Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

This is, according to the Hebrew text, the parenthetical statement describing the shape of the universe before God began His creating action.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

This is, according to the Hebrew text, the parenthetical statement describing the shape of the universe before God began His creating action.

The Hebrew tohu wabohu occurs only here and in two later biblical texts that are clearly alluding to this one.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Jeremiah 4:23

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Jeremiah 4:23

I looked at the earth, and it was waste and void; at the heavens, and their light had gone out!

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Is. 34:11

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Is. 34:11 But the desert owl and hoot owl

shall possess her, the screech owl and raven shall dwell in her. The LORD will measure her with line and plummet to be an empty waste for satyrs to dwell in.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Tohu wabohu

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Tohu wabohu This compound phrase appears

again in the Bible in Jeremiah’s prophetic vision of the return of the primal chaos, thus leaving no doubt that the phrase designates the initial chaotic state of the earth. (The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis; Commentary by Nahum M. Sarna; The Jewish Publications Society, Philadelphia, PA 1989 p.6)

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

Formless Wasteland (Welter and Waste)

Tohu wabohu It is a fundamental biblical

teaching that the original, divinely ordained order in the physical world has its counterpart in the divinely ordained universal moral order to which the human race is subject.” (The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis; Commentary by Nahum M. Sarna; The Jewish Publications Society, Philadelphia, PA 1989 p.6)

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

darkness: “Throughout the Bible darkness is often a symbol of evil, misfortune, death, and oblivion. Here it seems to be not just the absence of light but a distinct entity, the origin of which is left unclear.” (The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis; Commentary by Nahum M. Sarna; The Jewish Publications Society, Philadelphia, PA 1989 p.6)

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

Isaiah 45:7

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

Isaiah 45:7 “ I form the light, and create the

darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I, the LORD, do all these things.”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep)

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) “Hebrew tehom, the cosmic

abyssal water that enveloped the earth. “ (The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis; Commentary by Nahum M. Sarna; The Jewish Publications Society, Philadelphia, PA 1989 p.6)

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) Proverbs 8:22-34

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) Proverbs 8:22-34 “"The LORD begot me, the first-

born of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; From of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת�

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Tehom is treated as a

Hebrew proper name…At times it is personified

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Genesis 49:25

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Genesis 49:25 “The God of your father, who

helps you, God Almighty, who blesses you, With the blessings of the heavens above, the blessings of the abyss that crouches below, The blessings of breasts and womb”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Deuteronomy 33:13

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Deuteronomy 33:13 “Of Joseph he said: "Blessed

by the LORD is his land with the best of the skies above and of the abyss crouching beneath”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Habakkuk 3:10

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Habakkuk 3:10 at sight of you the mountains

tremble. A torrent of rain descends; the ocean gives forth its roar. The sun forgets to rise,

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Isaiah 51:10

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Isaiah 51:10 Was it not you who dried up

the sea, the waters of the great deep, Who made the depths of the sea into a way for the redeemed to pass over?

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Ps. 33:7

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Ps. 33:7 The waters of the sea were

gathered as in a bowl; in cellars the deep was confined.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� “The cosmic ocean that forms

the seas and was though to lie beneath the earth in Semitic cosmology”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Ex. 20:4

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Ex. 20:4 You shall not carve idols for

yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Ps. 104:5-:6

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Ps. 104:5-:6 You fixed the earth on its

foundation, never to be moved. The ocean covered it like a garment; above the mountains stood the waters

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Genesis 1:9

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“darkness covered the abyss”

“abyss” (also “the deep) �הו�ם tehom = ת� Genesis 1:9 Then God said, "Let the water

under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear." And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” As a physical phenomenon,

wind conforms to the general picture of primal chaos evoked by this verse, except that, unlike darkness and water, it is not mentioned again in the Creation story

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Genesis 8:1

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Genesis 8:1 and then God remembered

Noah and all the animals, wild and tame, that were with him in the ark. So God made a wind sweep over the earth, and the waters began to subside

