A radiant planet Earth suspended in a vibrant cosmic expanse, symbolizing Genesis 1:1.

◄  Genesis 1:1  

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In [the] beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

בְּPrepositionבְּ15,568xin, at, withרֵאשִׁ֖יתNoun common, feminine, singular, constructרֵאשִׁית51xbeginning, first
In beginning
בָּרָ֣אVerb Qal, perfect, 3rd-person, masculine, singularבָּרָא48xto create
created
אֱלֹהִ֑יםNoun common, masculine, plural, absoluteאֱלֹהִים2,600xGod, gods, god
God
אֵ֥תDirect object markerאֵת10,969x
הַDefinite articleהַ23,886xtheשָּׁמַ֖יִםNoun common, masculine, pluralשָׁמַיִם421xheavens, sky
the heavens
וְConjunctionוְ50,260xandאֵ֥תDirect object markerאֵת10,969x
and
הָDefinite articleהַ23,886xtheאָֽרֶץNoun common, feminine, singularאֶרֶץ2,504xearth, ground, land
the earth
׃Sof pasuqIt marks the end of a verse, similar to a period in English.

Language
  • בְּרֵאשִׁית (in beginning) – This is the first word of the Hebrew Bible and sets the stage for the entire creation narrative. The root ראש means “head” or “chief.” Theologically, it tells us that God started everything and is above all things He created.
    • Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'”
  • בָּרָא (created) – This verb is specifically used in the Hebrew Bible to describe an action performed by God. Interestingly, the subject “God” is in the plural form, while the verb is singular. Furthermore, this creation isn’t simply shaping existing materials but creation ex nihilo (out of nothing).
    • Isaiah 45:12, “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.”
  • אֱלֹהִים (God) – The name for God used here is a plural form of אֵל (El) or אֱלוֹהַּ (Eloah), meaning “God” or “god” in Hebrew. This plural form is sometimes interpreted as a “majestic plural,” signifying God’s supreme power and dignity; others see hints of the Trinity in it.
    • Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
  • הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ (the heavens and the earth) – This merism (two parts representing the whole) encompasses everything in creation—both visible and invisible: the heavens (the realm above the earth) and the earth (the physical world).
    • Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.”

Insights
  • Creation Ex Nihilo
    • John Calvin: “The word ‘created’ (בָּרָא) means to bring into being what did not exist, unlike יצר (yatsar), which means to form or shape. Moses teaches that the world was made from nothing, refuting the idea that unformed matter existed from eternity, which was a common fable among heathens.”
  • God’s Sovereignty
    • Genesis 1:1 underscores God’s absolute sovereignty over creation. He is the Creator of all things, and there is no opposition or conflict in His creative act. This is a direct refutation of pagan creation myths, where gods engage in struggle or combat. God’s sovereign word brings all things into being (Psalm 33:6, 9), reinforcing that all creation is subject to His will and purpose.
  • The Plurality of “Elohim”
    • John Calvin: “The word ‘Elohim’ (God, אֱלֹהִים) is plural, but this should not be overstated to imply the three Persons of the Godhead. Some use this as a proof against Arianism, but it risks falling into Sabellianism by confusing the distinctions between Father, Son, and Spirit. Moses’ use of ‘Elohim’ should be seen as referring to the powers God exercised in creation.”
Time

Matthew Henry: “‘In the beginning,’ that is, in the beginning of time, when that clock was first set a going: time began with the creation of beings that exist within and are measured by time. Before the beginning of time there was none but that there was only the infinite God, who dwells in eternity.

“If we ask why God did not create the world sooner, we would only obscure understanding with words lacking knowledge; for how could there be ‘sooner’ or ‘later’ in eternity? And He did create the world in the beginning of time, according to His eternal counsels before all time.

“The Jewish Rabbies have a saying, that there were seven things which God created before the world, by which they only mean to express the excellency of these things: the law, repentance, paradise, hell, the throne of glory, the house of the sanctuary, and the name of the Messiah. But to us, it is enough to say, ‘In the beginning was the Word’ (John 1:1).”

John Wesley: “The first verse of the Bible gives us a surer and better, a more satisfying and useful knowledge of the origin of the universe, than all the volumes of the philosophers.”

Cross-References
“The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), that meaning must be searched out and ascertained by other places that speak more clearly.” (WCF 1.9)
  • Job 38:4-7, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding…when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
    • Job 38:4-7 reveals a moment of joyous celebration in the universe when God laid the earth’s foundation, emphasizing the significance of creation.
  • John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
    • This passage mirrors the language of Genesis 1:1, emphasizing the active role of Christ (the Word) in creation, affirming the Trinity’s involvement in the Genesis creation account.
  • Colossians 1:16-17, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
    • This passage expands Genesis 1:1 and reveals the role of Christ in the work of creation. (cf. John 1:3)
  • Hebrews 11:3, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
    • Hebrews 11:3 emphasizes the importance of faith in understanding how the world was created, highlighting the power and authority of God’s word in the creation process. “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:6, 9).
  • Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
    • Genesis 1:1 introduces God’s act in creation, while Revelation 4:11 elaborates on it by attributing it to God’s will, which is both the reason things were created and what gives them their purpose and nature.

