Gen 1:2 LXX2012
But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the water.
Darkness was over the deep
The Spirit of God was Over the Waters
If deep and waters are the same then does it mean that the Spirit of God was over the darkness which was over the waters?
To complement what has already been written here, I'd like to share my thoughts on this question.
There is more contrast than similarity in Genesis 1:2. Darkness does not equate Spirit, nor does deep equate waters. Rather, darkness and deep form one analogous pairing, while Spirit and waters form another, contrasting, set of concepts. Characterized by darkness, the depths of the ocean is a place where light does not easily penetrate and life struggles to exist. Water, on the other hand, is essential to the creation and existence of life and is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the source of life-giving light.
With regard to the OP’s question, though deep and waters are not the same, the similarities in the parallel construction invite us to find connection. The extraordinary beauty of the words themselves, words that ironically depict darkness and desolation, leads me to consider how everything is created by one hand and mind. This thought brings with it the realization that, as the OP’s question suggests, God’s Spirit is present over every created thing from the very beginning - over the heavens and the earth, with the coming light, but also the darkness that preceded it.
The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the Lord who does all these things. – Is 45:7
Even darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. – Psalm 139:12
Gen 1:2 consists of three sentences in the Hebrew. Here is my literal translation:
A: And the earth/land was formless and empty
B: and darkness [was] over the face of the deep תְּהוֹם (tehom)
C: and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters
The word תְּהוֹם (tehom) almost always refers to the depths of waters or ocean - see appendix below; thus it also does here as can be seen from the unmistakable parallelism above in B & C.
Now, the fact that "over the deep" is parallel to "hovering over the face of the waters" does not necessarily imply that "darkness" is parallel to "Spirit of God" (although that is not precluded). The literary function here is more profound - the important idea in Gen 1:2 is about the "tohu and bohu" = "formless and empty".
That is, we have a picture of a formless and empty world with a churning sea/ocean described by the "deep" from the root meaning surging chaos. BUT, by complete contrast, the Spirit of God is described using a verb used of a mother bird hovering above the nest as she feed her young.
Thus, the literary intent of Gen 1:2 is to contrast the chaos of the earth with the approaching presence of God, whose first act (V3) is dispel darkness. Thus, "Spirit of God" cannot imply darkness.
APPENDIX - BDB entry for תְּהוֹם (tehom)
1. deep, of subterranean waters, Genesis 49:25 (poem in J; opposed to שָׁמַיִם), Deuteronomy 33:13 (opposed to id.); ׳רַבָּה מַעְיְנוֺת ת Genesis 7:11; Genesis 8:2 (P; "" אֲרֻבֹּת הַשָּׁמַיִם), ׳עִינוֺת ת Proverbs 8:28 ("" שְׁחָקִים), Job 28:14; Job 38:16 (both "" יָם); תְּהוֺם רַבָּה Amos 7:4 (probably), רַבָּה ׳מִשְׁמָּטֶיךָ ת Psalm 36:7 (opposed to אֵל צִדְקָֽתְךָ כְּהַרְרֵי), Isaiah 51:10 (perhaps); so plural תְּהֹמוֺת, Proverbs 8:24 ("" מַעְיָנוֺת), Proverbs 3:20 (opposed to שְׁחָקִים), and probably Psalm 33:7 ("" מֵי הַיָּם), Psalm 135:6 ( + יַמִּים).
2. (deep) sea, overwhelming Tyre Ezekiel 26:19 ("" הַמַּיִם הָרַבִּים), roaring at theoph. Habakkuk 3:10; in General, "" יָם, Job 38:30 (׳מְּנֵי ת); "" מַיִם Jonah 2:6; alonE Job 41:24; figurative, קוֺרַא ׳אֶלתֿ ׳ת Job 42:8 ("" מִשְׁבָּרִים, גַּלִּים; but possibly here of Jordan, compare (4); in plural = abysses of sea, Exodus 15:5,8 (of Red Sea, so) Isaiah 63:13 "" Psalm 106:9; Psalm 77:17; also Psalm 78:15 (in simile), Psalm 107:26 (poetic of hollows of great waves, opposed to שָׁמַיִם); vaguely, כָּלתְּֿהֹמוֺת Psalm 135:6; Psalm 148:7.
3. primaeval ocean, deep, in Hebrew cosmogony, ׳מְּנֵי ת Genesis 1:2 (P; "" מְּנֵי הַמַּיִם), Proverbs 8:27 ("" שָׁמַיִם), Psalm 104:6. — (compare, further, GunkSchöpfung u. Chaos 21 ff. O C Whitehouse Hast. DB COSMOGONY ZimKAT3. 492 f., 509 f., 585).
