The difference between the light and lights of Genesis chapter one
Now, first, notice that in Genesis 1:3-5, God made the light (nuru), and in Genesis 1:14 -18, God made lights (In Kiswahili: mianga… plural or mwanga … singular). There is certainly a difference between light (nuru) and light (mwanga).
Now, this is the difference between the two. Light (Nuru) is the brightness which was spread upon the surface of the great deep, and had no particular source. It was a brightness that appeared upon the water, and its intensity was uniform all through.
Genesis 1:4 KJV
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Dividing that light from darkness means light was collected to one side of the face of the waters, and darkness remained on one side. It was a darkness which could be felt, not a mere shadow, so such darkness can be collected to one side, and similarly the light which was indeed a presence, a brightness that could make a presence, so that when one enters into that light (brightness), he could feel it. Such light could also be collected on one side of the face of the deep. Light that could be felt. It was a presence that made things clear.
Exodus 10:21 KJV
And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
If God could make a darkness which could be felt, He similarly could make a light which could be felt, not shining from some source, but simply a presence that makes every object in it clear.
But light (mwanga au mianga) is a shining light that originates from a source. (Mianga ya anga). Thus, this second light had sources in the sky (anga). That it could be put in plural, means it refers to the sources of the lights.
Secondly, remember that the first light (nuru), was upon the surface of the great deep. The light that was called day, and the darkness that was called night, were both above the surface of the great deep of water. Then in day two, God created the firmament in between the waters. He set the firmament in the midst of the waters, and pushed a great amount of waters upwards, creating an empty space in between the waters. It’s this empty space created in between the waters that God called the firmament.
Genesis 1:6-8 KJV
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. [7] And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. [8] And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Therefore, it’s evident that the Day and the Night of Genesis 1:3-5, remained above the waters, for that is where the two were placed. Yes, the light called Day, and the darkness called Night, were above the water that was above the firmament. So, the space that formed in between the waters was in darkness, for the heavenly light was cut off by the great deep above the firmament.
Therefore, it was necessary that in day four, God now makes lights, not light, but lights, and sets them within the firmament, to shine upon the earth, and within the space, to relief them from darkness.
You can see that in day four, God made the sun, the moon and the stars. These are not light (nuru) but lights (mianga ya anga). Light (nuru) was not within the firmament, but upon the waters which were upon the firmament, but lights (mianga) are shining objects placed in the sky, thus mi-anga ya anga.
Light (English), Nuru (Kiswahili), Liliang’ang’a (Kibukusu).
Light(s) (English), Mwanga au mianga (Kiswahili) Likhosia or Biikhosia (Kibukusu).
So, why it appears confusing is because English uses the same word for two different things. But in Kiswahili, Kibukusu and in many African languages, the two have clearly different names.
Notice that Liliang’ang’a is a brightness that has no source and makes all clear. But Likhosia means beams of light originating from some source.
Yes, every scriptural question has a scriptural answer. It is Elohim that has the answer, and His answer lines up with all scriptures, then you know that it is true. We must therefore approach it prayerfully to receive an answer from Him no matter how simple the question, for sometimes the simple question may have a depth unsearchable.
The lights of day four were within the firmament, while the light of day one was above the waters that were above the firmament.
Deuteronomy 11:21 KJV
That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Psalm 89:29 KJV
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
So, the seven days of creation were not earthly days made by the lights, but were heavenly days. One heavenly day certainly was much longer than the earthly day.
Psalm 74:16 KJV
The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
The light (of day one) and the sun of day four.