Word for Word: Episode 35

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מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם

Lights in the heavenly space

The lights now commanded to take their assigned places are not the source of light that had shown on the first day. The word used here is מָאוֹר rather than the אוֹר of verse 3.

This alone clears up the charge that there is an inconsistency in the account. The "m" as a prefix often indicates a place. The maorim are lit, or lit up, by energy that is not their own. Like lamps and mirrors, they need a light giver.

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