Genesis

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:18c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי־טוֹב

Transliteration:

‏wayyar’ ’ᵉlōhîm kî-ṭôb

Translation (NRSV):

And God saw that it was good.

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wayyar’/וַיַּרְא : consecutive ‏‏‏wᵉ/‏וְ + Qal imperfect of ‏‏‏rā’â/‏‏רָאָה : and he saw.
‏‏‏’ᵉlōhîm/‏אֱלֹהִים : God.
‏‏‏kî/‏כִּי : that.
‏‏‏ṭôb/‏טוֹב : (it was) good.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:19):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר יוֹם רְבִיעִי

Transliteration:

‏‏wayᵉhî-‘ereb wayᵉhî-bōqer yôm rᵉbî‘î

Translation (Hamilton):

And there was evening and morning — a fourth day.

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wayᵉhî/‏וַיְהִי : consecutive ‏‏wᵉ/וְ + Qal imperfect of ‏‏hāyâ/‏‏הָיָה : and there was.
‏‏‘ereb/‏‏עֶרֶב : evening.
‏‏bōqer/‏‏בֹקֶר : morning.
‏‏yôm/‏‏יוֹם : day.
‏‏rᵉbî‘î/‏‏רְבִיעִי : fourth.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:20):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם שֶׁרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה

Transliteration:

‏‏wayyō’mer ’ᵉlōhîm yišrᵉṣû hammayim šereṣ nepeš ḥayyâ

Translation (Hamilton):

And God said, "Let the waters teem with swarming living creatures*

Note (Hamilton):

* The occurrence of this same expression — nepeš ḥayyâ — to describe man in 2:7 should provide sufficient evidence against seeing any uniqueness in man because of a "soul" (as nepeš is often translated; see e.g. AV). It is unwise to translate as "living being, creature" (animals) in 1:20 and "living soul" (man) in 2:7.

Comment:

living creatures. Hebrew nepeš ḥayyâ means literally "animate life," that which embodies the breath of life. It is distinct from plant life, which was not considered to be "living." — Nahum M. Sarna, JPS Torah Commentary (Jewish Publication Society, 1989).

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wayyō’mer/‏וַיֹּאמֶר : consecutive ‏‏wᵉ/‏‏וְ + Qal 3 m.s. of ‏‏’āmar/‏‏אָמַר : and ... said
‏‏’ᵉlōhîm/‏אֱלֹהִים : God.
‏‏yišrᵉṣû/‏יִשְׁרְצוּ : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. voluntative of ‏‏šāraṣ/‏‏שָׁרַץ : let ... teem.
hammayim/‏‏הַמַּיִם : definite article + mayim/‏‏‏מַיִם : the waters.
šereṣ/‏‏שֶׁרֶץ : collective noun (construct?) : swarming ... (swarms of?).
nepeš/‏‏נֶפֶשׁ : inhalation, which makes a person and an animal a living being : breath.
ḥayyâ/‏‏חַיָּה : feminine of ḥay/‏‏‏חַי : living (creature).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:20b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְעוֹף יְעוֹפֵף עַל־הָאָרֶץ עַל־פְּנֵי רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם

Transliteration:

‏‏wᵉ‘ôp yᵉ‘ôpēp ‘al-hā’āreṣ ‘al-pᵉnê rᵉqîa‘ haššāmāyim

Translation (Hamilton):

and let birds fly above the earth, beneath the vault of the sky.*

Note (Hamilton):

*LXX adds "And it was so," which reflects the LXX's tendency to systemize and make the text uniform. Here it supplies "and it was so" to parallel the phrase used in the preceding days (verses 6, 11, 15).

Comment (on the JPS Torah translation):

across the expanse of the sky. Literally, "over the face of," that is, from the viewpoint of an earth observer looking upward. — Nahum M. Sarna, JPS Torah Commentary (Jewish Publication Society, 1989).

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wᵉ‘ôp/‏וְעוֹף : conjunction ‏‏wᵉ/‏וְ + collective ‏‏‘ôp/‏עוֹף : and flying creatures.
‏‏yᵉ‘ôpēp/‏יְעוֹפֵף : Polel imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏‘ûp/‏‏עוּף : let ... fly.
‏‏‘al/‏עַל : above.
‏‏hā’āreṣ/‏הָאָרֶץ : definite article + ‏‏’ereṣ/‏אָרֶץ : the earth.
‏‏pᵉnê/‏פְּנֵי : construct of ‏‏pāneh/‏‏פָּנֶה : the face of.
‏‏rᵉqîa‘/‏רְקִיעַ : construct of ‏‏rāqîa‘/‏‏רָקִיעַ : the expanse of.
‏‏haššāmāyim/‏הַשָּׁמָיִם : definite article + ‏‏šāmayim/‏‏שָׁמַיִם : the sky.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:21):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הַתַּנִּינִם הַגְּדֹלִים

Transliteration:

‏‏wayyibrā’ ’ᵉlōhîm ’et-hattannînim haggᵉdōlîm

Translation (Hamilton):

God created the large marine creatures.

