Wiki Article • Torah & Covenant
The biblical account of Creation opens in Genesis 1:1 as God brings order, light, and life out of chaos over six days, culminating in the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
man, mankind, Adam
man, mankind, Adam. Human being, humanity, collective mankind, and proper name of first man Adam; created on sixth day from dust of adamah, covenant head of race.
to create, shape, form
to create, shape, form. To create; a theological terminus technicus having exclusively God as subject, producing new realities ex nihilo without pre-existing materials.
to subdue, bring into subjection
to subdue, bring into subjection. To subdue, bring into cultivation; creation commission to bring earth's potential into orderly flourishing (Genesis 1:28).
to form, fashion, frame
to form, fashion, frame. To form, shape, fashion as a potter molds clay; pictures God's intimate crafting of Adam from dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7).
light, daylight, illumination
light, daylight, illumination. Physical light summoned at creation ('Let there be light'), spiritual revelation, purity, and divine favor ('The LORD is my light').
expanse, firmament, sky
expanse, firmament, sky. Expanse, canopy, hammered-out vault of heaven; created on Day Two to separate waters above from waters below.
to rule, have dominion, govern
to rule, have dominion, govern. To tread down, rule, have dominion; cultural mandate given to humankind as image-bearers of God to govern animal creation and earth (Genesis 1:26).
to make, do, fashion, accomplish
to make, do, fashion, accomplish. To make, produce, fashion, perform; broad verb of creative and historical action, describing God making the cosmos and fulfilling covenant.
beginning, firstfruits, chief part
beginning, firstfruits, chief part. Beginning, chief part, firstfruits, starting point in time or importance; opens canon ('In the beginning God created', Genesis 1:1).
God, gods, deity
God, gods, deity. Plural of majesty used predominantly with singular verbs to designate the one true God, Creator of the universe, possessing supreme transcendent power, sovereign authority, and plenitude of divine attributes.
to breathe into, blow, inflate
to breathe into, blow, inflate. To blow, breathe into; specific act of God breathing the breath of life into nostrils of Adam, animating inanimate dust into a living soul.
good, pleasant, beneficial
good, pleasant, beneficial. Good, pleasant, morally upright, beneficial, beautiful; reflecting divine design in creation and the benevolent moral nature of God.
intelligence, discretion, skill
intelligence, discretion, skill. Discretion, practical skill; faculty through which God established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19) and artisans built tabernacle.
garden, enclosed paradise
garden, enclosed paradise. Garden, hedged enclosure; specifically the sanctuary-garden planted by God in Eden (Gan-Eden) where humanity walked in fellowship with God.
earth, land, country, territory
earth, land, country, territory. The terrestrial sphere, dry land, earth in contrast to heaven; profoundly the promised land of Canaan given by covenant to Abraham and his seed.
ground, soil, agricultural earth
ground, soil, agricultural earth. Ground, soil, arable land; material source of human physical existence, cursed on account of human transgression, yielding fruit under blessing.
to people, found, to create
to people, found, to create. Primary meaning: to people, found, to create. Strong's: to fabricate, i.e. found (form originally). Lexical nuances: in cl., to people or found a region or city ( I Es 4:53 ).
to cease, rest, desist
to cease, rest, desist. To cease, desist from labor, rest, observe Sabbath; inaugurating cosmic rest on seventh day when God finished creative work (Genesis 2:2).
image, likeness, statue, model
image, likeness, statue, model. Image, representation, statue; foundational theological term for Imago Dei (Genesis 1:26-27), designating humankind as God's representative vice-regents.
God, deity
God, deity. Singular form of Elohim, occurring primarily in poetic and wisdom texts (Job) to designate the transcendent God of all creation.
living, alive, life
living, alive, life. Living, alive, vigorous; primary epithet of true God ('The Living God', El Chay) in distinction from lifeless idols.
origin, lineage, birth
origin, lineage, birth. Primary meaning: origin, lineage, birth. Strong's: nativity; figuratively, nature. Lexical nuances: origin, lineage : βίβλος γενέσεως (as in Ge 2:4 a 5:1 ), Mt 1:1 . birth : Mt 1:18 , Lk 1:14 (Rec. γέννησις ); πρόσωπον τῆς γ. , face of his birth ("what God made him to be," Hort., in l.), Ja 1:23 ; ὁ τροχὸς τῆς γ. , the wheel (course) of birth or creation ("the wheel of man's nature according to its original Divine purpose," Hort), Ja 3:6 .†
flesh, body, humanity, frailty
flesh, body, humanity, frailty. Flesh, physical body, humanity; expresses human kinship ('one flesh') and creaturely transience in contrast to the eternal Spirit of God.
emptiness, void, desolation
emptiness, void, desolation. Emptiness, void, vacancy; occurs in hendiadys with tohu to express uninhabited desolation awaiting divine creative fullness.
likeness, similitude, pattern
likeness, similitude, pattern. Likeness, resemblance, concrete similitude; paired with tselem in Genesis 1:26 to qualify human relation to God, affirming qualitative similarity.
a founding, settling, foundation
a founding, settling, foundation. Primary meaning: a founding, settling, foundation, the act of creating. Strong's: original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively). Lexical nuances: a founding , settling , foundation (cl.).
mother, matriarch
mother, matriarch. Mother, bearer of life; honored in Decalogue, and metaphor for divine comfort ('As one whom his mother comforts', Isaiah 66:13).
word, matter, event, divine decree
word, matter, event, divine decree. Word, speech, matter, historic event; the Word of the LORD (Dǝḇar YHWH) as dynamic creative and prophetic power executing God's sovereign will in history.
antiquity, front, east, ancient time
antiquity, front, east, ancient time. East, front, ancient time, primeval origin; describes God's eternal pre-existence and the ancient goings-forth of Messiah (Micah 5:2).
Eden, delight, primeval paradise
Eden, delight, primeval paradise. Eden, delight; primeval location of human paradise and pristine sanctuary where river branched into four headwaters.
wisdom, skill, godly discernment
wisdom, skill, godly discernment. Skillful living, moral insight, master craftsmanship; theological personification in Proverbs 8 co-working with God at creation; fear of the Lord is its beginning.
Sabbath, day of rest, covenant sign
Sabbath, day of rest, covenant sign. The Sabbath day, holy seventh day of rest ordained at creation, enshrined in Decalogue, serving as perpetual sign of Mosaic Covenant.
tree, wood, timber, gallows
tree, wood, timber, gallows. Tree, wood; features in primeval garden (Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge), altar/ark, and tree bearing covenant curse (Deuteronomy 21:23).
breath, spirit, living being
breath, spirit, living being. Breath, vital breath of God, spirit; divine life-principle imparted to humanity conferring moral responsibility and rational consciousness.
helper, rescue, counterpart
helper, rescue, counterpart. Help, vital rescuer; applied to woman as corresponding counterpart to man (ezer kenegdo, Genesis 2:18), and to God as Israel's sole deliverer.