Genesis 1 – Line 00021

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 1:21

וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הַתַּנִּינִם הַגְּדֹלִים וְאֵת כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ הַחַיָּה הָרֹמֶשֶׂת אֲשֶׁר שָׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם לְמִינֵהֶם וְאֵת כָּל־עוֹף כָּנָף לְמִינֵהוּ וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי־טוֹב

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vayivra Elohim et-ha-tanninim ha-gedolim ve-et kol-nefesh ha-chayyah ha-romeshes asher shar’tzu ha-mayim le-minehem ve-et kol-‘of kanaph le-minehu vayyar Elohim ki-tov

3. WORD-BY-WORD LEXICAL BREAKDOWN

WORD 1

Original: וַיִּבְרָא

Transliteration: vayivra

Root: ברא (bara’)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

to create

to shape

to form

to bring into existence (used exclusively of divine activity in Hebrew Bible)

WORD 2

Original: אֱלֹהִים

Transliteration: Elohim

Root: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Plural in form, singular in grammar here

Lexical Range:

God

gods

divine beings

rulers, judges

WORD 3

Original: אֶת־

Transliteration: et

Part of Speech: Particle

Grammar: Direct object marker

Lexical Range:

marks the definite direct object (no translation equivalent)

WORD 4

Original: הַתַּנִּינִם

Transliteration: ha-tanninim

Root: תַּנִּין (tannin)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Masculine plural with definite article

Lexical Range:

great sea creatures

sea monsters

serpents

dragons

large aquatic beings

WORD 5

Original: הַגְּדֹלִים

Transliteration: ha-gedolim

Root: גָּדוֹל (gadol)

Part of Speech: Adjective

Grammar: Masculine plural with definite article

Lexical Range:

great

large

mighty

important

WORD 6

Original: וְאֵת

Transliteration: ve-et

Part of Speech: Particle with conjunction

Grammar: Direct object marker + prefixed וְ

Lexical Range:

and [object marker]

WORD 7

Original: כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ

Transliteration: kol-nefesh

Root: נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh)

Part of Speech: Noun in construct with כָּל (“all”)

Grammar: Feminine singular in construct

Lexical Range:

every living being

soul, life force

person, self, creature

WORD 8

Original: הַחַיָּה

Transliteration: ha-chayyah

Root: חיה (chayah)

Part of Speech: Adjective functioning as Noun

Grammar: Feminine singular with article

Lexical Range:

living

alive

animate creature

WORD 9

Original: הָרֹמֶשֶׂת

Transliteration: ha-romeshes

Root: רָמַשׂ (ramas)

Part of Speech: Verb (Participle, Qal, feminine singular) used substantively

Lexical Range:

creeping

moving lightly

crawling

swarming

WORD 10

Original: אֲשֶׁר

Transliteration: asher

Part of Speech: Relative pronoun

Lexical Range:

which

that

who

WORD 11

Original: שָׁרְצוּ

Transliteration: shar’tzu

Root: שָׁרַץ (sharatz)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammar: Qal perfect, 3rd plural

Lexical Range:

they swarmed

they teemed

they abounded

WORD 12

Original: הַמַּיִם

Transliteration: ha-mayim

Root: מַיִם (mayim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Plural with definite article

Lexical Range:

waters

seas, rivers

liquid masses

WORD 13

Original: לְמִינֵהֶם

Transliteration: le-minehem

Root: מִין (min)

Part of Speech: Noun construct with suffix

Grammar: Masculine plural construct + 3rd masculine plural suffix

Lexical Range:

according to their kinds

species, classifications

WORD 14

Original: וְאֵת כָּל־עוֹף כָּנָף

Transliteration: ve-et kol-‘of kanaph

Root: עוֹף (‘of) + כָּנָף (kanaph)

Part of Speech: Noun construct phrase

Grammar: Collective singular in construct with “wing”

Lexical Range:

every winged bird

every flying creature of wing

WORD 15

Original: לְמִינֵהוּ

Transliteration: le-minehu

Root: מִין (min)

Part of Speech: Noun construct with suffix

Grammar: Masculine singular construct + 3rd masculine singular suffix

Lexical Range:

according to its kind

WORD 16

Original: וַיַּרְא

Transliteration: vayyar

Root: רָאָה (ra’ah)

Part of Speech: Verb

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

Lexical Range:

to see

to observe

to look upon

to perceive

WORD 17

Original: אֱלֹהִים

Transliteration: Elohim

Root: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Plural in form, singular in grammar

Lexical Range:

God

gods

divine beings

rulers, judges

WORD 18

Original: כִּי־טוֹב

Transliteration: ki-tov

Root: כִּי (ki) + טוֹב (tov)

Part of Speech: Conjunction + Adjective

Lexical Range:

that it was good

because good

indeed good

Lexical Range of טוֹב (tov):

good

pleasant

desirable

beneficial

morally right

valuable

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

The verse has three creative objects: great sea creatures, swarming living beings of the waters, and winged birds.

“Bara” (create) is the central verb, distinct from “asah” (make), often marking divine creation.

Each group is described “le-min” (according to kind), reinforcing order and distinction.

Closes with divine evaluation “ki-tov.”

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

MT and DSS consistent.

LXX: “καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὰ κήτη τὰ μεγάλα” (“and God made the great sea creatures”), using ποιέω (to make) instead of “create” (bara’).

Samaritan Pentateuch follows MT.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

Fulfillment of the command in v.20.

First use of “bara” since v.1, highlighting importance of living creatures.

Connects with vv.24–25 (land creatures) and anticipates vv.26–27 (humanity, also created with “bara”).

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.