Return to Answer

##Ancient translations##

##Cognates##

##Hebrew##

##Conclusion ##

Ancient translations

Cognates

Hebrew

Conclusion

I think the key to translating Genesis 1:2 is not וְר֣וּחַ (we·ruach, "spirit"), but rather מְרַחֶ֖פֶת (me·rachepheth, "moved"). Better understanding the verb will help us better understand the subject.

This is my original answer from 2015. I revisited the issue in 2019 and came to a slightly different (and stronger) conclusion. See my new answer

I think the key to translating Genesis 1:2 is not וְר֣וּחַ (we·ruach, "spirit"), but rather מְרַחֶ֖פֶת (me·rachepheth, "moved"). Better understanding the verb will help us better understand the subject.

Ugar cognates offer some interesting insight to the Deuteronomy passage. First, the Ugar gyr of יָעִ֣יר (yi'ir) suggests that the "stirs up" could alternately be translated "watches over". This would then push the rachaph in the analogy more towards a parental role (e.g. brooding). Second, the cognate of rachaph, rhp, occurs only in passages about eagles. The suggested meaning in Ugar is "soar". Thus in the Deuteronomy passage and known Ugar texts, the verb demands a personal agent.

Ugaratic cognates offer some interesting insight to the Deuteronomy passage. First, the Ugaratic gyr of יָעִ֣יר (yi'ir) suggests that the "stirs up" could alternately be translated "watches over". This would then push the rachaph in the analogy more towards a parental role (e.g. brooding). Second, the cognate of rachaph, rhp, occurs only in passages about eagles. The suggested meaning in Ugaratic is "soar". Thus in the Deuteronomy passage and known Ugaratic texts, the verb demands a personal agent.