Genesis 1 – Line 00001

LINE SOURCE FILE

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE

This isn’t a lesson. It’s a space. Come as you are. Let the line speak to you.

FILE TAGS

INTRO

This file shows what the earliest Hebrew/Greek manuscripts say, word by word, before any interpretation.

PREFACE

This file presents the earliest traceable form of this line, drawn primarily from manuscript sources like the Leningrad Codex.

Where other manuscript witnesses differ or offer meaningful variation (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Samaritan Pentateuch), we remain watchful and will note those cases transparently when identified.

Every word is shown with its full lexical range; without smoothing, interpretation, or insertion.

This is not a translation or conclusion. It is a transparent starting point, open to personal encounter and divine resonance.

We do not treat any human source as final; only as visible reference points for deeper unfolding.

While we strive for care and clarity, any oversight or omission is unintentional, and all work remains open to refinement as understanding grows.

1. ORIGINAL LINE TEXT

Language: Hebrew

Manuscript Source: Leningrad Codex

Line Reference: Genesis 1:1

• בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

• bereshit bara elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: בְּרֵאשִׁית

Transliteration: bereshit

Lexical Root: ראשׁ (rosh)

Part of Speech: Noun (construct form)

Grammatical Info: Feminine Singular Construct

Lexical Range:; beginning, starting point; first in time or rank; initial state or stage

Notable Observations:; Lacks the definite article “the,” indicating “in a beginning” may be a more literal reading.

WORD 2

Original: בָּרָא

Transliteration: bara

Lexical Root: ברא (bara)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Qal Perfect 3rd Person Masculine Singular

Lexical Range:; to create, shape, bring into being; often with divine subject; rarely used outside of divine context

Notable Observations:; Exclusively used for God's creative acts in Tanakh.

WORD 3

Original: אֱלֹהִים

Transliteration: elohim

Lexical Root: אלה (eloah)

Part of Speech: Noun (plural in form, singular in use)

Grammatical Info: Masculine Plural (used as singular)

Lexical Range:; God; gods, divine beings; rulers, judges

Notable Observations:; Despite plural form, verb agreement is singular, indicating monotheistic reading.

WORD 4

Original: אֵת

Transliteration: et

Lexical Root: (none; grammatical particle)

Part of Speech: Direct object marker

Grammatical Info: Not applicable

Lexical Range:; marks the definite direct object; has no English equivalent

WORD 5

Original: הַשָּׁמַיִם

Transliteration: hashamayim

Lexical Root: שׁמים (shamayim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine Plural with definite article

Lexical Range:; heavens, sky, upper realms; cosmic space, spiritual dimension; atmosphere or firmament

WORD 6

Original: וְאֵת

Transliteration: ve’et

Lexical Root: ו (ve) + אֵת

Part of Speech: Conjunction + Direct Object Marker

Grammatical Info: Not applicable

Lexical Range:; “and” (ve) joining another direct object

WORD 7

Original: הָאָרֶץ

Transliteration: ha’aretz

Lexical Root: ארץ (eretz)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Feminine Singular with definite article

Lexical Range:; earth, land; ground, territory; planet or region

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

• The sentence begins with a temporal phrase (“in a beginning”) followed by a subject-verb-object sequence.
• "Elohim" as plural in form but singular in usage is a recurring linguistic feature in early Hebrew.
• The object is a compound phrase: “the heavens and the earth,” marked by twin uses of אֵת.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

• No significant textual variants in major manuscript traditions for this line.
• Consistent across Leningrad Codex, Aleppo Codex (fragmentary), and Masoretic tradition.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

• “בָּרָא” reappears in Genesis 1:21 and 1:27 as a marker of divine action, forming a structural trilogy.

7. CAUTIONARY REMINDER

The content above does not represent a translation.

No conclusions, smoothing, or interpretive decisions have been made.

This file serves only to display the original structure and lexical range as transparently as possible.