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parallelVerse INTGENEXOLEVNUMDEUJOSJDGRUTH1SA2SAPSAAMOSHOS1KI2KI1CH2CHPROECCSNGJOELMICISAZEPHABJERLAMYNANAHOBADANEZEEZRAESTNEHHAGZECMALJOBYHNMARKMATLUKEACTsYACGAL1TH2TH1COR2CORROMCOLPHMEPHPHP1TIMTIT1PET2PET2TIMHEBYUD1YHN2YHN3YHNREV

Gen IntroC1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16C17C18C19C20C21C22C23C24C25C26C27C28C29C30C31C32C33C34C35C36C37C38C39C40C41C42C43C44C45C46C47C48C49C50

Gen 1 V1V3V4V5V6V7V8V9V10V11V12V13V14V15V16V17V18V19V20V21V22V23V24V25V26V27V28V29V30V31

Parallel GEN 1:2

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

BI Gen 1:2 ©

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clearImportance=vital(All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV)The earth was formless and empty and darkness covered the surface of the depth waters and God’s spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

OET-LVAnd_the_earth it_was formlessness and_emptiness and_darkness [was]_over the_surface of_the_deep and_spirit of_god [was]_hovering over the_surface the_waters.

UHBוְ⁠הָ⁠אָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֨הוּ֙ וָ⁠בֹ֔הוּ וְ⁠חֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְ⁠ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַ⁠מָּֽיִם׃
   (və⁠hā⁠ʼāreʦ hāyətāh tohū vā⁠ⱱohū və⁠ḩoshek ˊal-pənēy təhōm və⁠rūaḩ ʼₑlohim məraḩefet ˊal-pənēy ha⁠mmāyim.)

Key: khaki:verbs, blue:Elohim.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXXἩ δὲ γῆ ἦν ἀόρατος καὶ ἀκατασκεύαστος, καὶ σκότος ἐπάνω τῆς ἀβύσσου· καὶ πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἐπεφέρετο ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος.
   (Haʸ de gaʸ aʸn aoratos kai akataskeuastos, kai skotos epanō taʸs abussou; kai pneuma Theou epefereto epanō tou hudatos. )

BrTrBut the earth was unsightly and unfurnished, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the water.

NETS Yet the earth was invisible and unformed, and darkness was over the abyss, and a divine wind was being carried along over the water.

ULTNow the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep waters, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

USTAt first after that, the earth did not have its present form, and there was nothing living on it. It was totally dark, there was deep water everywhere, and God’s Spirit was moving above the water.

BSB  § 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.


OEBthe earth was still unformed and chaotic,
 ⇔ with darkness on the surface of the abyss,
 ⇔ and the spirit of God hovering over the waters.

CSB Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

NLT The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

NIV Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

CEV The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.

ESV The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

NASB The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

LSB And 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.

WEBBEThe earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG(1-2)First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.

NETNow the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.

LSVand the earth was formless and void, and darkness [was] on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God [was] fluttering on the face of the waters,

FBVThe earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the surface of the deep. The Spirit of God moved over the surface of the waters.

T4TWhen he began to create the earth, it was shapeless and completely desolate/chaotic. Darkness covered the deep water that surrounded the earth. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the water.

LEBNow[fn] the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.


1:2 Or “And”

NRSV 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.

NKJV The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

NAB and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters—

BBEAnd the earth was waste and without form; and it was dark on the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God was moving on the face of the waters.

MoffNo Moff GEN book available

JPSNow the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.

ASVAnd the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

DRAAnd the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.

YLTthe earth hath existed waste and void, and darkness [is] on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God fluttering on the face of the waters,

DrbyAnd the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of [fn]God was hovering over the face of the waters.


1.2 Elohim

RVAnd the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

WbstrAnd the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

KJB-1769And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

KJB-1611And the earth was without forme, and voyd, and darkenesse was vpon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the face of the waters.
   (And the earth was without form, and voyd, and darkness was upon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.)

BshpsAnd the earth was without fourme, and was voyde: & darknes was vpon the face of the deepe, and the spirite of God moued vpon the face of the waters.
   (And the earth was without form, and was void: and darknes was upon the face of the deepe, and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.)

