Genesis 1 – Line 00002

LINE SOURCE FILE

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FILE TAGS

[LINE ID]: 00002

[BOOK]: Genesis

[CHAPTER]: 1

[VERSE]: 2

[FILE TYPE]: Line Source

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 1:2

וְהָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵי תְהוֹם וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

ve-hayetah ha-aretz tohu va-vohu ve-choshekh al-penei tehom ve-ruach Elohim merachefet al-penei ha-mayim

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: וְהָיְתָה

Transliteration: ve-hayetah

Lexical Root: היה (hayah)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Qal, Perfect, 3rd person feminine singular

Lexical Range

to be
to become
to exist

Notable Observations

Functions as a narrative continuation, often translated “was” or “became”

WORD 2

Original: הָאָרֶץ

Transliteration: ha-aretz

Lexical Root: ארץ (erets)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Feminine singular, with definite article

Lexical Range

earth
land
ground

WORD 3

Original: תֹהוּ

Translation: tohu

Lexical Root: תֹּהוּ (tohu)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range

formlessness
confusion
unreality

Notable Observations

Often paired with "bohu" in descriptions of desolation

WORD 4

Original: וָבֹהוּ

Transliteration: va-vohu

Lexical Root: בֹּהוּ (bohu)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range

void
emptiness
waste

WORD 5

Original: וְחֹשֶׁךְ

Transliteration: ve-choshekh

Lexical Root: חֹשֶׁךְ (choshekh)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Masculine singular

Lexical Range

darkness
obscurity
absence of light

WORD 6

Original: עַל־פְּנֵי

Transliteration: al-penei

Lexical Root: על + פנים (al + panim)

Part of Speech: Preposition + Noun

Grammatical Info: Construct form

Lexical Range

upon the surface of
facing
presence

WORD 7

Original: תְהוֹם

Transliteration: tehom

Lexical Root: תְּהוֹם (tehom)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Feminine singular

Lexical Range

deep
abyss
primeval ocean

WORD 8

Original: וְרוּחַ

Transliteration: ve-ruach

Lexical Root: רוּחַ (ruach)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Feminine singular

Lexical Range

spirit
wind
breath

WORD 9

Original: אֱלֹהִים

Transliteration: Elohim

Lexical Root: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Plural form, used with singular verb (grammatically singular)

Lexical Range

God
gods
divine beings

Notable Observations

Plural form used with singular grammar, often denotes majesty or authority

WORD 10

Original: מְרַחֶפֶת

Transliteration: merachefet

Lexical Root: רָחַף (rachaf)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammatical Info: Piel participle, feminine singular

Lexical Range

to hover
to flutter
to move gently

WORD 11

Original: עַל־פְּנֵי

Transliteration: al-penei

Lexical Root: על + פנים (al + panim)

Part of Speech: Preposition + Noun

Grammatical Info: Construct form

Lexical Range

upon the surface of
facing
presence

WORD 12

Original: הַמָּיִם

Transliteration: ha-mayim

Lexical Root: מַיִם (mayim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammatical Info: Plural, with definite article

Lexical Range

waters
fluid masses

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

The line opens with a verbal clause indicating state (“was”), followed by a verbless clause of description.
The Spirit of God phrase uses a participial construction (“was hovering”) with feminine agreement.
Chiastic echoes appear in the two “al-penei” structures.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

Some scholars note subtle vowel differences in the Qumran scrolls, but no significant variant shifts are present in this line.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

“Tohu va-vohu” appears again in Isaiah 34:11 and Jeremiah 4:23
Echoes of “Spirit over the waters” reappear in Psalm 104:6-7 and Job 26:13

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.

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