Exodus 20:11 Does Not Prove 24-Hour Creation Days

Virtually every English translation of Exodus 20:11 reads similar to my Revised Standard Version Bible, which says, “for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth.”  The context of this passage is God’s command for the people of Israel to rest on the Sabbath (the seventh day of their calendar week) because He himself rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2) following His six creation work days.  In the minds of young-earth creationists, Exodus 20:11 amounts to a knock down argument for their position, insisting as they do that it proves the creation days of Genesis are 24-hours each.  Yet in fact the basis for their certitude does NOT exist anywhere within that passage.  Starkly put, there is NO “in” in Exodus 20:11.  Neither is there later in 31:17.  Furthermore, since the promise of God’s 7^th day Sabbath rest continues into the present era (Hebrews 4:4-13), it is not 24-hours either.

The word in question, “in” (be in Hebrew), is a preposition that denotes within-ness, whether in terms of space or a span of time.  Were be actually present within the text as English translations so imply, it would suggest that the point of highlighting the six days was their actual duration as six solar, 24-hour days.  But in the original language (Hebrew) the passage excludes the “in” by stating simply, “for six days God made…”  Apparently then duration is not the point, but instead the pattern of six to one.  Now I am not saying the absence of be actually proves my position.  But what that absence does do is remove all grounds for insisting that the passage either proves or is interested in 24-hour days.  And indeed Scripture actually resorts to non-equivalent (years for days) unit-for-unit comparisons.  Consider for example the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness for 40 days of disobedience referenced in Numbers 14:34.  And notice as well Leviticus 25:3,4.

Proper biblical interpretation, called “exegesis,” faces a given text as it actually is and draws the appropriate theological conclusions from that reality.  “Eisegesis,” on the other hand, reads into a given text whatever one wishes to find there.  The question of the existence of the word “in” in Exodus 20:11 is not a matter of opinion, but of public record.  Every interested reader can consult a Hebrew-English Interlinear Old Testament on the internet.  I happen to prefer: www.scripture 4all.org/Online Interlinear/ Hebrew_Index.htm.  There you will notice (or perhaps discover for the first time) the truth of the non-existence of “in” in the Hebrew text of Exodus 20:11.  There are, however, two missteps often taken by these kinds of sites (which vary in level of integrity).  In order for my words below to make sense to you it will be helpful for you to have the Hebrew/English interlinear on your screen.  The lesser concern (appearing in my recommended site) is the tendency to insert the word “in” inside brackets within the English translation along the side bar.  In this instance “in” does not appear next to the Hebrew text in the body, but only over at the margin.  Of far greater concern are those occasions on other sites where “in” appears next to the Hebrew text as though it actually reflects what is in the Hebrew.  By far the worst transgression of all, however, is where, in the Hebrew text, an entirely different Hebrew word, kee, which means “for the purpose of,” is incorrectly translated as “in.”  For an example see biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/20-11.htm.  Readers in this case are wrongly given the impression that “in” is in the original text when it is not.  That error is not trivial.  Readers should expect such a website that purports to clarify the text for lay people, to convey the full truth of the fundamentals of original Hebrew language.  Therefore every mistranslation which insists Exodus 20:11 says “For in six days” involves itself in either incompetence or, worse, outright dishonesty.