New American Standard Bible 1995

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Genesis

1

:

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.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
God God, god Noun H430 אֱלֹהִ֔ים e·lo·him,
made do, make Verb H6213 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ vai·ya·'as
the two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 שְׁנֵ֥י she·nei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

great great Adjective H1419 הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים hag·ge·do·lim;
lights, a luminary Noun H3974 הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת ham·me·'o·rot
the greater great Adjective H1419 הַגָּדֹל֙ hag·ga·dol
light a luminary Noun H3974 הַמָּאֹ֤ור ham·ma·'o·vr
to govern rule, dominion, realm Noun H4475 לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת le·mem·she·let
the day, day Noun H3117 הַיֹּ֔ום hai·yo·vm,
and the lesser small, insignificant Adjective H6996 הַקָּטֹן֙ hak·ka·ton
light a luminary Noun H3974 הַמָּאֹ֤ור ham·ma·'o·vr
to govern rule, dominion, realm Noun H4475 לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת le·mem·she·let
the night; night Noun H3915 הַלַּ֔יְלָה hal·lay·lah,
[He made] the stars a star Noun H3556 הַכֹּוכָבִֽים׃ hak·ko·v·cha·vim.
also.      

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 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.
King James Bible And God made the two great lights, lights; the greater light to govern rule the day, and the lesser light to govern rule the night; He night: he made the stars also.
Hebrew Greek English 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.