Comment:

The tannînim are simply large creatures of the water and are created by God. Perhaps the reappearance in verse 21 of the verb create, not used since verse 1, underlines this point. This is a verb whose only subject in the OT is God, and whose accusative is always the product and never the material. Even some of the later texts that use battle imagery place such battles not at creation per se but rather "in days of old" (Isaiah 51:9). — Victor P. Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17 (NICOT; 1990).

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wayyibrā’/‏וַיִּבְרָא : consecutive ‏‏wᵉ/‏‏וְ + Qal imperfect of ‏‏bārā’/‏‏בָּרָא : so ... created.
‏‏’ᵉlōhîm/‏אֱלֹהִים : God.
‏‏’et/‏אֶת : mark of the accusative, indicates direct object.
‏‏hattannînim/‏הַתַּנִּינִם : definite article + plural of ‏‏tannîn/‏‏תַּנִּין : the sea-monsters.
‏‏haggᵉdōlîm/‏‏הַגְּדֹלִים : definite article + plural of ‏‏g̱ādōl/‏‏‏‏גָּדֹל : the great.

From The JPS Torah Commentary:

God created. This is the first use of ‏‏bārā’ after verse 1. Here it signifies that a new stage has been reached with the emergence of animate beings.

the great sea monsters. This specification expresses an unspoken antipagan polemic. Hebrew tannin appears in Canaanite myths from Ugarit, together with Leviathan, as the name of a primeval dragon-god who assisted Yam (Sea) in an elemental battle against Baal, the god of fertility. Fragments of this myth, in a transformed Israelite version, surface in several biblical poetic texts in which the forces of evil in this world are figuratively identified with Tannin (Dragon), the embodiment of the chaos that the Lord vanquished in primeval time. By emphasizing that "God created the great sea monsters" late in the cosmogonic process, the narrative at once strips them of divinity.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:21b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאֵת כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ הַחַיָּה הָרֹמֶשֶׂת אֲשֶׁר שָׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם

Transliteration:

‏‏wᵉ’ēt kol-nepeš haḥayyâ hārōmeśet ’ᵃšer šārṣû hammayim

Translation (Hamilton):

and every kind of creeping living creature with which the waters teem

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wᵉ’ēt/‏וְאֵת : conjunction ‏‏wᵉ/‏וְ + indicator of direct object : and.
‏‏kol/‏כָּל : construct of ‏‏kōl/‏‏כֹּל : every (kind of).
‏‏nepeš/‏נֶפֶשׁ : creature.
‏‏haḥayyâ/‏הַחַיָּה : definite article + feminine of ḥay/‏‏חַי : living.
hārōmeśet/‏‏הָרֹמֶשֶׂת : definite article + Qal participle of rāmaś/‏‏‏רָמַשׂ : that creeps.
’ᵃšer/‏‏‏אֲשֶׁר : relative : (with) which.
šārṣû/‏‏‏שָׁרְצוּ : Qal perfect of šāraṣ/‏‏‏‏שָׁרַץ : they (the waters) teem.
hammayim/‏‏‏הַמַּיִם : definite article + mayim/‏‏‏‏מַיִם : the waters.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:21c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏ וְאֵת כָּל־עוֹף כָּנָף לְמִינֵהוּ

Transliteration:

wᵉ’ēt kol-‘ôp kānāp lᵉmînêhû

Translation (Hamilton):

and every kind of winged bird.

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wᵉ’ēt/‏וְאֵת : conjunction ‏‏wᵉ/‏וְ + indicator of direct object : and.
‏‏kol/‏כָּל : construct of ‏‏kōl/‏‏כֹּל : every.
‏‏‘ôp/‏עוֹף : collective : everything that flies.
‏‏kānāp/‏כָּנָף : wing, winged.
‏‏lᵉmînêhû/‏לְמִינֵהוּ : preposition ‏‏lᵉ/‏לְ + noun ‏‏mîn/‏‏מִין + pronominal suffix : according to its kind.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:21d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי־טוֹב

Transliteration:

wayyar’ ’ᵉlōhîm kî-ṭôb

Translation (Hamilton):

And God saw how beautiful it was.

