The Hebrew word for day. יום

Tell that to the literal 6-day creationist!

 

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יוֺם2285 noun masculineGenesis 1:5 day (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic יומָא, ; Phoenician ים; MI5 ימן, suffix ימי Genesis 1:6; Genesis 1:9; Genesis 1:33, plural construct ימי Genesis 1:8, suffix 3masculine singular ימה; SI3 ים; Zinjirli יום DHMSendsch Gloss; Plam. יום VogNo. 123a, Oxon. iii.; Arabic ; Ethiopic Sabean יום, ים MordtZMG 1876, 29, יומה DHMZMG 1883, 328 SabDenkm61; Assyrian ummu, ûmu COTGloss; derivation unknown; on √ and relation of יום to Phoenician ימם, Aramaic ימם, , see NöZMG 1886, 721 BaZMG 1887, 632 f.) — יוֺם

There. I thought that might sum it up, nicely.

Just kidding.

 

It certainly can but that does not speak to the creation account clearly. What does clear it up other words that describe the "day".
Gen 1:5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (ESV)

The descriptors make clear in which context "day" is used. First there is the descriptor which is underlined. The plain reading of the passage lets us know that since there was an evening and a morning this is describing a literal day not just a period of time. Also the word "first" is the Hebrew word "Echad" which means something in unity or one. This is a singular tense. Given both descriptors point to a single day rather than a period of time it is clear. A period of time does not fit in this passage.

We want to make sure we are understanding scripture and letting it interpret itself rather than allowing man-made science (which is often found to be wrong and unreliable) to interpret scripture.

 

The numbers 1st, 2nd etc and evening and morning qualify the period of time to a literal 24 hr period

if they were not, the Sabbath would have no logical significance to anything

 

Watch it there!... Its not just ordinary men... Brother Glen

2 Timothy 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 1: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Btw... I believe ALL scripture, what do you believe?