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Exodus 14:21

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his

hand over the sea, and the LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Another interpretation takes

ruah in the sense of God’s creative, life-giving, sustaining energy.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” a third possibility lies in its use

as a term heralding the arrival of God, expressing His immanence, or symbolizing His presence

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” The last two explanations

connect the phrase with the following verse, thus alerting us to an imminent, dramatic development: God is about to transform the inert, disorganized matter, to affect it by His presence, to animate it with His spirit.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” The (Spirit of God) translation

is preferable because (1) the same expression is used elsewhere in the Pentateuch as a reference to God’s Spirit

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Gen. 41:38

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Gen. 41:38 Could we find another like

him," Pharaoh asked his officials, "a man so endowed with the spirit of God?”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Ex 31:3

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Ex 31:3 I have filled him with a divine

spirit of skill and understanding and knowledge in every craft:

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Ex. 35:31 and has filled him with a

divine spirit of skill and understanding and knowledge in every craft

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Nm. 24:2

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Nm. 24:2 When he raised his eyes and

saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” (2) Elsewhere in the Bible the

divine Spirit is associated with God’s creative work

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Job 33:4

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Job 33:4 For the spirit of God has

made me, the breath of the Almighty keeps me alive

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Ps. 104:30

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” Ps. 104:30 When you send forth your

breath, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” (3) the preferred interpretation

throughout Christian history takes it as a reference to the Holy Spirit

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“a mighty wind” ruah = רוח Hebrew ruah means “wind,

breath, spirit” CCC 703 The Word of God and

his Breath are at the origin of the being and life of every creature: It belongs to the Holy Spirit to rule, sanctify, and animate creation, for he is God, consubstantial with the Father and the Son. . . . Power over life pertains to the Spirit, for being God he preserves creation in the Father through the Son

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

Deuteronomy 32:11

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle incites its

nestlings forth by hovering over its brood, So he spread his wings to receive them and bore them up on his pinions.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

Jeremiah 23:9

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

Jeremiah 23:9 Concerning the prophets: My

heart within me is broken, my bones all tremble; I am like a man who is drunk, overcome by wine, Because of the LORD, because of his holy words.

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

Allegorically, the Holy Spirit was carried upon the waters as upon a chariot and brought forth the newborn world as a type of baptism (St. Jerome, Letters 69.)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Commentary, Notes and Study Questions; Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch; Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA 2010 p.17)

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2 St. Ambrose

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2 St. Ambrose “The Spirit fittingly moved

over the earth, destined to bear fruit because by the aid of the Spirit it held the seeds of new birth which were to germinate according to the words of the prophet: “Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.”

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2 St. Jerome

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2 St. Jerome “In the beginning of Genesis, it is

written: “And the Spirit was stirring above the waters.” You see, then, what it says in the beginning of Genesis. Now for its mystical meaning – “The Spirit was stirring above the waters” – already at that time baptism was being foreshadowed. It could not be true baptism, to be sure, without the Spirit.” Homilies10

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2 St. Ephrem the Syrian

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2 St. Ephrem the Syrian “[The Holy Spirit] warmed the

waters with a kind of vital warmth…Here then, the Holy Spirit foreshadows the sacrament of holy baptism prefiguring its arrival, so that the waters made fertile by the hovering of that same divine Spirit might give birth to the children of God.” Commentary on Genesis 1

Genesis 1:2 “the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.”

“sweeping”, “hovering”, “moving”

The Fathers on Genesis 1:2 St. Ephrem the Syrian “It was appropriate to reveal here that

the Spirit hovered in order for us to learn that the work of creation was held in common by the Spirit with the Father and the Son. The Father spoke. The Son created. And so it was also right that the Spirit offered its work, clearly shown through its hovering, in order to demonstrate its unity with the other persons. Thus we learn that all was brought to perfection and accomplished by the Trinity.” Commentary on Genesis 1