Day One (a work in progress)

Naomi — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:41:54 +0000

Literal Study
Genesis 1:1

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ

bə·rê·šîṯ: prepositional prefix (at, by, in, for, or with) + foremost + of suffix. Note: rê·šîṯ is most commonly translated in the OT as first fruit in reference to plant life, or as firstborn in reference to animals or human beings.

bā·rā: prepositional prefix (at, by, in, for, or with) + perfect (completed) form of cut.

’ĕ·lō·hîm: plural noun form of high or above. Often translated as God, gods, or the Most High, Elohim is also sometimes used in reference to men in position of authority, and should be more appropriately translated as Higher Powers.

’êṯ: direct object marker.

haš·šā·ma·yim: definite article prefix + plural form of heaven.

wə·’êṯ: conjunction (and or but) + direct object marker.

hā·’ā·reṣ: definite article prefix + Earth (as in, the planet earth).

Here, Elohim has carved, the heavens and the earth. A proper translation of bə·rê·šîṯ presents difficulty for most. Most Christian, and even Jewish texts, omit the “of” suffix, to interpret, “in the beginning, God created…” More contemporary interpreters, desiring to stay true to the original text, include the “of” suffix… yet end up betraying the text anyway by altering bā·rā into an imperfect (not yet completed) form, interpreting, “in the beginning of God creating…” The only way we can actually stay true, without omitting or adding one iota to this piece of scripture, is to re-examine the meaning of rê·šîṯ, and stop trying to make it fit into a preconceived notion. When we do this, we can recognize it not as “foremost of” but rather, translate it, as it is most often translated elsewhere in the OT, as first-fruit.

Literally: for first fruit | carved | Elohim | the heavens | and the earth.

Genesis 1:2

וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְהֹ֑ום וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם

wə·hā·’ā·reṣ: consecutive vav (therefore, thus, hence or henceforth) + definite article + Earth (as in the planet).

hā·yə·ṯāh: feminine prefix OR interrogative yes/no marker + perfect (completed) form of became or have/had become.

ṯō·hū: of prefix + naught.

wā·ḇō·hū: conjunction (and or but) + prepositional prefix (at, by, in, for, or with) + naught.

wə·ḥō·šeḵ: conjunction (and or but) + dark or darkness.

‘al: above

pə·nê: face or surface

ṯə·hō·wm: of prefix + deep or depths.

wə·rū·aḥ: consecutive vav (therefore, thus, hence or henceforth) + breath.

’ĕ·lō·hîm: Higher Powers.

mə·ra·ḥe·p̄eṯ: from prefix + imperfect (not completed) form of the verb, shake or tremble.

‘al: above

pə·nê: face or surface

ham·mā·yim: definite article + plural form of water, flow, or course.

Another word that is often intentionally mistranslated here, in order to make it comply with established doctrine that wishes to perceive Genesis 1 as the story of creation, is hā·yə·ṯāh. Completely ignored, is the fact that everywhere else in scripture, the word means she became or she had become. Knowing this, we could see “hā” as a feminine suffix here as well, and translate, “the earth, she had become…” However, while many enjoy the romantic notion of the earth being feminine, the fact that scripture often matches hā·’ā·reṣ with masculine nouns disproves this theory. Another, more sensical translation is made when we see “hā” not as denoting verb gender, but rather as an interrogative yes/no marker.

Literally: Thus | the earth | yes/no? to have become | of naught and for naught | but darkness | above face | of depths | thus | breath-Elohim | from-trembling | above face | the waters

Genesis 1:3

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י אֹ֑ור וַֽיְהִי־אֹֽור

way·yō·mer: consecutive vav (therefore, thus, hence or henceforth) + perfect (completed) form of conveying an intended purpose or result, or in simple terms, to speak.

’ĕ·lō·hîm: Higher Powers

yə·hî: imperfect (not yet completed) form of become.

’ō·wr: light.

way·hî: conjunction (and or but) + perfect (completed) form of become.

’ō·wr: light.

Literally: Henceforth | spoke | Elohim | become light | and became light.

Genesis 1:4

וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאֹ֖ור כִּי־טֹ֑וב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָאֹ֖ור וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ

way·yar: consecutive vav (therefore, thus, hence or henceforth) + perfect (completed) form of to look or to see.

’ĕ·lō·hîm: Higher Powers.

