For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none else.
¶ Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
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Commentary for Genesis 1:1
**Themes:**
- Creation: The verse declares the act of creation by God as the origin of the universe.
- Divine Omnipotence: It underscores God's absolute power and sovereignty as the creator of all things.
- Monotheism: The singular form of "God" (Elohim in Hebrew) emphasizes the belief in one God.
- Ex Nihilo Creation: The implication is that God created the universe out of nothing.
**Historical Context:**
- Genesis 1:1 is part of the Priestly source (P) in the Documentary Hypothesis, which is one of the proposed sources for the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). This source is thought to have been compiled during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE).
- The verse serves as an introduction to the Priestly account of creation, which is distinct from the Yahwist account that follows in Genesis 2.
- The creation narrative in Genesis 1 reflects a structured, orderly process, possibly in contrast to the chaotic creation myths of surrounding ancient Near Eastern cultures.
- The verse sets the stage for the biblical narrative, establishing a theological foundation for the relationship between God, the cosmos, and humanity.
In essence, Genesis 1:1 is a succinct yet profound statement that has shaped Judeo-Christian understanding of the origin of the universe and the nature of God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H7225 There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: רֵאשִׁית Transliteration: rêʼshîyth Pronunciation: ray-sheeth' Description: from the same as רֹאשׁ; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit); beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
Strong's Number: H430 There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֱלֹהִים Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym Pronunciation: el-o-heem' Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
Strong's Number: H1254 There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בָּרָא Transliteration: bârâʼ Pronunciation: baw-raw' Description: a primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes); choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
Strong's Number: H853 There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֵת Transliteration: ʼêth Pronunciation: ayth Description: apparent contracted from אוֹת in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).
Strong's Number: H8064 There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁמַיִם Transliteration: shâmayim Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).
Strong's Number: H776 There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֶרֶץ Transliteration: ʼerets Pronunciation: eh'-rets Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.