Genesis 1:2-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 1:2

Chaos an emblem of the unrenewed soul. I. WITHOUT ORDER : existing in a state of spiritual ruin, and requiting a special process of rearrangement to evolve symmetry and beauty from its confusion ( 2 Corinthians 5:16 ). II. WITHOUT LIFE : being dead in trespasses and sins ( Ephesians 2:1 ); absolutely "void" in the sense of being untenanted by lofty thoughts, pure emotions, holy volitions, spiritual imaginations, such as are the inmates of sinless and, in great part also, of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 1:2

- II. The Landהיה hāyah, “be.” It is to be noted, however, that the word has three meanings, two of which now scarcely belong to our English “be.”1. “Be, as an event, start into being, begin to be, come to pass.” This may be understood of a thing beginning to be, אור יהי yehiy 'ôr, “be light” Genesis 1:3; or of an event taking place, ימים מקץ ויהי vayehı̂y mı̂qēts yāmı̂ym, “and it came to pass from the end of days.”2. “Be,” as a change of state, “become.” This is applied to what had a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 1:3-5

- III. The First Day3. אמר 'āmar, “say, bid.” After this verb comes the thing said in the words of the speaker, or an equivalent expression. In this respect it corresponds with our English “say.”אור 'ôr, “light.” Light is simply what makes a sensible impression on the organs of vision. It belongs to a class of things which occasionally produce the same effect.ויאמר vayo'mer “then said.” Here we have come to the narrative or the record of a series of events. The conjunction is prefixed to the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 1:2

Genesis 1:2. The earth When first called into existence, was without form and void: confusion and emptiness, as the same original words are rendered, Isaiah 34:11. It was without order, beauty, or even use, in its present state, and was surrounded on all sides with thick darkness, through the gloom of which there was not one ray of light to penetrate not even so much as to render the darkness visible. The Spirit of God moved, &c. To cherish, quicken, and dispose them to the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 1:3

Genesis 1:3. God said Not by an articulate voice; for to whom should he speak? but in his own eternal mind. He willed that the effect here mentioned should be produced, and it was produced. This act of his almighty will is termed, Hebrews 1:3, the word of his power. Perhaps, however, his substantial Word, his Son, by whom he made the worlds, Hebrews 1:2, and Psalms 33:6; Psalms 33:9, is here intended, and whom the ancient fathers of the Christian Church thought to be termed the Word,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 1:1-31

THE STORY OF CREATIONThe Bible and scienceModern science has revealed so much about the wonders and the size of the physical universe that human beings may seem almost to be nothing. The Bible takes a different view. Human beings are its main concern, for they alone are made in God’s image. The story of creation is but an introduction to the story of God’s dealings with the human race. The Bible demonstrates this order of importance from the outset by fitting the story of creation into a mere... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 1:2

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), by which, in the 34 verses of this Introduction, each one of 102 separate acts are emphasized; and the important word "God" in Genesis 1:1 is carried like a lamp through the whole of this Introduction (Genesis 1:1 Genesis 2:3 ). the earth. Figure of speech Anadiplosis. See App-6 . was = became. See Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 4:3 ; Genesis 9:15 ; Genesis 19:26 . Exodus 32:1 . Deu 27:9 . 2 Samuel 7:24 , &c. Also rendered came to pass... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 1:3

God said (occurs 10 times in Introduction). This begins each day: 3rd day twice; 6th day four times. The second act is also of God (1 Peter 1:23-25 ). App-5 . be light = become light (as in Genesis 1:2 ), not the verb "to be". Light not located till 4th day. was = became, as in Genesis 1:2 . It is even so in the New Creation: His Word enters and gives light (Psalms 119:130 . 2 Corinthians 4:6 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 1:2

"And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the waters: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.""And the earth was waste and void ..." This refers to the state of the earth in the first phase of its creation, and it is also an apt description of the other planets as they are observed to continue in our solar system to the present time. Mars, Venus, Mercury, etc. are still waste and void. It is not necessary to postulate billions of years between Genesis... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 1:3

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.""And God said ..." The language here indicates that the stupendous acts of Creation were performed by fiat. God spoke the word, and it was done. Could any process of creating light gradually even be imagined? Any chain of events leading to the development of light is inconceivable, the very thought of such a thing being rejected by the intelligence. Primeval darkness demands just the fiat revealed in this verse as the only possible... read more

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