Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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GENESIS (1-4)

CHAPTER ONE:
THE FORMATION OF EARTH AND LIFE

Genesis 1:1-5 – Illumination [Day One]

GE1:1 The God 1 created 2 the Sky and the Earthen-land 3 at the beginning. 4 [John 1:1]
1 The God: In Greek [LXX] the article often precedes “God.” [HO THEOS, TON THEON] The Hebrew is ELOHIM and is plural here without the article, and though a few think it to mean literally “gods” the Jews and many Christians understand it to be a plural of majesty. [Note RHM footnote b] See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on ELOHIM in Error of the Trinity.] The Greek use of the article [The God] infers that there were other “gods”. [Deuteronomy 10:17]
2 Created: Or, made [BAG] The Hebrew is BARA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1254]. Rotherham suggests “to cut” or “carve” is more literally correct and argues this is not the creation of something out of nothing, but the formation of something already present. [Rotherham, footnote c] The JPS Tanakh [TAN] reads, “When God began to create.”
3 Sky and the Earthen-land: Literally, “the heavens and the earth.” Some see the cosmos here, though the context would suggest the atmosphere [often called “heaven”] where birds fly. The “earth” [Hebrew ERETS; Greek GEN] is later defined as the earthen-land, and not the globe.
4 At the beginning: Or, “in [the] beginning” [KJV] as ARCHE is without the article, as is also the Hebrew. The context does not speak of the stellar universe or celestial cosmos, but the formation of sea, sky, and earthen-land. This is not the beginning of all creation, for that has occurred billions of years before. We come upon the creative scene with the earth a dark and watery orb, a ‘liquid’ planet and isolated empty and feature forms of land.
GE1:2 But the earthen-land 5 was featureless and empty. 6 There was darkness 7 upon the oceanic abyss. 8 God’s Breath 9 exerted a force as it moved back and forth 10 over the oceanic abyss.
5 Earthen-land: Though some see the entire globe, it is more consistent with what follows to be parts of “land” like empty sand-spits or barren reefs.
6 Featureless and empty: Or, without form and void [KJV], unsightly and unfurnished [BAG], harmless void [NJB], waste and wild [RHM], unformed [TAN]. The Hebrew is TOHUW [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #8414, formless, waste, empty, featureless].
7 Darkness: We see a watery world enshrouded in cosmic dust with no light hitting the liquid surface.
8 Oceanic abyss: Or, the deep [KJV], roaring deep. [LXX: ABYSSOU] Some think the earth’s oceans to be shallow compared to today. The Hebrew word can be something as shallow as a grave or river.
9 God’s Breath: Or, the spirit of God [KJV], a divine wind [NJB], a wind from God [TAN]. The Hebrew is RUACH and the Greek [LXX] PNEUMA THEOU, both words mean wind or breath, and are later to be rendered “spirit” in English versions. There are several opinions: some wish this to mean “holy spirit” and others “divine wind.” [See NJB footnote ‘d’] God’s “spirit” is not mentioned until the context of the pre-flood world. [Genesis 6:3]
10 Exerted a force as it moved back and forth: Or, moved over [BAG], sweeping over [NJB], brooding on the face of [RHM]. Compare Rotherham footnote ‘i’ where he suggests: “a process more or less lengthened, rather than an instantaneous act.”
GE1:3 Then The God spoke: 11 “Let light appear!” 12 [2 Corinthians 4:6] And light began to illuminate [the (surface of) the oceanic abyss].
11 God spoke: Or, God said [BAG]. God’s first recorded speech.
12 Let light to exist: Or, let there be light [BAG], light be [RHM] [Greek (LXX) PHOTOS] It is possible God speaks to another. [Genesis 1:26; Colossians 1:15] Paul paraphrases this verse in 2 Corinthians 4:6. [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on 2 Corinthians 4:6.] Likely the occurrence of light is upon the dark watery deep, for light already exists outside the enshrouded earth.
GE1:4 Then The God approved of the illumination, and so God caused a separation 13 between what was illuminated and what was dark.
13 Separation: Or, separated [TAN], divided [BAG]. Viewed from space, the earth is a rotating orb with distinct division between day and night.
GE1:5 And so The God called the illuminated portion “Day” and the darkened portion “Night.” And so evening and morning 14 came into existence on the first day. 15
14 Evening and morning: Hebrew days began in the evening.
15 First day: Or, a first day [TAN], the first day [BAG], one day [RHM]. At the end of the first day we see a watery orb with some illumination finally reaching the liquid surface.

