Did Plants Really Exist Before the Sun?

Osnat asks: "Hello. I wanted to understand how plants were created before the sun, considering that plants need the process of photosynthesis to survive?"

Hello Osnat, and thank you for your question.

Photosynthesis, which means 'assimilation of light' in Hebrew, is a complex and miraculous process that allows plants to develop and grow by using light energy. It's one of the greatest wonders of creation, enabling our existence: a plant absorbs water, light, and carbon dioxide—a natural invisible gas present in the air—produces sugar for its cells from them, and releases the oxygen we breathe.

Look at a tall tree with its spreading branches and its strong, thick trunk, and imagine that this grand structure was all built from a single tiny seed—a small and sophisticated factory that constructed its entire form using readily available energy from earth and air! Like a true alchemist, it transformed them into a towering body. Observing the wonders of creation indeed strengthens our recognition of the Creator's existence.

On the third day, Hashem created the vegetation: "And God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth that bear fruit with seed in it according to their kinds,' and it was so... And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:11).

On the fourth day, the luminaries were made: "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night... and it was so. God made the two great lights... to give light on the earth'" (Genesis 1:14).

Without a doubt, plants could survive a day without photosynthesis and wouldn't be harmed by a very short lack of light. However, animals can't survive even an hour without the oxygen that plants provide. The very fact that vegetation was created before animals reveals the scientific knowledge that life requires the oxygen provided by plants!

Now returning to your question, we'll see that regarding the order of natural phenomena in the world, the Torah does not say there was no light before the fourth day.

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What Was Done on the Fourth Day?

The sun, moon, and stars were actually created on the first day. Our sages said: "These are the luminaries that were created on the first day, but were not set in place until the fourth day" (Chagigah 12a), and thus Rashi explains: "Let there be lights - they were created from the first day, but on the fourth He commanded them to be affixed in the sky."

The stars were created on the first day, so the question arises, what exactly was done on the fourth day?

The Ramban explains that on the fourth day Hashem adjusted Earth's atmosphere, allowing light rays to penetrate through and reach the earth's surface. He explained: " 'And let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light upon the earth' - He added that their light would reach the earth."

Rabbeinu Bachya further explains the Ramban: "... 'to give light upon the earth,' meaning [prior to the fourth day], it illuminated the sky alone, and its light didn't reach the earth."

In the Torah, it says that God 'made' the luminaries. The word 'made' does not imply the creation of something from nothing, but rather the improvement of existing things (the carpenter makes a table from existing wood). In the verse "And God made the expanse" (Genesis 1:7), it tells of the division of waters from waters, creating one thing from another. For the sun and moon's adjustment, it says: "And God made the two great lights," not "created." This teaches us that the luminaries were not created from nothing, but their light was adjusted in the heavens.

Was There No Light Before the Fourth Day?

Rabbi Chaim ben Atar in his commentary 'Or HaChaim' writes about the creation of the luminaries: "The explanation is that the luminaries should illuminate throughout the sky and also reach their light down to the earth."

It turns out that until the fourth day, the sun and moon's orbits were not visible from the earth. Possibly, the atmosphere was too thick after the separation of waters and creation of the expanse on the second day, leading their light to arrive irregularly and only partially. According to the precision of 'Or HaChaim,' it can be understood that there was some light, but not illuminating "throughout the sky."

Rashi explains based on the Midrash, that before the fourth day, day and night functioned together in disorder (Genesis 1:14):

"To separate between day and night - from when the first light was hidden away, but during the seven days of creation, the initial light and darkness served together both during the day and night."

Therefore, it doesn't have to be said that plants existed on the third day in total darkness, only that they weren't in orderly, bright light until the fourth day. All of this was explained according to the simple meaning, without delving into the special primordial light concealed from our understanding.

In the next article, we will delve further, with God's help, into the nature of the skies, why the sky is blue, and why the Torah does not detail the creation of the stars.