King James Bible
"And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day."
God exercises sovereign authority by naming the expanse created on day two, establishing its identity and purpose. In ancient Near Eastern thought, naming signified dominion and the power to define reality, emphasizing God's complete control over creation. This formulaic phrase marks the completion of the second creative period, establishing the rhythmic pattern of Genesis 1. The Hebrew order of evening-then-morning reflects the Jewish reckoning of days beginning at sunset, while reinforcing the orderly progression of creation.