Genesis 1:6-8 – The Atmospheric Sky [Day Two]

GE1:6 Next, The God continued to speak: “Let a space 16 to occur between the waters. 17 Let a separation take place between the waters [above] and the waters] below.
16 Space: Or, solid arch [BAS]; expanse [YLT], firmament [BAG], vault [NJB]. The Hebrew is RAQIYA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #7549, firmament, vault of heaven]. The atmospheric Sky which is a space around the earth now about 15-20 miles thick. The Greek in the LXX [BAG] is STEREOMA.
17 Between the waters: Or division between water a water [BAG], under… over [NJB]. Some understand the lower waters to be the global ocean and the upper waters to be liquid canopy surrounding the earthly orb with the expanse or atmospheric space between the two.
GE1:7 And so The God brought about a space, 18 causing a separation between the waters below and the waters above. And it happened.
18 Space: Or, arch, expanse, firmament.
GE1:8 And so The God called the space “Sky.” 19 And so evening and morning came into existence on the second day.
19 Sky: Or, heaven [KJV]. The Hebrew is SHAMAYIM [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #8064, lofty, height, atmosphere]. Later it is clear this is the sky where birds fly and not the stellar heavens.

Genesis 1:9-13 – Formation of Land and Vegetation [Day Three]

GE1:9 Now The God spoke again: “Let all the water under the Sky be collected into one area and cause [more] land 20 to appear.” And it happened.
20 Land: Or, earth [KJV], dry land [TAN], dry ground [RHM]. Likely the solid “earth” beneath the waters begins to buckle and rise. It is now believed that there once existed a single super continent called Pangea. Pangea later separated through “continental drift,” likely after the Flood. The present day mountains heights are a new and continually forming feature that girdles the earth parallel to the deep ocean trenches like the seams on a baseball.
GE1:10 The God started calling the land “Earth” 21 and the collection of the water He called “Seas.” 22 And so The God also saw it was good. 23
21 Earth: The Hebrew is ERETS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #776, firm]. An older name may have been ARA from which other related words developed. ERETS may refer to either the earth as a globe or to just dry land, or a portion thereof.
22 Seas: One single ocean with one single super continent.
23 Good: The first of over 1,000 occurrences of the word. The Hebrew is TOWB [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2896, pleasant, agreeable, excellent. The Greek [LXX] is KALON. It is the same word used with regard to the “tree of good and bad.”
GE1:11 Then The God spoke again: “Let the earthen-land grow vegetation, 24 seed-bearing plants, fruit-producing trees – all in harmony with their [genetic] types 25 and their [genetic] kinds of seeds – throughout the earthen-land. And it happened.
24 Vegetation: The LXX uses BOTANEN from which the English “botany” comes. The first life form upon earth was flora or green vegetation which could produce oxygen and which thrived on carbon dioxide. There is sufficient light for photosynthesis to occur. In time Pangea must have been one great rain forest thick with vegetation. The LXX uses SPERMA [seed].
25 Types: Or, likeness [BAG], kind [BAG]. The Greek is GENOS from which “gene” is drawn.
GE1:12 And just so the earthen-land began to grow vegetation, plants bearing seeds after their own [genetic] types, and trees yielding fruit according to their own [genetic] type. Then The God saw it was good. GE1:13 And so evening and morning came into existence on the third day.

Genesis 1:14-19 – The Appearance of Greater Illumination [Day Four]

GE1:14 Now The God continued to speak: “Let lights 26 appear through the Sky’s atmosphere in order to cause a dividing line between day and night. These [lights] shall serve as illumination in the Sky’s atmosphere and as signals 27 for seasons, days and years.
26 Lights: Or, luminaries [RHM]. The Greek is the word from which the English “photo” and “photography” come. Though ambient light reached the earth as a globe, now the dusty shroud swaddling the earth clears, allowing for sun, moon, and stars to appear.
27 Signals: Or, signs. The study of the heavens for agricultural purposes is as ancient as humankind.
GE1:15 These will serve as illumination in the Sky’s atmospheric space in order to illuminate the earthen-land. And so it happened. GE1:16 Then The God started to cause to appear the two largest lights: the brightest light 28 to dominate the Day, and the lesser light 29 to dominate the Night, as well as the stars.
28 Brightest light: Or, greater light [TAN], greater luminary [RHM]. The Sun around which the earth revolved in one solar year.
29 Lesser light: Or, lesser luminary [RHM]. The moon with its monthly phases.
GE1:17 Thus, The God caused them to appear above in the atmospheric space of the Sky to illuminate the earthen-land. GE1:18 These would dominate day and night to cause a separation between what was light and what was dark. Then The God saw it was good. GE1:19 And so evening and morning existed on the fourth day.

Genesis 1:20-23 – Life in the Sea and Sky [Day Five]

