The third command given to the lights is to shine on the earth. Some scholars feel that the sun and moon are not named because they were objects of worship and fear in many Middle Eastern cultures. In the Hebrew faith they are here reduced to mere vessels for giving forth light.

And let them be lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth: let is the command form, as in each previous command. Lights is as in verse 14. Give light translates the causative form of a verb meaning “to shine, illumine, brighten.” So these lights are placed in the dome of the sky to shine on the earth.

And it was so: see verse 7.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .