Why does the Torah write "va'Yehi Or," and not "va'Yehi Chen" as it does on the other days (except for on the fifth day; refer to 1:21:2:1 )?
Da'as Zekenim and Rosh: On the contrary, Yehi Or" is more accurate, and the reason that it writes "va'Yehi Chen" on the other days is because, since the creations then were more extensive, it would have had to elaborate (and the Torah always uses the shortest possible expression); whereas " va'Yehi Or" is no longer than " va'Yehi Chen."
Rashbam: Because it came to light up the darkness described in the previous Pasuk.
How will we reconcile the current Pasuk, which describes light as having been created on the first day, with Pasuk 1:14, which writes, "Va'Yomer Elokim, Yehi Me'oros bi'Reki'a ha'Shamayim" - on the fourth day?
Chagigah 12a #1 (according to R. Elazar): The Ohr in the current Pasuk is referring to a spiritual light, by means of which one could see from one end of the world to the other - which Hashem put away 1 for Tzadikim in the world to come when He perceived the evil perpetrated by the generations of the Flood and of the Tower; whereas the Ohr mentioned in Pasuk 1:14 is referring to the light of the sun, which Hashem created then.
Chagigah 12a #2 (according to the Chachamim): The current Pasuk is discussing the creation of Ohr 2 , whereas 1:14 is discussing placing them in the sky. 3
Traditionally, He hid it in the Torah, for Tzadikim to use. Presumably that explains how Tzadikim of the caliber of the Chazon Ish and the Steipler Ga'on were able to perceive things which were otherwise impossible to perceive, and to make statements that can only be ascribed to Ru'ach ha'Kodesh.
See Torah Temimah citing Chagigah 12a and note 21.
As the Torah writes specifically there. See Torah Temimah, Ibid.
