King James Bible
"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also."
God creates the sun and moon as the primary celestial bodies, emphasizing their significance in the created order. The text avoids naming them directly, possibly to counter ancient Near Eastern cultures that worshiped these bodies as deities. Each light receives a specific dominion—the sun governs daylight hours while the moon presides over darkness. The verb 'rule' establishes these as God's appointed servants rather than independent powers, organizing time into predictable cycles. Almost as an afterthought, the countless stars are mentioned, underscoring God's effortless creativity. While ancient peoples often viewed stars as divine beings or fate-controllers, Genesis reduces them to mere creations alongside the greater lights.