GnvaAnd the earth was without forme and void, and darkenesse was vpon the deepe, and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the waters.
   (And the earth was without forme and void, and darkness was upon the deepe, and the Spirit of God moved upon the waters. )

Cvdland ye earth was voyde and emptie, and darcknes was vpon the depe, & ye sprete of God moued vpo the water.
   (and ye/you_all earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the depe, and ye/you_all spirit of God moved upo the water.)

WycForsothe the erthe was idel and voide, and derknessis weren on the face of depthe; and the Spiryt of the Lord was borun on the watris.
   (Forsothe the earth was idle and void, and darkness were on the face of depthe; and the Spirit of the Lord was born on the waters.)

LuthUnd die Erde war wüst und leer, und es war finster auf der Tiefe; und der Geist Gottes schwebete auf dem Wasser.
   (And the earth what/which wild and empty, and it what/which dark on the/of_the Tiefe; and the/of_the spirit God’s floated on to_him water.)

ClVgTerra autem erat inanis et vacua, et tenebræ erant super faciem abyssi: et spiritus Dei ferebatur super aquas.[fn]
   (Terra however was inanis and vacua, and tenebræ they_were over face abyssi: and spiritus of_God ferebatur over waters. )


1.2 Terra autem erat inanis, etc. BEDA, Hexæm. tom. 2 Quod vel quale cœlum in principio cum terra factum est, ostendit. Hoc enim de terra subdit, quod de cœlo intelligi noluit. Hoc enim superius cœlum quod a volubilitate mundi secretum est, mox ut creatum est, sanctis angelis est impletum: quos in principio cum cœlo et terra conditos testatur Dominus dicens Job 38: Ubi eras cum me laudarent astra matutina, et jubilarent omnes filii Dei? Astra matutina eosdem angelos et filios Dei vocat. De cœlo enim in quo posita sunt luminaria, quomodo vel quando factum sit postea dicit. STRAB. Inanis et vacua. Inutilis scilicet, et infructuosa, et incomposita. Omnia enim elementa commixta, confusa, et totum hoc æris spatium aquis plenum; non quales nunc sunt, sed sicut nebulæ tenues erant, quales adhuc supercœlestes sunt. BEDA ubi supra. Tenebræ erant, etc. Non sunt audiendi qui reprehendendo dicunt Deum prius creasse tenebras quam lucem: quia nullas in aqua, vel ære fecit tenebras; sed distincto ordine providentiæ prius aquas cum cœlo creavit, et terra, et has cum voluit lucis gratia venustavit. Et notandum quod cum cœlo duo elementa mundi creata sunt, quibus alia duo inserta sunt, aqua, scilicet, et terra, quibus insunt ignis et ær. Aquæ autem totam superficiem terræ tanta altitudine tegebant, ut ad illos usque locos pertingerent, ubi nunc usque super firmamentum partim resident. Ipsa autem terra et aqua informis dicuntur materia, quia omnia quæ videmus, vel ex istis sumpserunt exordium, vel ex nihilo: et priusquam in lucem venirent, non erat unde formam haberent. Et Spiritus Domini ferebatur super aquas. AUG., lib. I de Gen. ad lit., c. 5, tom. 3 Sive totam corporalem materiam aquam appellavit, ut insinuaret unde facta et formata sunt omnia quæ ex humida natura per species varias in terra formari videmus; sive spiritualem vitam ante conversionis formam quasi fluitantem. Spiritus Dei superferebatur, quia subjacebat bonæ voluntati Creatoris, quod formandum et perficiendum inchoaverat. Dictum est etiam Spiritus Domini ferebatur super aquas. Ne faciendo opera potius per necessitatem indigentiæ quam per abundantiam beneficentiæ Deus amare putaretur. Commode enim prius insinuatur aliquid inchoatum, cui superferretur: non loco, sed omnia superante potentia. Et Spiritus Domini ferebatur, etc. HIERON. in Gen. t. 3, col. 939 In Hebræo habet merahephet, id est, incubabat, vel fovebat, more volucris ova calore animantis. Intelligimus ergo non de spiritu mundi dici, ut putant multi; sed de Spiritu sancto, qui et ipse est omnium vivificator: si autem vivificator, et conditor; si conditor, et Deus. Psal. CIII: Emitte, ait, Spiritum tuum et creabuntur. Et Spiritus, etc. In quo subsistentes requiesceremus flatu ejus vivificati, et unda baptismi abluti. Et Spiritus Domini ferebatur super aquas, etc. Sicut Deus, scilicet et conditor, præerat fluitanti et confusæ materiei, ut distingueret quando vellet. Tota ergo Trinitas hic operata intelligitur, Deus, Pater scilicet; principium, Filius; Spiritus Dei, Spiritus sanctus. Et Spiritus, etc. ISID., in Gen.? Corda scilicet fluctuantia, quæ mentis quietem amiserant, quia eis spiritus non innitebatur, sed superferebatur: quasi potens naturam a confusione in melius revocare. Deinde per totum hujus Scripturæ textum sex quasdam operosas ætates videmus, licet quasi proximis limitibus distinctas, ut in septima quies speretur; et eas habere similitudinem sex dierum, quibus ea facta sunt, quæ Deum fecisse Scriptura commemorat. Primordium enim generis humani, quo ista luce frui cœpit, comparatur primo diei quo lucem Deus fecit. Hæc ætas tanquam infantia est totius sæculi, quod tanquam unum hominem proportione magnitudinis suæ cogitamus. Homo enim cum primo nascitur in lucem, infantiam agit primam ætatem, quæ tendit ab Adam usque ad Nœ generationibus decem: diluvium quasi vespera hujus diei est, quia infantia nostra oblivionis diluvio deletur.


