If you haven’t already check out Dr Michael Heiser’s Unseen Realm - documentary on YouTube based on book of same name. Excellent stuff - talks all about the cosmic geography- understood in ancient times but long forgotten in modern times Adds immensely to the study of scripture. Yes there is only one Yahweh to whom none compare.
This: ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ Who is ‘us’ - presumably the same as the ‘we’ in Job - the small g gods of God’s divine council? Certainly the first hint that God is not alone?
Psalm 82 is traditionally viewed as a theological response to Deuteronomy 32, where God assigned to the divided nations after Babel “sons of god” or angelic beings to oversee the nations, and Psalm 82 is an explanation for why God takes control back from those beings. This aligns with ancient Israelite to second temple views, and early Christian views… later rabbinic Jewish ideas see them as references to human authorities over the nations in the same sense as Roman Emperors being called “gods” among their people as a divine authority of the state.
If God is all-knowing, He doesn't need an advisory council. If God needs an advisory council, He's not all-knowing. If God's not all-knowing, He's not God.
It’s not about need - God wants His council just as He wants us. He doesn’t need us nor His council but he created them and he created us to live with Him in Eden and He will restore His kingdom so He can live among us again. Heiser’s work (peer reviewed) is truly revelatory
Good catch. Judaism evolved from a polytheistic religion. Yahweh was one of many gods and God is mentioning the other gods exist. He even tells the Jewish people not to worship them. Only him.
This is flatly wrong. The religion of the Israelites is at its core a rejection of polytheism. The Shema, the tetragrammon, the overwhelming theme of the History books and the Wisdom literature is that there is only one God, Yahweh, and that all other gods are demons. The continual pattern of sin the Israelites fell into was idolatry: the worship of other gods. That is the entire preaching of Hosea, for example, and the Kings/Chronicles is a cycle of fidelity and then infidelity.
There is a fundamental error here which few commentators ever pick up on. The Hebrew word translated as "God" in the very first verse and early books of the Bible is "elohim", which means "gods". Believers claim that the plural is an honorific term meaning "God" but if that were the case, the word would be used throughout the Old Testament.
In fact "elohim" is eventually dropped and replaced by other terms, such as "adonai" ("my lord"). This change from plural to singular reflects the outcome of the heavenly conflict in which Yahweh overcomes his fellow-gods - such as Baal and Asherah, who continue to be worshipped by Canaanites - to become the supreme god of the Israelites. Thus the importance of the first four commandments, which insist on Yahweh's primacy.
The symbolism of the seven days of creation is indeed interesting, but it should not obscure the deeper story that is usually either forgotten or deliberately ignored. The closer we look, the more clearly we see that the Near East creation myth has many similarities to Greek and Norse and many other myths, where the creation of the world and humanity is accompanied by conflict in the heavens.
Not insulting here but you would have to read it as a child to think it’s a historical or scientific account.
Also this was before the scientific revolution. So even if they thought it was a historical account at that time, they didn’t understand science and a sophisticated Christian should know it’s not a historical or scientific account regardless of their reading then or the authors intend then but it doesn’t appear that was the intent anyway.
Either way intent or not, it’s not a historical or scientific account. Seems we have a good idea it wasn’t the intent
Thank you for sharing the article. The piece titled "Why Are There 7 Days of Creation?" by Culturist explores the symbolic and theological significance of the seven-day structure in the Genesis creation account. The author concludes that the seven-day pattern is not merely a chronological framework but a theological one, designed to communicate deep truths about God, creation, and humanity’s place in it. While the article is not a formal theological treatise, it raises thoughtful points worth engaging from a biblical and traditional Christian perspective.
Let’s examine the key elements of the article’s conclusion and how they align with Scripture:
1. The Seven Days as a Theological Pattern
The article suggests that the seven-day structure is not just about chronology but about order, purpose, and sacred rhythm. This is consistent with the biblical witness. Genesis 1 presents a highly ordered sequence of creation, culminating in the Sabbath rest on the seventh day:
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested…”
— Genesis 1:31–2:2, ESV
The Sabbath rest is not because God was tired, but because He was setting a pattern for humanity (cf. Exodus 20:8–11). The seven-day week becomes a sacred rhythm for human life, rooted in God’s own creative work.
