It is interesting to note that in 67 verses in the Old Testament, the word Yom is translated into the English word "time." For instance, in Genesis 4:3, it says "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord." In this instance, Yom refers to a growing season, probably several months. Again, in Deuteronomy 10:10, it refers to a "time" equal to forty days. In I Kings 11:42, it says "And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years." In this case, Yom translated as the word "time" is equivalent to a 40 year period. In Isaiah 30:8, it says "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever." In this case, Yom is equal to "forever." How long is forever?
http://www.oldearth.org/word_study_yom.htm
There are five meanings for the word Yom. It can mean:
Definition
1. A Period of light in the day/night cycle
2. A 24-Hour period
3. A general or vague concept of time
4. A specific point of time
5. A year
http://www.mandley.com/advdemo/mod01/adv1304.htm
Barbarian you mention some scholarly links here and some advice, well written and spoken...
There are over 1200 verses using Yowm in the OT, and all of them can be translated as day or in the plural sense days....
Your example of Genesis 4:3 for example
4:3
and~ he~ will~ Exist from~ Conclusion Day~ s and~ he~ will~ make~ Come “Qayin [
Acquired]” from~ Produce the~ Ground Donation to~ “YHWH [
He
exists]”
and it came to pass at the
conclusion of days, “Qayin
[
Acquired]” brought from the
produce of the ground, a donation
to “YHWH [
He exists]”
From the mechanical version Bible translation of Genesis by Jeff Benner, Ancient Hebrew Research Center...
And for Deutronomy 10 : 10 The Youngs Bible translation
De 10:10 (YLT) `And I--I have stood in the mount, as the former days, forty days and forty nights, and Jehovah hearkeneth unto me also at that time; Jehovah hath not willed to destroy thee.
I agree sometimes Hebrew reads awkward, but that's the language for you, should we as translators try to fix the text and make the language change into English something that is not there ? That would be wrong and unfaithful ?
1Kings 11:42 Young's translation again
1Ki 11:42 (YLT) And the days that Solomon hath reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel [are] forty years,
The translators are fixing the text for you, making the Bible into polysemy which it isn't...Hebrew words have a single basic meaning like any language has, though there are a few words with multiply meanings, it's not as common as we like to think...otherwise we can make Scripture meaning whatever we like...
Is 30 :8 Youngs again
Isa 30:8 (YLT) No, go in, write it on a tablet with them, And on a book engrave it, And it is for a latter day, for a witness unto the age,
I find the Bible is consistent in the reading of its Hebrew, but you have to have a electronic Bible, since most of us do not read Hebrew...
SO in summary there is one meaning for yom
(1) day of time
(2) days of time in plural sense (in the sense we call year, season, etc)
Hebrew words have broad applications, yes, but single basic meanings.
I haven't read the book you mention, but you might want to listen to Professor Gerald Schroeder, a Jewish physics lecturer on the Genesis story and time stretching of space, He uses only peer reviews and the Bible for his discussion, and beyond bias in that regard...
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDcQtwIwBA&url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRxEeHFHc-Y&ei=Lw4aVOfzGY6A8gXNwoKQAw&usg=AFQjCNFNe5zxEZhi0nAxE47w9oozx1qucQ&bvm=bv.75097201,d.dGc
Such as these in a series
I do understand we have different theories of faith, and how we understand Scripture...
While we cannot argue one theory of faith above another, I simply present there are other alternatives to Genesis out there which in my humble opinion follow Hebrew better as I come to understand my Bible in sola Scriptoria. See my own studies of Hebrew words for example...
http://spiritualsprings.org/ss-1095.htm This is how I study my Bible, I do not read human sources, only after making my own conclusions, and sometimes I even disagree with Jeff Benner but only in minor points, He is the only person on Ancient Hebrew who understands polysemy is a rare occurrence in Hebrew. And I have little faith in Strong's for the same reason...sola scriptoria with the Holy Spirit will lead us all into truth, reading our Bibles is the best way to go....Shalom
You could add this to scripture if you wanted to interpret it that way. But I don't think it's a wise thing to do.
It probably means "generation" in the sense that we speak of energy generation. And unless you redefine "yom" to mean only "24 hour day, there's no logical absurdity therein.
You'll probably want to do a little reading on physics. You might try this:
I'm not being sarcastic. I've recommended this to a number of non-scientific people, and they've been surprised at how well the author can explain difficult problems in physics. There's a nice chapter on relativity at the end. Worth reading.
You might want to read the book.