1.2 Terra however was inanis, etc. BEDA, Hexæm. tom. 2 That or quale cœlum in at_the_beginning when/with earth/land done it_is, ostendit. This because about earth/land subdit, that about cœlo intelligi noluit. This because superius cœlum that from volubilitate mundi secretum it_is, mox as creatum it_is, sanctis angelis it_is impletum: which in at_the_beginning when/with cœlo and earth/land conditos testatur Master saying Yob 38: Where eras when/with me laudarent astra matutina, and yubilarent everyone children of_God? Astra matutina themdem angelos and filios of_God vocat. De cœlo because in quo posita are luminaria, how or when done let_it_be postea dicit. STRAB. Inanis and vacua. Inutilis scilicet, and infructuosa, and incomposita. Everything because elementa commixta, confusa, and totum this æris spatium awho/any plenum; not/no quales now are, but like nebulæ tenues erant, quales adhuc supercœlestes are. BEDA where supra. Tenebræ erant, etc. Non are audiendi who reprehendendo dicunt God first/before creasse tenebras how lucem: because nullas in water, or ære he_did tenebras; but distincto ordine providentiæ first/before waters when/with cœlo creavit, and terra, and has when/with voluit lucis gratia venustavit. And notandum that when/with cœlo two elementa mundi creata are, to_whom other two inserta are, water, scilicet, and terra, to_whom insunt ignis and ær. Awhich however totam superficiem terræ tanta altitudine tegebant, as to those until locos pertingerent, where now until over firmamentum partim resident. Ipsa however earth/land and water informis dicuntur materia, because everything which videmus, or from istis sumpserunt exordium, or from nihilo: and first/beforequam in the_light venirent, not/no was whence formam haberent. And Spiritus Master ferebatur over waters. AUG., lib. I about Gen. to lit., c. 5, tom. 3 Sive totam corporalem materiam waterm appellavit, as insinuaret whence facts and formata are everything which from humida natura through species varias in earth/land formari videmus; if/or spiritualem life before conversionis formam as_if fluitantem. Spiritus of_God superferebatur, because subyacebat bonæ voluntati Creatoris, that formandum and perficiendum inchoaverat. Dictum it_is also Spiritus Master ferebatur over waters. Ne faciendo opera rather through necessitatem indigentiæ how through abundantiam beneficentiæ God amare putaretur. Commode because first/before insinuatur aliquid inchoatum, cui superferretur: not/no loco, but everything superante potentia. And Spiritus Master ferebatur, etc. HIERON. in Gen. t. 3, col. 939 In Hebræo habet merahephet, id it_is, incubabat, or fovebat, more volucris ova calore animantis. Intelligimus therefore not/no about spiritu mundi dici, as putant multi; but about Spiritu sancto, who and exactly_that/himself it_is omnium vivificator: when/but_if however vivificator, and conditor; when/but_if conditor, and God. Psal. CIII: Emitte, ait, Spiritum your and creabuntur. And Spiritus, etc. In quo subsistentes requiesceremus flatu his vivificati, and unda baptismi abluti. And Spiritus Master ferebatur over waters, etc. Sicut God, scilicet and conditor, præerat fluitanti and confusæ materiei, as distingueret when vellet. Tota therefore Trinitas this operata intelligitur, God, Pater scilicet; principium, Son; Spiritus of_God, Spiritus sanctus. And Spiritus, etc. ISID., in Gen.? Corda scilicet fluctuantia, which mentis quietem amiserant, because to_them spiritus not/no innitebatur, but superferebatur: as_if powerful naturam from confusione in melius revocare. of_Godnde through totum huyus Scripturæ textum sex quasdam operosas ætates videmus, licet as_if proximis limitibus distinctas, as in septima quies speretur; and eas habere similitudinem sex dierum, to_whom ea facts are, which God fecisse Scriptura commemorat. Primordium because generis humani, quo ista luce frui cœpit, comparatur primo diei quo the_light God fecit. This ætas tanquam infantia it_is totius sæculi, that tanquam one hominem proportione magnitudinis suæ cogitamus. Homo because when/with primo nascitur in lucem, infantiam agit primam ætatem, which tendit away Adam until to Nœ generationibus decem: diluvium as_if vespera huyus diei it_is, because infantia nostra oblivionis diluvio deletur.