2. Symbolism and Function Over Mere Chronology
The article leans toward a literary or symbolic reading of the days, which is a view held by many faithful Christians. While some interpret the “days” as literal 24-hour periods (Young Earth Creationism), others see them as literary frameworks or epochs (Old Earth Creationism or the Framework Hypothesis). Importantly, both views can affirm the authority and inerrancy of Scripture.
The Hebrew word for “day” (yom) can mean a 24-hour day, but it can also mean an undefined period of time, depending on context (e.g., Genesis 2:4 refers to “the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens”—clearly summarizing all of creation in one “day”).
3. God’s Sovereignty and Purpose in Creation
The article rightly emphasizes that the seven-day structure reveals God’s sovereignty, intentionality, and goodness. This aligns with the biblical theme that God is not a chaotic or capricious deity, but one who brings order out of chaos (cf. Genesis 1:2) and declares His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
This also reflects the New Testament affirmation of Christ’s role in creation:
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him.”
— Colossians 1:16, ESV
4. The Seventh Day and the Hope of Eternal Rest
The article’s conclusion hints at the eschatological (end-times) significance of the seventh day. This is a rich biblical theme. The book of Hebrews connects God’s Sabbath rest with the believer’s ultimate rest in Christ:
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”
— Hebrews 4:9–10, ESV
The seventh day, then, not only looks back to creation but forward to redemption and consummation—when God’s people will dwell with Him in eternal rest.
Final Thoughts
The article’s conclusion is broadly consistent with a traditional Christian understanding of Genesis 1–2, especially when viewed through the lens of theological significance rather than strict chronology. While Christians may differ on how to interpret the “days” of creation (a secondary issue), we are united in affirming that:
God created all things out of nothing (ex nihilo),
He did so with purpose and order,
Humanity is made in His image (Genesis 1:26–27),
And the Sabbath points us to both rest and worship.
As Hugh Ross notes in his article "Can God Work through a Stubborn Christian?", God often works through imperfect people and processes to accomplish His perfect will. The creation account, whether understood as literal days or symbolic structure, reveals a God who brings beauty, order, and meaning—even through mystery.
If you’re exploring these questions further, I’d be glad to walk through more Scriptures or theological perspectives with you.
Christian theology - and I count myself as Christian - needs to answer some very deep questions about the early chapters of Genesis. If God can speak the world into existence with His Word, why would it take Him seven days to do anything? Why does He need to make Adam from a mudpie and Eve from a rib? To take the early chapters as mythological truth answers many questions, avoids serious philosophical problems and does not in any event destroy Christian doctrine. In fact, it would be an enhancement.
You don’t explain why 7 as opposed to 5 or 12, which is what I expected given the title. Also moss and ferns are part of the food chain, others on dependent on them, so the distinction you indicate makes no sense.
Genesis is written in a style that mixes narrative with symbolism, and the “seven days” pattern lines up perfectly with ancient Near Eastern literary structure not with a scientific timeline.
People keep treating “in the beginning” like it’s a timestamp, but the text never defines it. There’s no clock, no calendar, no duration. It could represent ages, epochs, or an undefined span of time. The idea that it all happened in a literal seven-day sequence is a human reading layered onto the text, not something the text itself forces.
The older creation story, which comes second in the book of Genesis, leads with the summit of God's creation and then on a hunt for a suitable partner. Man's dominion and the equal nature of the sexes is powerfully communicated in the creation story.
Amazing! A great article.
If you haven’t already check out Dr Michael Heiser’s Unseen Realm - documentary on YouTube based on book of same name. Excellent stuff - talks all about the cosmic geography- understood in ancient times but long forgotten in modern times Adds immensely to the study of scripture. Yes there is only one Yahweh to whom none compare.
This: ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ Who is ‘us’ - presumably the same as the ‘we’ in Job - the small g gods of God’s divine council? Certainly the first hint that God is not alone?
More likely a hint of the communion of Love that is the Trinity.
Exactly!