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wayyar’/‏וַיַּרְא : consecutive ‏wᵉ/‏‏וְ + Qal imperfect of ‏rā’â/‏‏‏רָאָה : and ... saw.
‏’ᵉlōhîm/‏‏אֱלֹהִי : God.
‏kî/‏‏ כִּי : “emphatic”, deictic and stressing (HALOT) : how.
‏ṭôb/‏‏טוֹב : good, in every variety of meaning (Holladay).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:22a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים לֵאמֹר פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ

Transliteration:

wayᵉbārek ’ōtām ’ᵉlōhîm lē’mōr pᵉrû ûrᵉbû

Translation (Hamilton):

God blessed them, saying, "Be fertile and multiply,

Comment:

22. God blessed them. Animate creation receives the gift of fertility. Plant life was not so blessed, both because it was thought to have been initially equipped with the capacity for self-reproduction by nonsexual means and because it is later to be cursed. The procreation of animate creatures, however, requires individual activity, mating. This capacity for sexual reproduction is regarded as a divine blessing.

— Nahum M. Sarna, Genesis (JPS Torah Commentary; 1989).

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wayᵉbārek’/‏וַיְבָרֶךְ : consecutive ‏‏wᵉ/‏‏וְ + Piel imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏bārak/‏‏בָּרַךְ : and ... blessed.
‏‏’ōtām/‏‏אֹתָם : ‏‏’ēt/‏‏‏אֵת (direct object marker) + 3 m.p. suffix : them.
‏‏’ᵉlōhîm/‏‏אֱלֹהִים : God.
‏‏lē’mōr/‏‏לֵאמֹר : preposition lᵉ/‏‏‏‏לְ + Qal infinitive construct of ‏‏’āmar/‏‏‏אָמַר : saying.
‏‏pᵉrû/‏‏פְּרוּ : Qal imperative 2 m.p. of ‏‏pārâ/‏‏‏‏‏פָּרָה : be fruitful.
‏‏ûrᵉbû/‏‏‏‏‏וּרְבוּ : conjunction ‏‏û/‏‏‏‏‏וּ + Qal imperative 2 m.s. of ‏‏rābâ/‏‏‏‏‏‏רָבָה : and multiply.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:22b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמִלְאוּ אֶת־הַמַּיִם בַּיַּמִּים

Transliteration:

ûmil’û ’et-hammayim bayyammîm

Translation (Hamilton):

and fill the sea's water,

Comment (part 2; for part 1, see here):

22-23 For the first time in the creation narrative God speaks to somebody. Soliloquy give way to monologue, indicated by the introduction of the second person imperative mood. But God's blessing precedes his commands. He gives a blessing and then issues an order. The recipient of God's first blessing in the Bible is not man — that must wait until verse 28 — but fish and fowl. Quite evidently the essence of God's blessing is the capacity to be fertile, to reproduce oneself. Everything thus far in the created order has received God's inspection. To that is now added God's blessing. — Victor P. Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17 (NICOT; Eerdmans, 1989).

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏ûmil’û/‏וּמִלְאוּ : conjunction ‏‏û/‏וּ + Qal imperative 2 m.p. of ‏‏mālē’/‏‏מָלֵא : and fill.
‏‏’et/‏‏אֶת : mark of the accusative; indicates direct object.
‏‏hammayim/‏‏הַמַּיִם : definite article + ‏‏mayim/‏‏‏מַיִם : the water.
‏‏bayyammîm/‏‏בַּיַּמִּים : preposition ‏‏‏bᵉ/‏‏‏בְּ + plural of ‏‏yām/‏‏‏‏‏יָם : in the seas.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:22c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְהָעוֹף יִרֶב בָּאָרֶץ

Transliteration:

wᵉhā‘ôp yireb bā’āreṣ

Translation (Hamilton):

and let the birds multiply on the earth.

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏wᵉhā‘ôp/‏וְהָעוֹף : conjunction ‏‏wᵉ/‏וְ + definite article + collective ‏‏‘ôp/‏עוֹף : and the birds.
‏‏yireb/‏יִרֶב : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. voluntative of ‏‏rābâ/‏‏רָבָה : let ... multiply.
‏‏bā’āreṣ/‏‏בָּאָרֶץ : preposition ‏‏bᵉ/‏‏‏בְּ + definite article + ‏‏’ereṣ/‏‏‏אֶרֶץ : on the earth.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:23):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי

Transliteration:

wayᵉhî-‘ereb wayᵉhî-bōqer yôm ḥᵃmı̂šî

Translation (Hamilton):

And there was evening and morning — a fifth day.