TSNTyndale Study Notes:

1:2 This verse gives the background for the summary in 1:1 and the detailed description in 1:3–2:3. God’s creative utterances bring order to the chaotic state of the universe.
• formless . . . empty (Hebrew tohu . . . bohu): This terse idiom means something like “wild and waste.” It sets a stark contrast to the final ordered state of the heavens and the earth (1:1).
• deep waters (Hebrew tehom): Some scholars say this alludes to the Mesopotamian goddess Tiamat (representing chaos), but Genesis views tehom as inhospitable chaos, not as a deity or goddess that God engaged in cosmic battle.
• the Spirit of God: God directly superintended the creation process.


UTNuW Translation Notes:

וְ⁠הָ⁠אָ֗רֶץ

and=the=earth

The author pauses here to describe what the earth and the heavens were like after God first created them (verse 1). Some languages use a conjunction like Now to introduce that information; other languages do not use a conjunction here. Do what is natural in your language. Also, be consistent here with how you translated the earth in verse 1. Alternate translation: “Now at first after that, the earth”

הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֨הוּ֙ וָ⁠בֹ֔הוּ

she/it_was formlessness and=emptiness

It is not clear what the earth looked like at that time, but it did not have its present shape and order. Also, the Hebrew text is ambiguous here. It could mean: (1) “was formless/shapeless and empty/desolate,” or “did not have its present form, and there was nothing living on it yet,” or (2) “completely empty/desolate,” which treats the text as a hendiadys. However, it is best to keep both terms separate in your translation (as they are in the Hebrew text).

וְ⁠חֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם

and=darkness on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in face/surface_of (the)_deep

For some languages it is more natural to begin a new sentence here. Do what is best in your language. Alternate translation: “It was completely dark, there was deep water everywhere,” or “There was deep water everywhere that was surrounded by total darkness,”

וְ⁠ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת

and=spirit ʼElohīm hovering

The Hebrew text is ambiguous here. It could mean: (1) “and God’s Spirit was hovering/moving” or (2) “and a wind from God was blowing” or (3) “and a powerful wind was blowing”. The first interpretation is most likely, since the Hebrew verb hovering does not describe what wind does.

עַל פְּנֵ֥י הַ⁠מָּֽיִם

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in face/surface_of the=waters

Throughout this chapter, the word waters is in the plural in the Hebrew text. For some languages it is more natural to use the singular “water”. Do what is best in your language in each context. Alternate translation: “over the surface of the water.” or “above the waters”

BI Gen 1:2 ©