Were the Days of Creation Literal 24-Hour Days — Meaning Explained

The Hebrew word yom ('day') can mean a 24-hour day, daylight hours, or an indefinite period. Young-earth creationists point to the repeated phrase 'the evening and the morning' (Genesis 1:5,8,13) and Exodus 20:11 ('in six days the LORD made heaven and earth') as evidence for literal 24-hour days. Old-earth creationists note that yom is used for longer periods in Scripture (Genesis 2:4, Psalm 90:4: 'A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday'). The framework view sees Genesis 1 as a literary structure conveying theological truth about who created rather than how long it took. Day-age proponents note that the seventh 'day' has no evening/morning formula, suggesting it continues. All evangelical positions affirm God as the sovereign Creator, the goodness of creation, and the historical reality of Adam and Eve. The age of the earth is an in-house debate; the identity of the Creator is not.