Justin Hale

Hebrew is such a cool language and its words are filled with images to help people grasp meanings.

The image used with the Hebrew word translated 'moved' or 'hovered' is of a giant bird 'violently fluttering' its wings, (Hebrew: רָחַף 'rāḥap̄,' e.g. Deuteronomy 32:11). Scripture says elsewhere that GOD created the world NOT 'formless and void' but already fully fit to be inhabited, (Isaiah 45:18).

So that had already happened in Genesis 1:1. Verse two is actually a flash forward to the 'latest developments' after a massive destruction by a flood greater than the one Noah survived. The water actually reached right up to the edge of space!

That is why we have a description of 'two waters.' One is called 'mayim tahat' (Hebrew: 'lower waters'). The other was a giant frozen ice block called 'mayim al' (Hebrew: 'upper waters'). GOD was not 'inventing light' when He said, 'Let there be light.' 

In this narrative, GOD was commanding light to shine through once again by 'violently fluttering' upon the waters and 'breaking' the giant block of ice away into space, (i.e. 'the deep'), releasing the liquid waters from its icy grip. Simultaneously, GOD opened up great chasms in the earth to receive the water until it began to bubble back up and water the earth through mists released out of subterranean springs, (Genesis 2:5-6). 

This continued to happen until enough moisture filled the atmosphere to begin the 'rain cycles,' which coincided with mankind being 'placed' in GOD's new Garden to cultivate it, (Genesis 2:7-9). 

I wonder if that ice block is still floating around out there or if GOD destroyed it to prevent it from returning or causing other havoc. It may even be what scripture calls the 'floodgates of the sky' (Genesis 7:11), that added vast amounts of 'new' water to the flood that occurred in Noah's day. 

It's fun stuff to contemplate.

February 27 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report