This Is Appendix 11 From The Companion Bible. The word "day", when used without
any limiting words, may refer to a long or prolonged period: as, the
"day of grace", the "day of visitation", the
"day of salvation", the "day of judgment", the
"day of the Lord", "man's day", etc. But when
the word "day" is used with a numeral
(cardinal or ordinal), as one, two, three, etc., or first, second, third,
etc., "evening and morning" (Genesis 1), or the
"seventh day" (Exodus 20:9, 11, etc.), it is
defined, limited, and restricted to an ordinary day of twenty-four hours.
The word "day" is never used for a
year. Sometimes a corresponding number of days is used for a corresponding
number of years, but in that case it is always expressly stated to be so
used; as in Numbers 14: It is the same in Ezekiel 4: There is no Scriptural warrant for arbitrarily
assuming this to be a general principle in the absence of any statement of
that effect. |