The first book of the Hebrew Bible, commonly known in English as Genesis, is referred to in Hebrew as בְּרֵאשִׁית "B'reishit." This word is derived from the book's opening phrase, בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים "B'reishit bara Elohim," which translates to "In the beginning, God created" in English. Today, we explore the etymology, lexical semantics, and theological significance of the term B'reishit within the broader context of the Hebrew Bible.
The term בְּרֵאשִׁית "B'reishit" is a construct form of the noun רֵאשִׁית "reishit," which means "beginning" or "first." The root of this noun is רֹאשׁ "rosh," meaning "head" or "chief" (Brown, Driver, and Briggs 1907). The construct form בְּרֵאשִׁית signifies the starting point or the initial phase of an event or series of events.
The term B'reishit serves as a thematic and theological entry point to the entire Hebrew Bible. It introduces the concept of a divinely orchestrated beginning, setting the stage for the unfolding of God's plan for creation and humanity. The term encapsulates the essence of divine initiation and creative power, themes that recur throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. The narrative that follows in the Book of Genesis, from the creation account to the patriarchal stories, can be viewed as an elaboration and unfolding of this "beginning."
The Book of Genesis, presents a cosmogony that has been the subject of theological reflection, scholarly investigation, and hermeneutical inquiry for millennia. One of the most intriguing aspects of the Genesis narrative is its use of the terms water, מַיִם, "mayim" and שָׁמַיִם, "shamayim" heavens (or sky).
Lexical Semantics of "Mayim" and "Shamayim"
The Hebrew term מַיִם "mayim" is a plural noun that signifies "water" in various forms—rivers, seas, rain, and so forth. The term שָׁמַיִם "shamayim" is also a plural noun, often translated as "heaven" or "sky." It is noteworthy that both terms are in the dual form, which may imply completeness or perhaps the idea of a harmonious pair (Brown, Driver, and Briggs 1907).
Theological Significance in Genesis
In the Genesis narrative, water and heaven are closely related in the act of creation. In Genesis 1:1-2, the earth is described as "formless and void," and "darkness was over the face of the deep," while "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (מַיִם)" (ESV). Then, in Genesis 1:6-8, God creates an "expanse" to separate the "waters from the waters," naming the expanse "Heaven" (שָׁמַיִם). Here, mayim and shamayim are intrinsically linked in the cosmological framework. The act of separating the waters introduces order into chaos, and the naming of the expanse as "Heaven" imbues it with theological significance.
Inter-Textual Relationships in the Old Testament
The relationship between mayim and shamayim is not limited to the Book of Genesis. For instance, in Psalm 148:4, "Praise him, you highest heavens (שָׁמַיִם), and you waters above the heavens (שָׁמַיִם)!" (ESV), the terms are used in close proximity, echoing the cosmological relationship established in Genesis. The inter-textual usage of these terms throughout the Old Testament reinforces their theological and cosmological significance.
Ancient Observations
The Church Fathers, although primarily focused on the New Testament, often referred to Old Testament cosmology to elucidate theological points. For example, Augustine's "De Genesi ad Litteram" (The Literal Meaning of Genesis) discusses the creation narrative, although he does not delve into the Hebrew terms. However, his emphasis on the goodness and orderliness of creation aligns with the Genesis account's portrayal of the separation of water and heaven as an act of divine order imposed on chaos (Augustine, "De Genesi ad Litteram," Book I).
The Hebrew terms mayim and shamayim in the Book of Genesis are deeply interconnected, both lexically and theologically. Their relationship in the creation narrative serves as a foundational cosmological concept that reverberates throughout the Old Testament. This relationship underscores the divine wisdom and orderliness in the act of creation, affirming the theological significance of these terms in Biblical exegesis.
The exploration of the terms mayim and shamayim in the Genesis narrative provides valuable insights into the theological and cosmological framework of the Old Testament. Their intrinsic relationship serves as a testament to the divine order and wisdom in the act of creation, a concept that has been the subject of theological reflection for centuries.
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