Genesis

Genesis 1:1–2

¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

²Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Read all of Genesis 1

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 1:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
In the beginning	בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית	bə·rê·šîṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H7225 beginning, chief
God	אֱלֹהִ֑ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
created	בָּרָ֣א	bā·rā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1254 shape, create
the heavens	הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
and	וְאֵ֥ת	wə·’êṯ	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the earth	הָאָֽרֶץ׃	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land

Genesis 1:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now the earth	וְהָאָ֗רֶץ	wə·hā·’ā·reṣ	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
was	הָיְתָ֥ה	hā·yə·ṯāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
formless	תֹ֙הוּ֙	ṯō·hū	Noun - masculine singular	H8414 formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
and void	וָבֹ֔הוּ	wā·ḇō·hū	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H922 emptiness
and darkness	וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ	wə·ḥō·šeḵ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H2822 darkness, obscurity
was over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the surface	פְּנֵ֣י	pə·nê	Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
of the deep	תְה֑וֹם	ṯə·hō·wm	Noun - common singular	H8415 deep, sea, abyss
And the Spirit	וְר֣וּחַ	wə·rū·aḥ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - common singular construct	H7307 breath, wind, spirit
of God	אֱלֹהִ֔ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
was hovering	מְרַחֶ֖פֶת	mə·ra·ḥe·p̄eṯ	Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular	H7363 grow soft, relax
over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the surface	פְּנֵ֥י	pə·nê	Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
of the waters	הַמָּֽיִם׃	ham·mā·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 1:1 John 1:1–3 · Hebrews 11:3 · Isaiah 45:18 · Revelation 4:11 · Hebrews 1:10 · Colossians 1:16–17 · Isaiah 42:5 · Exodus 20:11 · Job 38:4 · Acts 17:24 · 2 Peter 3:5 · Nehemiah 9:6

Genesis 1:2 Jeremiah 4:23 · Psalm 104:30 · Isaiah 45:18 · Psalm 33:6 · Job 26:7 · Isaiah 40:12–14 · Job 26:14

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.