Genesis 1:2

In 11 translations

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.

KJV

And 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.

WEB

The 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.

ASV

And 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.

LSV

and 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,

YLT

the 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,

DBY

And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.Elohim

DRC

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

GNV

And the earth was without forme and void, and darkenesse was vpon the deepe, and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the waters.

JPS

Now 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.

LXXE

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

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֨הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃

LXX-Br

Ἡ δὲ γῆ ἦν ἀόρατος καὶ ἀκατασκεύαστος, καὶ σκότος ἐπάνω τῆς ἀβύσσου· καὶ πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἐπεφέρετο ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος.

Who and where

People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.

How traditions read it

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Part of

• Creation in six days God brings light into darkness, separates waters, reveals dry land and fills the world with plants, heavenly lights, animals and humans over…

Cross-references most cited first

• Jeremiah 4:23I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light.
• Psalms 104:30When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.
• 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.
• Psalms 33:6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
• Job 26:7He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing.
• Isaiah 40:12–14Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a…
• Job 26:14Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”
• Nahum 2:10She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).