Check out psalm 82
Psalm 82 is traditionally viewed as a theological response to Deuteronomy 32, where God assigned to the divided nations after Babel “sons of god” or angelic beings to oversee the nations, and Psalm 82 is an explanation for why God takes control back from those beings. This aligns with ancient Israelite to second temple views, and early Christian views… later rabbinic Jewish ideas see them as references to human authorities over the nations in the same sense as Roman Emperors being called “gods” among their people as a divine authority of the state.
I prefer Dr Heiser’s research in Unseen Realm. He debunks that explanation. Worth checking it out. His work is on YouTube as well as a book
If God is all-knowing, He doesn't need an advisory council. If God needs an advisory council, He's not all-knowing. If God's not all-knowing, He's not God.
It’s not about need - God wants His council just as He wants us. He doesn’t need us nor His council but he created them and he created us to live with Him in Eden and He will restore His kingdom so He can live among us again. Heiser’s work (peer reviewed) is truly revelatory
Good catch. Judaism evolved from a polytheistic religion. Yahweh was one of many gods and God is mentioning the other gods exist. He even tells the Jewish people not to worship them. Only him.
I have to refute this one! Yahweh told His people repeatedly that He is the ONLY God.
Isaiah 45:5 - "I am the LORD (Yahweh), and there is no other, besides me there is no God."
This is flatly wrong. The religion of the Israelites is at its core a rejection of polytheism. The Shema, the tetragrammon, the overwhelming theme of the History books and the Wisdom literature is that there is only one God, Yahweh, and that all other gods are demons. The continual pattern of sin the Israelites fell into was idolatry: the worship of other gods. That is the entire preaching of Hosea, for example, and the Kings/Chronicles is a cycle of fidelity and then infidelity.
There is a fundamental error here which few commentators ever pick up on. The Hebrew word translated as "God" in the very first verse and early books of the Bible is "elohim", which means "gods". Believers claim that the plural is an honorific term meaning "God" but if that were the case, the word would be used throughout the Old Testament.
In fact "elohim" is eventually dropped and replaced by other terms, such as "adonai" ("my lord"). This change from plural to singular reflects the outcome of the heavenly conflict in which Yahweh overcomes his fellow-gods - such as Baal and Asherah, who continue to be worshipped by Canaanites - to become the supreme god of the Israelites. Thus the importance of the first four commandments, which insist on Yahweh's primacy.
The symbolism of the seven days of creation is indeed interesting, but it should not obscure the deeper story that is usually either forgotten or deliberately ignored. The closer we look, the more clearly we see that the Near East creation myth has many similarities to Greek and Norse and many other myths, where the creation of the world and humanity is accompanied by conflict in the heavens.
6 creative periods and one day of rest.
Yes!
You never said why they chose 7 days.
Was that 7 days a part of other Semitic people
For such a short chapter, there’s a lot to unpack - thanks for providing food for thought!
"historical accuracy of Genesis" 🤣🤣🤣
Wisdom of man 🤣🤣🤣
Not insulting here but you would have to read it as a child to think it’s a historical or scientific account.
Also this was before the scientific revolution. So even if they thought it was a historical account at that time, they didn’t understand science and a sophisticated Christian should know it’s not a historical or scientific account regardless of their reading then or the authors intend then but it doesn’t appear that was the intent anyway.
Either way intent or not, it’s not a historical or scientific account. Seems we have a good idea it wasn’t the intent
You might enjoy this feedback - I asked the AI on Apologetics Canada to read your article and comment. Here’s what I got back:
What do you make of the conclusion to this article https://open.substack.com/pub/culturist/p/why-are-there-7-days-of-creation?r=6ys2f&utm_medium=ios
---
Thank you for sharing the article. The piece titled "Why Are There 7 Days of Creation?" by Culturist explores the symbolic and theological significance of the seven-day structure in the Genesis creation account. The author concludes that the seven-day pattern is not merely a chronological framework but a theological one, designed to communicate deep truths about God, creation, and humanity’s place in it. While the article is not a formal theological treatise, it raises thoughtful points worth engaging from a biblical and traditional Christian perspective.
