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Read the first chapter of Genesis in the New International Version, which describes the creation of the heavens and the earth by God in six days. See the footnotes, resources and related passages for more context and understanding.
- In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, [1:2] the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
- Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. [2:2] And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.
- Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
- Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD." [4:2] Next she bore his brother Abel.
Learn about the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, which narrates the creation of the world, the history of humanity, and the origins of the Jewish people. Explore its composition, sources, themes, and significance in Judaism and Christianity.
- Summary of The Book of Genesis
- Title
- Background
- Author and Date of Writing
- Theological Theme and Message
- Literary Features
- Outlines
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This summary of the book of Genesis provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Genesis.
The first phrase in the Hebrew text of 1:1 is bereshith ("in [the] beginning"), which is also the Hebrew title of the book (books in ancient times customarily were named after their first word or two). The English title, Genesis, is Greek in origin and comes from the word geneseos, which appears in the pre-Christian Greek translation (Septuagint) o...
Chs. 1-38reflect a great deal of what we know from other sources about ancient Mesopotamian life and culture. Creation, genealogies, destructive floods, geography and mapmaking, construction techniques, migrations of peoples, sale and purchase of land, legal customs and procedures, sheepherding and cattle-raising -- all these subjects and many othe...
Historically, Jews and Christians alike have held that Moses was the author/compiler of the first five books of the OT. These books, known also as the Pentateuch (meaning "five-volumed book"), were referred to in Jewish tradition as the five fifths of the law (of Moses). The Bible itself suggests Mosaic authorship of Genesis, since Ac 15:1 refers t...
Genesis speaks of beginnings -- of the heavens and the earth, of light and darkness, of seas and skies, of land and vegetation, of sun and moon and stars, of sea and air and land animals, of human beings (made in God's own image, the climax of his creative activity), of marriage and family, of society and civilization, of sin and redemption. The li...
The message of a book is often enhanced by its literary structure and characteristics. Genesis is divided into ten main sections, each beginning with the word "account" (see 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1 -- repeated for emphasis at 36:9 -- and 37:2). The first five sections can be grouped together and, along with the introdu...
Literary Outline: 1. Introduction (1:1 -- 2:3) 2. Body (2:4 -- 50:26) 2.1. "The account of the heavens and the earth" (2:4 -- 4:26) 2.2. "The written account of Adam's line" (5:1 -- 6:8) 2.3. "The account of Noah" (6:9 -- 9:29) 2.4. "The account of Shem, Ham and Japheth" (10:1 -- 11:9) 2.5. "The account of Shem" (11:10-26) 2.6. "The account of Tera...
Learn about the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, which tells the story of creation, the patriarchs, and the nation of Israel. Find out its title, author, date, theme, outline, and chapters online.
Learn about the structure, themes, and key stories of the first book of the Bible. Explore how Genesis tells the story of God's creation, humanity's rebellion, and God's promise to rescue and restore.
- The 7 days of creation are significant because the Hebrew word for “seven” (sheba/שבע) communicates a sense of “fullness,” “completeness,” or “whol...
- The biblical authors locate the garden of Eden “in the east” (Gen. 2:8), and we are told that a river flows down from it and branches off into four...
- God’s name in Genesis is Yahweh. “Yahweh” is the ancient Hebrew form of the verb “he will be.” And this name appears over 6,500 times in the Old Te...
- The word “genesis” means “to be born,” and the biblical book of Genesis is originally titled Bereshit (בראשית) in the Bible. “Bereshit” is the firs...
- Genesis 1 tells us that the God of the Bible is a powerful and wise creator of the world who brings order and goodness into existence. Genesis 1 de...
- Genesis is an important book because it establishes God as the creator of all things and sets up the story of God, his people, and his ultimate pur...
- There is not one most significant story in the book of Genesis, as the book contains many important stories that contribute to the overall narrativ...
- The name "Jesus" is not mentioned in Genesis (or in the entire Hebrew Bible/Old Testament). However, in Genesis 3:15, God promises that one day a h...
- The book of Genesis concludes with Joseph speaking to his brothers before he dies, telling them that he has forgiven them for their previous harm t...
- You are more than welcome to start reading the Bible in any book! You can read about Jesus in the Gospels, read poetry in the Psalms, and read epic...
Genesis 1. The Creation (John 1:1–5; Hebrews 11:1–3) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. The First Day.
Read the first chapter of Genesis, the book of the Bible that tells the story of creation and the beginning of humanity. See how God spoke the world into existence and made mankind in his image.
