What does “let them be for signs and seasons” mean in Genesis 1:14?

In Genesis 1:14, on the fourth day of creation, God declares, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years” (NKJV). In this way, God established the celestial bodies (sun, moon, and stars) to “be for signs and seasons.” This phrase is theologically, prophetically, and practically significant.

Genesis 1 describes God’s creation of the heavens and the earth. Light was introduced in verse 3, but in verse 14 God established the sun, moon, and stars in the sky. These celestial bodies, in relation to a rotating Earth, mark time, provide signs, and designate seasons. Their movements are accurate to the nth degree. God’s creation is purposeful, orderly, and structured.

The Hebrew word for “signs” refers to visible markers or tokens. In Scripture, signs indicate divine activity. The celestial bodies function as signs in various ways. First, they are instruments of divine revelation: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:1–2, ESV). Furthermore, the star of Bethlehem signified Christ’s birth. The magi from the East asked, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2, ESV).

In apocalyptic literature, celestial disturbances indicate God’s judgment: “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” (Joel 2:31, ESV). When Jesus, the Son of Man, returns, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the power of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29, ESV).

The Hebrew word for “seasons” is used extensively in the Torah to refer to God’s appointed feast days (Leviticus 23:2, 4). Celestial bodies, then, regulate calendar seasons and days of worship. Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and Yom Kippur are based on lunar cycles, as are holidays such as Easter. The sun’s position in the sky determines agricultural and climatic seasons. God ordained times for planting and for harvesting, as Solomon writes, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted” (Ecclesiastes 3:1–2, ESV). Part of God’s covenant with Noah was a promise of seasonal change: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22).

As the Creator, God is sovereign over all He has made. Heavenly bodies fulfill God’s purposes (Deuteronomy 4:19). The sun, moon, and stars reflect divine order. Like a master craftsman, God meticulously placed stars and planets in their courses above (1 Corinthians 14:33). Every aspect of creation declares God’s infinite glory.

The sun, moon, and stars are “lights in the firmament of the heavens” (Genesis 1:14, NKJV) but also function as divine signs and appointed seasons. This celestial order testifies to God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and providence. Creation serves His purposes, not the other way around. Believers should appreciate God’s intricate design and how His plan is infused into creation. Nothing is random but is part of God’s magnificent plan.