What is it about?
The first words in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament are famous. Everyone knows the line "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth". What if the original text written in Hebrew read something else? The analysis of the Hebrew word bara and of the text shows that Genesis 1:1 should be rendered "in the beginning when God separated the heaven and the earth" and continues with a description of the state God found when he started to separate, namely waters covered with darkness. The actual process of creation starts in v. 3: 'and God said: "Let there be light", and he made light'. In sum, the article does not state that God did not create at all, but that his creation was preceded by separation. Also in Ps 104:30 the Hebrew verb bara designates separation.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
Biblical translations are often influenced by christian history of interpretation. The article intends to show that it is important to understand the Biblical text in its original language and context.
Perspectives
To develop verifiable and correct arguments in interpreting biblical texts is my aim, because so many people read their own ideas and project them on the biblical text. Is it possible to go beyond your own concepts and notions and reach out to ancient views and ideas, so that they may inspire you anew? That question challenges me to offer textual studies that are as detailed and verifiable as possible.
Ellen van Wolde
Radboud Universiteit
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Separation and Creation in Genesis 1 and Psalm 104, A Continuation of the Discussion of the Verb ברא, Vetus Testamentum, October 2017, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15685330-12341295.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