Let’s examine the key elements of the article’s conclusion and how they align with Scripture:
1. The Seven Days as a Theological Pattern
The article suggests that the seven-day structure is not just about chronology but about order, purpose, and sacred rhythm. This is consistent with the biblical witness. Genesis 1 presents a highly ordered sequence of creation, culminating in the Sabbath rest on the seventh day:
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested…”
— Genesis 1:31–2:2, ESV
The Sabbath rest is not because God was tired, but because He was setting a pattern for humanity (cf. Exodus 20:8–11). The seven-day week becomes a sacred rhythm for human life, rooted in God’s own creative work.
2. Symbolism and Function Over Mere Chronology
The article leans toward a literary or symbolic reading of the days, which is a view held by many faithful Christians. While some interpret the “days” as literal 24-hour periods (Young Earth Creationism), others see them as literary frameworks or epochs (Old Earth Creationism or the Framework Hypothesis). Importantly, both views can affirm the authority and inerrancy of Scripture.
The Hebrew word for “day” (yom) can mean a 24-hour day, but it can also mean an undefined period of time, depending on context (e.g., Genesis 2:4 refers to “the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens”—clearly summarizing all of creation in one “day”).
3. God’s Sovereignty and Purpose in Creation
The article rightly emphasizes that the seven-day structure reveals God’s sovereignty, intentionality, and goodness. This aligns with the biblical theme that God is not a chaotic or capricious deity, but one who brings order out of chaos (cf. Genesis 1:2) and declares His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
This also reflects the New Testament affirmation of Christ’s role in creation:
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him.”
— Colossians 1:16, ESV
4. The Seventh Day and the Hope of Eternal Rest
The article’s conclusion hints at the eschatological (end-times) significance of the seventh day. This is a rich biblical theme. The book of Hebrews connects God’s Sabbath rest with the believer’s ultimate rest in Christ:
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”
— Hebrews 4:9–10, ESV
The seventh day, then, not only looks back to creation but forward to redemption and consummation—when God’s people will dwell with Him in eternal rest.
Final Thoughts
The article’s conclusion is broadly consistent with a traditional Christian understanding of Genesis 1–2, especially when viewed through the lens of theological significance rather than strict chronology. While Christians may differ on how to interpret the “days” of creation (a secondary issue), we are united in affirming that:
God created all things out of nothing (ex nihilo),
He did so with purpose and order,
Humanity is made in His image (Genesis 1:26–27),
And the Sabbath points us to both rest and worship.
As Hugh Ross notes in his article "Can God Work through a Stubborn Christian?", God often works through imperfect people and processes to accomplish His perfect will. The creation account, whether understood as literal days or symbolic structure, reveals a God who brings beauty, order, and meaning—even through mystery.
If you’re exploring these questions further, I’d be glad to walk through more Scriptures or theological perspectives with you.
Christian theology - and I count myself as Christian - needs to answer some very deep questions about the early chapters of Genesis. If God can speak the world into existence with His Word, why would it take Him seven days to do anything? Why does He need to make Adam from a mudpie and Eve from a rib? To take the early chapters as mythological truth answers many questions, avoids serious philosophical problems and does not in any event destroy Christian doctrine. In fact, it would be an enhancement.
You don’t explain why 7 as opposed to 5 or 12, which is what I expected given the title. Also moss and ferns are part of the food chain, others on dependent on them, so the distinction you indicate makes no sense.
Genesis is written in a style that mixes narrative with symbolism, and the “seven days” pattern lines up perfectly with ancient Near Eastern literary structure not with a scientific timeline.
People keep treating “in the beginning” like it’s a timestamp, but the text never defines it. There’s no clock, no calendar, no duration. It could represent ages, epochs, or an undefined span of time. The idea that it all happened in a literal seven-day sequence is a human reading layered onto the text, not something the text itself forces.
I love this
beautifully and elegantly put. Thank you for writing.
The older creation story, which comes second in the book of Genesis, leads with the summit of God's creation and then on a hunt for a suitable partner. Man's dominion and the equal nature of the sexes is powerfully communicated in the creation story.