Genesis 1 – Line 00027

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 1:27

וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אֹתוֹ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אֹתָם

2. DIRECT TRANSLITERATION

vayivra Elohim et-ha-adam be-tsalmo be-tselem Elohim bara oto zakhar u-nekevah bara otam

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 bring into existence (divine activity uniquely)

WORD 2

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 3

Original: אֶת־הָאָדָם

Transliteration: et-ha-adam

Root: אָדָם (adam)

Part of Speech: Noun with object marker

Grammar: Masculine singular with definite article

Lexical Range:

the human

man, person

humankind, mankind

WORD 4

Original: בְּצַלְמוֹ

Transliteration: be-tsalmo

Root: צֶלֶם (tselem)

Part of Speech: Noun with suffix

Grammar: Construct form with 3rd masculine singular suffix, prefixed בְּ

Lexical Range:

image

likeness

statue, idol

representation

form, resemblance

WORD 5

Original: בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים

Transliteration: be-tselem Elohim

Root: צֶלֶם (tselem) + אֱלֹהִים (Elohim)

Part of Speech: Construct phrase

Grammar: Noun construct + proper noun

Lexical Range:

in the image of God

in divine likeness, representation

WORD 6

Original: בָּרָא

Transliteration: bara

Root: ברא (bara’)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammar: Qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular

Lexical Range:

he created

he brought forth

he shaped into existence

WORD 7

Original: אֹתוֹ

Transliteration: oto

Root: —

Part of Speech: Pronoun (object suffix)

Grammar: 3rd person masculine singular object

Lexical Range:

him

that one

WORD 8

Original: זָכָר

Transliteration: zakhar

Root: זָכָר (zakhar)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Masculine singular

Lexical Range:

male

man as opposite of woman

masculine being

WORD 9

Original: וּנְקֵבָה

Transliteration: u-nekevah

Root: נְקֵבָה (neqevah)

Part of Speech: Noun

Grammar: Feminine singular with prefixed conjunction וְ

Lexical Range:

female

woman

feminine being

WORD 10

Original: בָּרָא

Transliteration: bara

Root: ברא (bara’)

Part of Speech: Verb

Grammar: Qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular

Lexical Range:

he created

he shaped

he brought forth

WORD 11

Original: אֹתָם

Transliteration: otam

Root: —

Part of Speech: Pronoun (object suffix)

Grammar: 3rd person masculine plural object

Lexical Range:

them

4. STRUCTURAL NOTES

This verse is poetic in form, with three parallel cola:

“God created the human in his image.”

“In the image of God he created him.”

“Male and female he created them.”

Repetition of ברא (bara’) emphasizes divine creative act.

Singular “oto” and plural “otam” highlight humanity as both unified and diverse.

Male and female together constitute the fullness of “adam.”

5. VARIANT MANUSCRIPT NOTES

MT and DSS align.

Septuagint: “καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον· κατ’ εἰκόνα θεοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτόν· ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς” (“and God made man; according to the image of God he made him; male and female he made them”).

Samaritan Pentateuch matches MT.

6. STRUCTURAL CONNECTION TO OTHER LINES

Fulfills the deliberative “let us make” of v.26.

Establishes humanity as uniquely bearing God’s image.

Prepares for v.28 (blessing and mandate).

Literary parallel with Genesis 5:1–2.

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.