Genesis 1 – Line 00020

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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 1:20

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם שֶׁרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה וְעוֹף יְעוֹפֵף עַל־הָאָרֶץ עַל־פְּנֵי רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vayomer Elohim yishretzu ha-mayim sheretz nefesh chayyah ve-‘of ye‘ofef al-ha-aretz al-penei reqia ha-shamayim

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: וַיֹּאמֶר

Transliteration: vayomer

Root: אמר (amar)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

to say

to speak

to command

to declare

WORD 2

Original: אֱלֹהִים

Transliteration: Elohim

Root: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Plural in form, singular in function

Lexical Range:

God

gods

divine beings

rulers, judges

WORD 3

Original: יִשְׁרְצוּ

Transliteration: yishretzu

Root: שָׁרַץ (sharatz)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammar: Qal imperfect, 3rd plural

Lexical Range:

to swarm

to teem

to abound

to multiply abundantly

WORD 4

Original: הַמַּיִם

Transliteration: ha-mayim

Root: מַיִם (mayim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Plural with definite article

Lexical Range:

waters

liquid bodies

seas, rivers

WORD 5

Original: שֶׁרֶץ

Transliteration: sheretz

Root: שֶׁרֶץ (sheretz)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

swarm

teeming thing

creeping thing

collective masses of small creatures

WORD 6

Original: נֶפֶשׁ

Transliteration: nefesh

Root: נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Feminine singular

Lexical Range:

soul

living being

life force

person, individual life

appetite, desire

WORD 7

Original: חַיָּה

Transliteration: chayyah

Root: חיה (chayah)

Part of Speech: Adjective functioning as Noun

Grammar: Feminine singular

Lexical Range:

living

alive

life-bearing

creature, animal

WORD 8

Original: וְעוֹף

Transliteration: ve-‘of

Root: עוֹף (‘of)

Part of Speech: Noun with conjunction

Grammar: Masculine singular collective

Lexical Range:

bird

flying creature

fowl

WORD 9

Original: יְעוֹפֵף

Transliteration: ye‘ofef

Root: עוּף (‘uf)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammar: Polel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular

Lexical Range:

to fly about

to flutter

to hover

to move with wings

WORD 10

Original: עַל־הָאָרֶץ

Transliteration: al-ha-aretz

Root: על (‘al) + ארץ (erets)

Part of Speech: Preposition + Noun

Grammar: Feminine singular with definite article

Lexical Range:

over the earth

upon the land

across the ground

WORD 11

Original: עַל־פְּנֵי

Transliteration: al-penei

Root: על (‘al) + פנים (panim)

Part of Speech: Preposition + Noun (construct plural)

Lexical Range:

upon the face of

over the surface of

WORD 12

Original: רְקִיעַ

Transliteration: reqia

Root: רקע (raqia)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

expanse

firmament

extended surface

WORD 13

Original: הַשָּׁמַיִם

Transliteration: ha-shamayim

Root: שָׁמַיִם (shamayim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Plural with definite article

Lexical Range:

heavens

skies

celestial realm

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

The verse contains two clauses: (1) waters swarming with living beings, (2) birds flying across the expanse.

The parallel verbs “yishretzu” (swarm) and “ye‘ofef” (fly about) emphasize abundance and activity.

“Al-penei reqia ha-shamayim” specifies the spatial domain of bird flight.

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

MT and DSS consistent.

LXX: “ἐξαγαγέτω τὰ ὕδατα ἑρπετὰ ψυχῶν ζώσης καὶ πετεινὰ πετόμενα ἐπάνω τῆς γῆς κατὰ τὸ στερέωμα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ” (“let the waters bring forth creeping things of living soul, and flying birds above the earth across the firmament of heaven”).

Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with MT.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

Introduces creation of living creatures, parallel to vegetation in vv.11–12.

First mention of “nefesh chayyah” (living soul/being), recurring in vv.21, 24, 30.

Prepares for fulfillment in v.21.

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.