In the opening chapter of Genesis, we are presented with the profound declaration: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). This simple yet momentous verse is packed with theological significance, but it also presents a mystery when we consider the means by which God “spoke.” Augustine, one of the great early Church fathers, wrestled with this very issue, suggesting that this act of divine speech should be understood as an anthropomorphism. That is, the Bible ascribes to God human-like actions and attributes—such as speaking—to communicate truths in ways that finite human minds can grasp. Yet, as Augustine noted, when God “spoke,” He did so ineffably—beyond human comprehension (Oden, 2001, p. 7).
Divine Speech: More Than Words
One of the key challenges in understanding God’s speech in Genesis is acknowledging that it is not like human speech. Unlike us, God is spirit (John 4:24), not confined to a physical body, nor does He have a vocal apparatus like humans. When Scripture says that God “spoke,” we know that it cannot mean He physically used a mouth, lips, or vocal cords to produce sound waves in the same way humans do.
But how, then, did God communicate His creative command? Augustine’s answer is that God’s speech was ineffable, meaning it transcends human ability to fully comprehend or describe. The spoken words in Genesis 1:3 convey the idea of divine intention—God’s will being carried out instantly and perfectly. His command, “Let there be light,” represents more than mere words; it expresses His supreme authority to bring about creation from nothing (creation ex nihilo). As Psalm 33:9 affirms, “For He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”
The Trinity in Creation
When considering the divine speech in Genesis 1:3, another critical aspect of Christian theology comes into play: the Trinity. God exists as one Being in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While Scripture does not explicitly detail how the three Persons of the Trinity participated in the act of speaking, we can infer from the whole of biblical teaching that creation was a Trinitarian act.
John 1:1-3 makes clear that the Son, the Word, was present and active in creation: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” This passage reinforces the idea that the “speech” in Genesis 1:3 may not have been an audible command in the sense we understand sound, but rather a perfect expression of the will of God, communicated within the fellowship of the Trinity.
Moreover, Genesis 1:2 tells us that “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,” indicating the Holy Spirit’s role in creation. The harmonious work of the Father, Son, and Spirit brings forth creation, with the divine Word initiating and the Spirit empowering and sustaining the creative process.
Anthropomorphism and the Mystery of God
Augustine’s insight into the anthropomorphic nature of God’s speech reminds us that while Scripture is God’s perfect revelation to humanity, it often uses human language and concepts to convey divine truths. This is not a limitation of God, but of our own understanding. Our finite minds cannot fully comprehend the infinite nature of God, so He graciously communicates in ways that make sense to us. Just as God is described in Scripture as having “hands” or “eyes,” we know that these are not literal but metaphorical descriptions of His omnipotence and omniscience.
In this sense, the mystery of God’s speech in Genesis 1:3 is part of the broader mystery of His nature. We know that God speaks, but how exactly He does so remains beyond human comprehension. And while we can speculate whether God’s creative command was audible in any sense, it is a moot point. No human was yet created to hear it. What matters is the effect of the speech, not the mechanics of it. The Word of God is powerful, and when He speaks, creation obeys.
Conclusion
Augustine’s reflection on Genesis 1:3 challenges us to embrace the mystery of God’s nature and His ways. While we cannot fully understand how God speaks, we can rest in the knowledge that His Word is perfect, authoritative, and effective. When God said, “Let there be light,” it was not the sound of the words that mattered, but the divine will behind them. As believers, we can take comfort in the truth that God’s Word is still active today, sustaining the universe (Hebrews 1:3) and accomplishing His purposes, just as it did in the beginning.
Whether spoken among the Trinity or in some other way incomprehensible to us, the important takeaway is that God’s Word is living and powerful, and it never fails to accomplish what He intends (Isaiah 55:11). In this, we see not only the majesty of God’s creative power but also His intimate involvement in every aspect of His creation, from the dawn of time to the present day.