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In the first clause of Genesis 1:2 there is a verb הׇיְתָה. Some versions translate it as "was" when it also bears the meaning "to become" and many more. My question is what should הׇיְחׇה be translated as, "was" or "became", and why?
The question is of concern as the translation can lead to either a Gap Theory if rendered as "became" or a static condition of the earth when it was created if rendered as "was".
The word (תהו) that comes right after the word you asked about (היתה) is also used in Isaiah 45:18, which according to YLT says:
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For thus says Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn't create it a waste (תהו), who formed it to be inhabited: "I am Yahweh; and there is no other.
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Since Isaiah 45:18 says God did not create it as a waste (תהו), it makes a lot more sense that it became a waste (תהו), and not that it was that way right after He made it.
Taken from Apologetics Press Does the Hebrew Word Yōm Endorse an Old Earth? – Apologetics Press
[Apologetics Press auxiliary writer Justin Rogers, PhD serves as an Associate Professor of Bible at Freed-Hardeman University. He holds an M.A. in New Testament from Freed-Hardeman University as well as an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Hebraic, Judaic, and Cognate Studies from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.]
Gap theorists insist the term means “became” or “had become.” They assert the bārā’ stage of Creation “became” or “had become” a desolate waste, and thus a re-creation (the ‘āsāh stage) was necessary. In the assessment of Fields, “It is the mistranslation of this word which has, perhaps, added more to the ranks of gap theorists than any one factor” (1976, p. 88).
First of all, let us acknowledge that Gap theorists are correct about the Hebrew verb hāyāh. It can mean “became” or “had become.” BUT THE MEANING OF ANY WORD MUST BE DETERMINED BY ITS CONTEXT, AND NOT BY THE TRANSLATOR’S ARBITRARY CHOOSING OF A MEANING FROM A LEXICAL LIST. In Genesis 1:2, the copular usage of the verb hāyāh in biblical Hebrew must be understood. The community of Hebrew grammarians is uniform in recognizing that the term hāyetāh (a feminine form of hāyāh) in Genesis 1:2 functions as a copula (see, e.g., Joüon and Muraoka, 2006, §154m), and thus simply links the subject with the object without implying any true verbal quality. Let us explain.
Hebrew has no proper equivalent to the English verb “to be.” Therefore, several syntactical approximations, called copulas, communicate the essence of the English “to be.” For example, the pronouns hū’ (literally “he” or “it” for masculine objects) and hî’ (literally “she” or “it” for feminine objects) can serve this purpose (often translated “is”). The same is true of the verb “he became” (hāyāh). The copula hāyetāh is not, therefore, functioning in Genesis 1:2 in its true verbal sense as “became,” but in the copular sense as “was.”
It is recognized universally that “the Hebrew verb translated was refers to the time when God began his work of creation. Was does not mean that the earth remained in this shapeless state for a long time; nor does it mean that it became such after being something else earlier” (Reyburn and Fry, 1997, p. 30). This point is recognized in virtually every decent translation of the Hebrew text since the Septuagint (cf. the Latin Vulgate and the mountain of English translations). Gap theorists must find a different justification for their theory.
In spoken Hebrew Hayitah is the feminine singular form or "Haya" which means "was", which is past tense. A past tense singular personal form of it would be Hayiti shama (I was there) It is zman avar, or past tense. Future tense would be "eheyeh shama"(I will be there).
If it was something that transformed or morphed then we would use to change, Lehaphoch לַהֲפוֹךְ
The translation of "was" would not take away any credibility from the Gap Theory, it is just that it would not add more credibility to the theory like "became" would.
King David spoke of it in *Psalms 102:25
On the face of the land you have founded, and the works of your hands the heavens.26 They will perish and You will stand, and every one like clothes will become worn like what you put on, you will transform them and they will be changed.
(My translation from the Hebrew text)
David seems to see a transformation and change, as the New Heaven and New Earth will be. Like a change of garments... as well as us!
The actual word used in the text is הָיְתָה (hayetah), which means "had become". Christian references use the root word הָיָה (hayah), which means "to be" or "to become". But they translate it as "was" to force the text to mean what they want it to say.
To answer the question (in my opinion), the word should be translated as “became” and not “was”.
Genesis 1:1-2 KJV (1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The earth became without form and void.
(2) 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.
I’m looking at Genesis 1:2 as a metaphor for man’s broken relationship with God and it is man who has turned away from God’s righteousness and His knowledge and is currently in “darkness”….the darkness is within man’s heart.
We can see the meaning of the verse in Jeremiah 4. The earth became without form…without righteousness…..as His people are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge.
The earth is void of the knowledge of God as His people have not known Him and have no understanding…as they cannot do the good.
Jeremiah 4:21-23 KJV (21) How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? (22) For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. (23) I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
The earth became without form (became without righteousness as there is none that does good) and void ( became without knowledge of God) as all men have turned away from truly seeking after Him and doing His righteousness. “They are altogether become filthy…”
Psalms 53:3-4 KJV (3) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (4) Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
This is also echoed in the New Testament book of Romans:
Romans 3:10-12 KJV (10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth ….and man is without excuse (for becoming without righteousness and without knowledge of Him) as God manifests His invisible, eternal qualities in the visible creation that can be readily seen by all mankind.
Romans 1:18-22 KJV (18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Mankind became without form…without righteousness…. and void of knowledge (became vain in their imaginations). Darkness is upon the face of the deep….their foolish heart was darkened.
(21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Mankind’s heart is all together darkened and needs to hear the knowledge of God (the Light shines in the darkness of man’s own heart).
Thanks for reading and considering.
The correct word is הָיְתָ֥ה - Hayetah. I usually translate this word as "was".
According this website, it has three meanings:
The even begin to be.
There’s a change of state. That is, ‘became’. The properties or relations change.
It’s a state. The most common meaning used.