Tri-Perspectivalism
“In the ‘normative perspective,’ we ask the question, ‘What do God’s norms direct us to believe?’ In the ‘situational perspective,’ we ask, ‘What are the facts?’ In the ‘existential perspective,’ we ask, ‘What belief is most satisfying to a believing heart?’” (John Frame, Theology in Three Dimensions)

Normative PerspectiveWhat do God’s norms direct us to believe?

  • God as Creator – Genesis 1:1 establishes the foundational truth that God is the sovereign Creator of all things. This doctrine of creation ex nihilo (out of nothing) emphasizes God’s absolute authority and His distinctness from His creation. Scripture consistently upholds this norm, affirming that all things exist by God’s will and for His purpose (cf. Psalm 33:6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. (Psalm 33:6); Colossians 1:16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)).

Situational PerspectiveWhat are the facts?

  • The Universe’s Origin – The situation in Genesis 1:1 reveals that everything we see, from the heavens above to the earth below, has a definitive starting point, initiated by God’s creative act. This serves to ground our understanding of reality, indicating that the world is not eternal or self-sustaining but fully dependent on God’s sustaining power (cf. Nehemiah 9:6You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. (Nehemiah 9:6)).

Existential PerspectiveWhat belief is most satisfying to a believing heart?

  • God’s Sovereign Care – For the believer, Genesis 1:1 provides deep assurance that life is not random or purposeless but part of God’s intentional design. This brings comfort and trust in God’s sovereign care, knowing that He is not only the Creator but also the Sustainer of all things, including our lives (cf. Acts 17:28For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28); Matthew 6:25-26Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:25-26)).

Illustrations

FAQ
  • What does “In the beginning” mean? When did the beginning start?
    • Spurgeon: “When that beginning was we cannot tell. It may have been long ages before God fitted up this world for the abode of man, but it was not self-existent. It was created by God; it sprang from the will and the word of the all-wise Creator.” (Spurgeon Study Bible Notes)
  • Where was God before the beginning?
    • Before creation, God existed eternally outside of time and space. He does not depend on the universe to exist. He is self-sufficient, existing in perfect fellowship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:5).
  • How can God exist without being created?
    • God is eternal and uncreated. He has no beginning or end (Psalm 90:2). Unlike created things, God is the “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), meaning He exists by His own power. He is not bound by time or dependent on anything else for His existence.
  • Was there anything else in existence besides God before He created the heavens and the earth?
    • No, before creation, only God existed. There were no angels, humans, or any material universe. Everything that exists, including the spiritual realm, was created by God (Colossians 1:16).
  • Why did God create the heavens and the earth first, before anything else?
    • J. I. Packer: “This opening verse can be taken as a summary, introducing the whole passage; or it can be read as the first event, the origin of the heavens and the earth (sometime before the first day), including the creation of matter, space, and time. This second view (the origin of the heavens and the earth) is confirmed by the NT writers’ affirmation that creation was from nothing (Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11)…The book of Genesis opens with a majestic description of how God first created the heavens and earth and then how he ordered the earth so that it may become his dwelling place.” (ESV Study Bible Notes)
    • D. A. Carson: “For some, Genesis 1:1 summarizes the account that follows; therefore, v. 2 is not subsequent to the events of v. 1 but is the first point in the unfolding of the creation. Others understand it as the creation of an unformed and empty heavens and earth that God forms and fills in the remaining verses of ch. 1.” (NIV Zondervan Study Bible Notes)
  • Why does it say “heavens” (plural) and not just “heaven” (singular)?
    • The plural “heavens” (שָׁמַיִם) in Genesis 1:1 reflects the ancient Hebrew understanding of multiple layers or realms beyond the physical earth. In Jewish thought, there were different aspects of the heavens: the sky where the birds fly, the space where the stars exist, and the higher spiritual heavens where God is enthroned. The plural form emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God’s creation, encompassing all these realms, not just a single, limited “heaven.” It conveys the fullness and vastness of the created universe in all its dimensions, both physical and spiritual.
  • What does “earth” refer to in this verse if it wasn’t fully formed yet?
    • J. I. Packer: “‘Heavens and the earth’ here means ‘everything’…The text indicates that God created everything in the universe, which thus affirms that he did in fact create it “ex nihilo” (out of nothing). The effect of the opening words of the Bible is to establish that God, in his inscrutable wisdom, sovereign power, and majesty, is the Creator of all things that exist.” (ESV Study Bible Notes)
  • How did God create the heavens and the earth from nothing?
    • Genesis 1:1 shows that God spoke creation into existence by His Word. God created “ex nihilo” (out of nothing), meaning there was no pre-existing material. His infinite power brought everything into being simply by His command (Hebrews 11:3).

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