of Scripture and pointing forward to the redemption that comes through the promised seed.
What are the major themes of Genesis?
Genesis explores themes including Creation, Fall, Covenant, Faith, Family, Promise. These themes shape the meaning and context of Genesis 1:17.
What translation should I read Genesis 1:17 in?
Genesis 1:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Genesis 1:17?
Genesis 1:17 reads (NASB): “God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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