I. Introduction: Let There Be Light

“And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.”

— Genesis 1:3

The Hebrew word אוֹר (or) refers to light—but Genesis 1:3 cannot refer to sunlight, because the sun, moon, and stars are not created until Genesis 1:14–16, which uses a different word:

מְאֹרֹת (me’orot) — created luminaries or vessels of light

Genesis 1:3 speaks of something deeper: the first appearance of light itself, apart from any created source. It does not describe Lux directly as if Lux were physical—but rather reveals Lux analogically, as the uncreated radiance of divine intelligibility breaking into creation.

אוֹר (or) Throughout the Old Testament:

Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is my light (אוֹר) and my salvation.”
Psalm 36:9 — “In Your light (אוֹר) we see light.”
Isaiah 2:5 — “Let us walk in the light (אוֹר) of the Lord.”
Isaiah 9:2 — “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light (אוֹר).”
Isaiah 60:19 — “The Lord will be your everlasting light (אוֹר).”