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏wayᵉhī/וַיְהִי : consecutive ‏wᵉ/‏וְ + Qal imperfect 3 m.s of ‏hāyāh/‏הָיָה : and there was.
‏‘ereb/‏עֶרֶב : evening.
‏bōqer/‏בֹקֶר : morning.
‏yōm/‏יוֹם : day.
‏ḥᵃmı̂šî/‏חֲמִישִׁי : fifth.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:24):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה לְמִינָהּ

Transliteration:

wayyō’mer ’ᵉlōhîm tôṣē’ hā’āreṣ nepeš ḥayyâ lᵉmînâh

Translation (Wenham):

Then God said "Let the earth produce living creatures according to their types:

Comment:

"Let the earth produce"; cf. verse 12 where on the third day the earth produces (hiphil ‏יצא) grass, thus underlining the parallel between the works of the two days. — Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (WBC).

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏‏wayyō’mer/‏וַיֹּאמֶר : consecutive ‏wᵉ/‏וְ + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular of ‏‏‏’āmar/‏‏אָמַר : and ... said.
‏‏‏’ᵉlōhîm/‏אֱלֹהִים : God.
‏‏‏tôṣē’/‏תּוֹצֵא : Hiphil imperfect 3rd person feminine singular voluntative of ‏‏‏yāṣā’/‏‏יָצָא : let ... bring forth.
‏‏‏hā’āreṣ/‏‏הָאָרֶץ : definite article + ‏‏‏‏’ereṣ/‏‏‏אֶרֶץ : the earth.
‏‏‏nepeš/‏‏נֶפֶשׁ : creature.
‏‏‏ḥayyâ/‏‏חַיָּה : living.
‏‏‏lᵉmînâh/‏‏לְמִינָהּ : preposition ‏‏‏lᵉ + ‏‏‏mîn/‏‏‏מִין + feminine singular pronoun suffix : according to its types.

The noun at the beginning and the pronoun at the ending of the phrase נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה לְמִינָהּ (nepeš ḥayyâ lᵉmînâh) are singular in number but used collectively; thus the translation 'living creatures according to their types'.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:24b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏בְּהֵמָה וָרֶמֶשׂ וְחַיְתוֹ־אֶרֶץ לְמִינָהּ

Transliteration:

bᵉhēmâ wāremeś wᵉḥaytô-’ereṣ lᵉmînâh

Translation (Wenham):

cattle, creeping things, and wild animals according to their types:

Comment:

Like fish, birds (see 1:21) and humans (2:7), the land animals are living creatures [...], here divided into three categories: "cattle" (בְּהֵמָה), "creeping things" (רֶמֶשׂ), and "wild animals" (חַיְתוֹ־אֶרֶץ). The Hebrew terminology is more fluid than this terminology suggests. Though בְּהֵמָה most often denotes large domesticated animals and ‏חַיָּה wild animals, either term can stand for all the animal kingdom as opposed to mankind. Here, though the animal kingdom is being classified into three main groups, a favorite device of Hebrew writers and legislators: domestic, wild, and small animals. The last named "creeping things" refers to mice, reptiles, insects, and any other little creatures that keep close to the ground. — Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (WBC).

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏‏‏bᵉhēmâ/‏בְּהֵמָה : collective : cattle.
‏‏‏wāremeś/‏וָרֶמֶשׂ : conjunction ‏‏‏‏wᵉ + collective ‏‏‏remeś/‏‏רֶמֶשׂ : creeping things.
‏‏‏wᵉḥaytô/‏וְחַיְתוֹ : conjunction ‏‏‏wᵉ + construct of ‏‏‏ḥayâ/‏‏חַיָּה with paragogic waw : and wild animals of the.
‏‏‏’ereṣ/‏אֶרֶץ : earth.
‏‏‏lᵉmînâh/‏‏לְמִינָהּ : preposition ‏‏‏lᵉ + ‏‏‏mîn/‏‏‏מִין + feminine singular pronoun suffix : according to its types.

The antecedent nouns are collectives; hence, the feminine singular pronoun suffix at the end of the sentence is rendered as though plural: 'according to their types'.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 1:24c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיְהִי־כֵן

Transliteration:

wayᵉhî-kēn

Translation (Wenham):

And it was so.

Glossary (meanings in this contest):

‏wayᵉhī/וַיְהִי : consecutive ‏wᵉ/‏וְ + Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏hāyāh/‏הָיָה : and it was.
‏kēn/כֵן : so.