’eṯ: direct object marker.

hā·’ō·wr: definite article + light

ki: as like, or inasmuch.

ṭō·wḇ: favorable.

way·yaḇ·dêl: consecutive vav (therefore, thus, hence or henceforth) + perfect (completed) form of the verb separate.

’ĕ·lō·hîm: Higher Powers

bên: amidst, among, or in between.

hā·’ō·wr: definite article + light.

ū·ḇên: conjunction (and or but) + amidst, among, or in between.

ha·ḥō·šeḵ: definite article + dark or darkness.

Literally: And/thus | saw | Elohim | the light | as | favorable | and/thus | separated | Elohim | in between | the light | and in between | the darkness.

Genesis 1:5

וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לָאֹור֙ יֹ֔ום וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר יֹ֥ום אֶחָֽד

way·yiq·rā: consecutive vav (therefore, thus, hence or henceforth) + perfect (completed) form of the verb to call.

’ĕ·lō·hîm: Higher Powers.

lā·’ō·wr: to prefix + light.

yō·wm: day.

wə·la·ḥō·šeḵ: conjunction (and or but) + to prefix + dark or darkness.

qā·rā: perfect (completed) form of the verb to call.

lā·yə·lāh: night.

way·hî: consecutive vav (therefore, thus, hence or henceforth) + perfect (completed) form of become.

‘e·reḇ: evening (literally: closing or falling)

way·hî: conjunction (and or but) + perfect (completed) form of become.

ḇō·qer: morning (literally: breaking forth or breaking through)

yō·wm: day

’e·ḥāḏ: one

Literally: And/thus called | Elohim | to light | day | and to darkness | called | night | and thus became | evening | and became | morning | day | one.
Additional Translation Notes:Verse 1: While many would like to translate bā·rā as create, to justify the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing), the literal meaning of the word infers bringing into being, by the carving of, or carving into something. This begs the question, if not of nothing, then of what?Verse 2: Recognizing the consecutive vav as something that connects events or ideas that are related to, or somehow dependent on each other, a more appropriate interpretation of verses 2 and 3 can be found in relating the speaking of Elohim, with the breath of Elohim. Understanding this, we can see that “from-trembling upon,” which presents the idea that the breath of Elohim vibrates from within AND upon the waters, is better translated as resounds… which means, to fill with sound (vibrating air) that is so intense that it reverberates back and forth throughout, continuously. Furthermore, this resounding began from the moment that Elohim spoke, calling forth light… and this resounding presents in the Hebrew INcomplete, thus is not yet finished, and is continuing to happen… within and upon the waters, which can also be translated as the flow, which we can interpret as nature itself.
Verse 3: The word yō·mer, translated in its simplest terms here as “to speak” means so much more. In all instances in scripture, it refers to the conveyance of an intention, that begins as a thought or an emotion, expressed in words, either written, spoken, to bring about the intended results. Something to ponder: Elohim spoke to be (future tense) light, and be (present/past) light.

Verse 4: It is said, that the Hebrew word ’eṯ, which serves as a direct object marker, reveals great secrets. Here, it is the “lack” of ’eṯ that is telling. The verse does not tell us that Elohim is separating ’eṯ the light and ’eṯ the dark. The verse also does not tell us, in the Hebrew, that the light and dark are being separated “from” each other. Rather, Elohim is separating… in between (or amidst) the light, and in between (or amidst) the darkness.

Verse 5: It is important to note that ‘e·reḇ and ḇō·qer do not simply speak of day and night, but refer to the closing and breaking forth of light (thus sunrise and sunset). This very important aspect of the translation is avoided by most, because it conflicts with doctrine that tells us that the sun did not rise and set upon the Earth until fourth day.
Parallel Studies:The Zohar tells us, “… there was one thing concealed before the Creator, which He revealed to the Supernal Assembly, and it is this. When the concealed of all the concealed desired to reveal Himself, He first made one single point, and this point ascended and became a Thought. With it, He drew all the forms and with it engraved all the images.” [The Lily, verse 13]The Aramaic word translated as “reveal” above, means literally, “to bring over.”
Saint James tells us that, in accordance with the will (or wish) of God, we are brought forth from the word (the verbal expression of a thought) of truth (which can also be translated as the word of reality), thus we are each to be likened as His first fruit (firstborn) creations. [James 1:18]

exegetical bible study notes @ shemaya.org

Day One (a work in progress)