Genesis 1 – Line 00015

LINE SOURCE FILE

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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 1:15

וְהָיוּ לִמְאֹרוֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם לְהָאִיר עַל־הָאָרֶץ וַיְהִי־כֵן

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vehayu li-me’orot birqia ha-shamayim le-ha’ir al-ha-aretz vayhi-ken

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: וְהָיוּ

Transliteration: vehayu

Root: היה (hayah)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammar: Qal perfect, 3rd person plural, with prefixed וְ (vav-consecutive)

Lexical Range:

and they were

and they came into being

and they became

WORD 2

Original: לִמְאֹרוֹת

Transliteration: li-me’orot

Root: מָאוֹר (ma’or)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Masculine plural with prefixed לְ (“for, as, to”)

Lexical Range:

luminaries

lights, sources of light

shining objects

WORD 3

Original: בִּרְקִיעַ

Transliteration: birqia

Root: רקע (raqia)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Masculine singular with prefixed בְּ (“in”)

Lexical Range:

expanse

firmament

extended surface

sky dome

WORD 4

Original: הַשָּׁמַיִם

Transliteration: ha-shamayim

Root: שָׁמַיִם (shamayim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Plural with definite article

Lexical Range:

heavens

skies

celestial realm

WORD 5

Original: לְהָאִיר

Transliteration: le-ha’ir

Root: אוֹר (or)

Part of Speech: Verb (Infinitive Construct, Hiphil)

Lexical Range:

to give light

to shine upon

to illuminate

WORD 6

Original: עַל־הָאָרֶץ

Transliteration: al-ha-aretz

Root: על (‘al) + ארץ (erets)

Part of Speech: Preposition + Noun

Grammar: Construct with definite article

Lexical Range:

upon the earth

over the land

on the ground

WORD 7

Original: וַיְהִי־כֵן

Transliteration: vayhi-ken

Root: היה (hayah) + כֵּן (ken)

Part of Speech: Verb + Adverb

Grammar: Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular with vav-consecutive + adverb

Lexical Range:

and it was so

and thus it came to be

and it happened accordingly

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

This verse continues the command from v.14 with purpose (“to give light upon the earth”).

It employs an infinitive construct (“le-ha’ir”) to express the function of the luminaries.

The closing “vayhi-ken” is the standard fulfillment marker in Genesis 1.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

MT and DSS are consistent.

Septuagint: “καὶ ἔστωσαν εἰς φωστῆρας… τοῦ φαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς” (“and let them be for lights… to shine upon the earth”), closely paralleling Hebrew structure.

Samaritan Pentateuch aligns with MT wording.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

Builds on v.14’s introduction of luminaries and anticipates their making in v.16.

Function of illumination echoes Genesis 1:3–4 (light vs. darkness).

“Vayhi-ken” refrain appears in vv.7, 9, 11, 24, serving as divine confirmation.

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.