To understand the doctrine of creation, an understanding of the oldest translation of Genesis that we have is essential.
In the original text, the Hebrew word used for day is yōm. Yōm has a variety of meanings in the original Hebrew in which it was written.
In addition to meaning a 24-hour day, yōm was used as a general word for time, a specific point in time (as if pointing to a point on a timeline), a year, a long span of time, or an unspecified amount of time.
This same word was used to describe an everlasting period of time, a year, months, or an age in the bible.
Here are some other examples of the use of yōm in the Bible.
It shall be accomplished before his time, And his branch shall not be green.
Job 15:32
Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years; and Jehovah said unto him, Thou art old and well stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
Joshua 13:1
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age.
Zechariah 8:4
What does this mean? When Moses wrote Genesis, he may not have had a literal 24 hour day in mind, but it is still certainly a possibility.
While this is an interesting study in the area of scripture, it is more important THAT the earth was created than WHEN it was created.
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Adherent Apologetics 
Hi Zac!
This was the topic of one of the lectures this week in my Old Testament survey class. The professor offered three arguments for a literal day interpretation.
According to Dr. Varner:
1. In the Bible, whenever yom was used in conjunction with a number (eg. “the third day”), it is referring to a literal day.
2. Reference to “evening” and “morning” indicates normal setting and rising of the sun .
3. Exodus 20:11 (institution of the Sabbath) only makes sense if literal 24 hour days are assumed.
That being said, I am certainly no expert on the subject, and I agree wholeheartedly with your last statement– The fact that God is the Creator of the universe is so much more important than whether or not He chose to do it in 7 literal days!
Shauna:)
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Zac,
This was the topic of one of the lectures in my Old Testament survey class yesterday!
Here’s what Dr. Varner had to say:
1. Each time the word “yom” is used in Scripture along with a number (eg. “the third day”), it’s talking about a literal day.
2. Reference to evening and morning indicates a normal setting and rising of the sun.
3. Exodus 20:11 (institution of the Sabbath) only makes sense in light of literal, 24-hour days.
I thought he made a compelling argument.
Shauna:)
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That is really interesting!
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