The Creation
Genesis 1:1
Why translations differ here
"In the beginning", a plural word for God, and Spirit or wind Three small Hebrew questions sit in the Bible's first two verses: whether 1:1 is a headline ("In the beginning") or a time clause ("When God began to create"), why the word for God, ʾĕlōhîm, is plural in form though its verb is singular, and whether rûaḥ ʾĕlōhîm is God's Spirit or a wind from God.
In 11 translations
- BSB
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- KJV
- In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
- WEB
- In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
- ASV
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- LSV
- In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth,
- YLT
- In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth —
- DBY
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.Elohim
- DRC
- In the beginning God created heaven, and earth.
- GNV
- In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth.
- JPS
- IN THE beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
- LXXE
- In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.
Word by word Hebrew · tap a word
Original-language editions
- WLC
- בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
- LXX-Br
- ἘΝ ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.
Who and where
👤 God◆ Creation of all things
People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Part of
Cross-references most cited first
- John 1:1–3In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
- Hebrews 11:3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
- Isaiah 45:18For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
- Revelation 4:11“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be.”
- Hebrews 1:10And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
- Colossians 1:16–17For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things,…
- Isaiah 42:5This is what God the LORD says— He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:
- Exodus 20:11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
- Job 38:4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- Acts 17:24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
- 2 Peter 3:5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
- Nehemiah 9:6You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships…
- Isaiah 44:24Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,
- Jeremiah 51:15The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
- Jeremiah 32:17“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
- Psalms 33:9For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).