Yeshua Is the Light of Genesis 1: also a Targumic Argument
1. The Light in Genesis 1 Was Not the Sun or Moon
Genesis 1:3–5 (KJV)
“And Elohim said, Let there be light: and there was light. And Elohim saw the light, that it was good: and Elohim divided the light from the darkness.”
Key Points:
This light was created on Day 1.
The sun, moon, and stars were not created until Day 4 (Genesis 1:14–19).
Therefore, this “light” is not physical sunlight - it is spiritual, primordial, and precedes all visible luminaries.
This divine Light is the first manifestation of order, life, and separation from darkness - foundational to all creation.
2. John 1 Intentionally Mirrors Genesis 1 and Identifies the Light
John 1:1–5 (NKJV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him… In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness…”
Direct Correspondence to Genesis:
A. “In the beginning” → A deliberate reference to Genesis 1:1
B. “The Word was with Elohim… and was Elohim” → Echoes “God said” in Genesis 1 (i.e., creation by speech)
C. “All things were made through Him” → The Word (Yeshua) was the active agent in creation
D. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” → Life and light are joined in Yeshua, who brings spiritual light to all people
E. “The light shines in the darkness…” → Just as divine Light pierced the Genesis 1 darkness, Yeshua pierces spiritual darkness
John is revealing that the “Light” in Genesis 1:3 is Yeshua, the eternal Word of Elohim, through whom all creation came into being.
3. Yeshua Declares He Is the Light of the World
John 8:12 (NKJV)
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Why This Is Significant:
Yeshua is stating that he is the light.
This directly connects Him with the first light of creation.
He is the true Light that both illuminates creation and redeems/seperates it from darkness.
4. The Targums Identify the Divine “Word” (Memra) as the Active Creator
The Aramaic Targums, ancient Jewish paraphrases of the Hebrew Scriptures, consistently replace “YHWH” with “Memra (Word) of YHWH” when describing God’s interaction with His creation.
Key Targum Examples:
Targum Onkelos – Genesis 1:3
“And the Memra of YHWH said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light by His Word.”
Memra (Word) is seen as the one who creates — aligning with John 1:3, “All things were made through Him.”
Targum Neofiti – Exodus 3:14
“And the Memra of YHWH said to Moses…”
It was the Word speaking to Moses at the burning bush — not the Father Himself directly, consistent with John 5:37.
Targum Jonathan – Isaiah 45:17
“By the Memra of YHWH, Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation…”
Israel’s eternal salvation is by the Word — again identifying Yeshua, the Savior.
5. The Memra (Word) Became Flesh — Yeshua
John 1:14 (NKJV)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…”
Key Observations:
The same Memra of the Targums — who speaks, creates, and saves — becomes flesh.
This is clearly Yeshua — the visible image of the invisible Elohim (Colossians 1:15).
6. Revelation Identifies the One Who Died and Lives Forever — Yeshua, Not the Father
Revelation 1:17–18 (NKJV)
“I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.”
YHWH cannot die:
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.” (Numbers 23:19)
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible…” (1 Timothy 1:17)
Therefore, it is not YHWH the Father who died — it is Yeshua, the Word made flesh, the Light, the Memra — who was dead and now lives forevermore.
The Light created in Genesis 1:3 is not physical — it is divine.
John 1 connects this Light directly to Yeshua, the eternal Word.
The Targums identify the Memra of YHWH as the divine agent of creation and salvation — matching John’s Logos.
Yeshua, not YHWH the Father, became flesh, died, and rose again.
Yeshua is the Light of Genesis, the Word of John, and the Living One of Revelation.