GE1:20 So The God continued to speak: “Let the Seas swarm with fish as breathing creatures, 30 and let also birds 31 fly over the earthen-land throughout the atmospheric space of the Sky.”
30 Fish as breathing creatures: Or, swarms of living creatures [TAN], reptiles [BAG], living soul [RHM]. The first of nearly 1000 occurrences of either the Hebrew NEPHEWS or the Greek PSYCHE, both rooted in breath or wind. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000© on “soul” in Where Are The Dead? [Compare Revelation 16:3]
31 Birds: Or, winged birds [TAN], winged creatures [BAG]. There is now abundant food for all types or classes of birds and winged animals.
GE1:21 And just so The God created huge ocean animals 32 of every [genetic] type 33 of breathing and moving creature that swarmed the oceans according to their own [genetic] types, and also all the winged animals after their own [genetic] type. Then The God saw it was good.
32 Huge ocean animals: Or, sea-beasts [BAS], great sea monsters [TAN], great whales [BAG]. The Hebrew is TANNIYN [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #8577, sea monster, dinosaur]. LXX: every living reptile.
33 Every type: Or, kind [KJV], species [NJB]. We may assume these were the prime-types of the multi-millions of types that populate earth’s oceans.
GE1:22 Next The God pronounced a blessing on them with the words: “Reproduce 34 and become many, filling the collected waters of the Seas. Also, let the winged animals become many on the earthen-land.”
34 Reproduce: Or, become fruitful [KJV], be fertile [TAN], increase [BAG]. This reproduction would take more than 24 hours. Now both Sea and Earth are teeming with life living off the great masses of vegetation in sea and land. Birds and animals would spread the seeds of vegetation ever wider and faster.
GE1:23 And so evening and morning existed on the fifth day.

Genesis 1:24, 25 – Land Animals

GE1:24 Now The God continued to speak: “Let the earthen-land be populated by breathing creatures 35 of all [genetic] types – tame animals, 36 grazing animals, and wild animals of the land after their own [genetic] types. And so it happened.
35 Breathing creatures: Or, living creature [TAN], living soul [RHM].
36 Animals: Or, souls. All types of land animals as well as reptiles, insects and other types began to make Pangea their home. All of these – insects, birds and land animals – prepare the soil for even greater cultivation.
GE1:25 Then The God made the wild animals of the land after their own [genetic] types, and also every [genetic] type of crawling and grazing animal of the land after its own [genetic] type. Then The God saw it was good.

Genesis 1:26-28 – Humankind [Day Six]

GE1:26 Then The God continued to speak: “Let us 37 make 38 humankind 39 after our image and according to our own similarity. 40 Let them be masters 41 of the fish in the oceans and the flying birds of the sky and all the tame animals throughout all the earthen-land, as well as every grazing animal that roams across the land.”
37 Us: The Jews think this “us” to be angels. The early Christians thought it a reference to the creative agent, the Word. [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on John 1:1-3.] And, later the Trinitarians thought it a plural God speaking to Himself. There is no occurrence in the Bible of a verse that describes a plural God in either three modes, forms or persons. NJB footnote ‘k’ – “It is possible that this plural form implies a discussion between God and his heavenly court… plural excellence of majesty.” See notes on ELOHIM at Genesis 1:1.
38 Make: Not create [BARA] but ASEH, “make.”
39 Humankind: Or, man [KJV]. The Hebrew is ADAM [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #120, mankind, human beings]. Rotherham: earth-born… red, ruddy.
40 Similarity: Or, likeness [RHM], image [NJB]. The “likeness” is after the manner of two or more individuals.
41 Masters: Or, have in subjection [NWT], rule [TAN], have dominion [BAG].
GE1:27 And so The God created humankind after His own image 42 – in God’s image He created them – male and female 43 He created 44 them.
42 His own image: Judging from later allusions to these words this “image” is one of character and personality, possessed of the cardinal attributes of love, justice, power, and wisdom. Compare Genesis 5:3; 9:6; Romans 1:23; 8:29; 1 Corinthians 11:7; 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:4; Colossians 1:15; 3:10.
43 Male and female: The Hebrew for “male” is ZAKAR [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2145] and for “female” QEBAH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5347].
44 Created: Or, made [BAG].
GE1:28 Also, The God blessed them and told them: “Be productive and multiply and fill the earthen-land and cultivate it. 45 Also, be masters of the fish in the oceans, and the winged creatures of the skies, indeed, every breathing animal that roams the earthen-land.”
45 Fill the earthen-land and cultivate it: Or, subdue [BAG], master [TAN]. That is, the super- continent of Panged.

Genesis 1:29-31 – Final Words to Humankind [Day Six]

GE1:29 The God continue to speak to them: 46 “Now I give to all of you all the seed-bearing vegetation 47 upon the entire earthen-land, and also all the fruit-bearing trees.
46 Them: Either addressed to the first human couple, or something of a futuristic blessing on humankind as a type.
47 Vegetation: The first human souls were vegetarians. They would not only eat from wild fruits but also cultivate a wide variety of foods for their own consumption. The first humans were not “hunter-gatherers.”
GE1:30 Also I give all the vegetation to all the wild animals of the land, and all the flying animals of the sky, and to everything creature roaring the earthen-land which is a living, breathing soul.” And so it happened. GE1:31 Afterward The God examined everything He had made, and, behold, it was very good. So evening and morning existed on the sixth day. 48
48 Sixth day: The creation of humankind ends the 6^th Day, but Genesis is not to return for more details on this last creative “day.” The Hebrew and Greek texts vary here: “On the seventh day God finished…” [TAN], and “The God finished on the sixth day.” The latter clearly shows the understanding the Jews of the 3^rd Century BC had of the Hebrew text.

Mark Heber Miller