King James Bible
"And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good."
This describes the purpose of the sun and moon created on day four—the sun governs daylight hours while the moon presides over night. The Hebrew word for 'rule' (mashal) implies ordered dominion, establishing these celestial bodies as God's appointed timekeepers for creation. Beyond mere governance, the luminaries maintain the fundamental separation God established on day one. This division creates rhythm and structure essential for life, work, and rest cycles throughout creation. This divine assessment appears after each creative act, affirming that the cosmic order functions exactly as intended. The Hebrew 'tov' (good) indicates both moral excellence and functional perfection in God's design.