4. deep, depth, of river Ezekiel 31:4 (Nile; "" מַיִם, + נַהֲרוֺתֶיהָ), Ezekiel 31:15 ("" id.); plural of bursts of water fertilizing Canaan, יוצאים בבקעה ובהר Deuteronomy 8:7 ( + עֲיָנֹת, נַחֲלֵי מַיִם). — On Psalm 42:8 see 2.
5. abyss (si vera lectio): תְּהוֺמוֺת הָאָרֶץ = Shejôl, Psalm 71:20, but Ol We תַּחְתִיּוֺת.
Let's see the parallelism, NIV Genesis 1:2b
darkness was over the surface of the deep,
and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
If deep and waters are the same then does it mean that the Spirit of God was over the Darkness which was Over the Waters?
Not exactly. The following is a better way to express this idea:
darkness || Spirit of God
deep || waters
It says the Spirit of God parallels the darkness. It does not exactly say that the Spirit of God was over the Darkness. In the sense of parallelism, the darkness itself refers to the Spirit of God.
Exodus 20:
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Deep and waters are they one and same?
Yes, in the sense of parallelism.
Don't really have a definite answer just more questions.
The submerged chaos, the abyss, are things that I think are somehow related to the deep. The earth became chaotic and void and darkness was as upon the deep.
The jurisdiction of darkness seems to have come in to play.
Did God submerge the abyss under the earth?
The earth was a mass of minerals not a sphere. It existed in what we regard as Space. The Space i.e. The Deep,was dark.
The Holy Spirit moved over the the shapeless mass of minerals and water awaiting God's act of Creating a new planet. Day 1, Light in all its forms was given. (A whole new study.) it was formed into a sphere, revolving on its axis to its starting point in space during 24 hours. The sun was not visible ,and evening and morning was an expression of the 24 hour period later spoken of. Verses 14 - 19. It was illuminated by the Presence of God and was covered in water. From space it would have had the appearance of a beautiful blue sphere. (Another study is regarding Space and Planets etc)
Short answer: "Yes". Long answer: The water was not yet physical, but was in gaseous shape in the form of a thick atmosphere. The dark constituted the next step up, called outer space.
Genesis chapter one sets some established references and boundaries in relation to all the parts or elements that are mentioned in reference to one another. The very opening statement itself, "In the beginning,,," implies the starting or original point of everything that follows the stated fact. As in to start with. Implying further that this beginning is not the source but a reference point for what is stated after it. In other words, this beginning has a beginning before it. that beginning being God, who now creates this reference beginning called the heavens and the earth. After this, everything that we know and are conversant with as regards the earth and the heavens are with respect to this beginning which can be said to be a new beginning from a previous beginning which God may allow us to glimpse into only by His grace but from every indication, the beginning of Genesis chapter 1 cannot be the "first" beginning nor is it the last cause even the current heaven and earth shall pass away at some point as clearly taught in scripture. Therefore we can propose that whenever God is about to start anew, He strips the old heavens and the old earth and introduces a new heaven and a new earth. "God created" implies design. Therefore, we can surmise that verse one refers to design and form or orderliness in the heavens and the earth whilst verse 2 comes in to describe chaos and disorderliness. both order and chaos being instituted or invoked by forces which can only be wielded by the creator. God who creates can only be the one who destroys for if there was another greater than He to contend with Him, then sure this other would have been credited with the magnitude of desolation that we see. No other of such great and awesome power is heard of or seen or spoken of except God Himself who creates in chapter 1 and later in chapter 2, hovers over all the desolation,,, the formlessness and emptiness which only He Himself could have wrought. "Darkness covered the the deep waters,,," "And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. By order, the waters covered the earth but the waters themselves were also covered by darkness and simultaneously, the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. You could almost conclude here that the darkness is the conduit through which the Spirit of God harnesses the waters. The waters covered the earth, the darkness covered the waters and yet the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the waters. However you look at this picture and description, the darkness and the Spirit of God are in tandem. The Spirit of God being the lifegiving force of the darkness. Of significant note also is the fact that in the sentence of creation, only 2 elements are mentioned as created,,, the earth and the heavens. There is no mention of the creation of water and yet there it is right in the middle of this desolation preceding the creation. Without mention of its creation, suddenly there it is in verse 2 literally covering the desolate earth. Here lies another interesting aspect tp ponder. Why isn't the water mentioned as are the heaven and the earth in their beginning. End here for now and very keen to hear the thoughts of others on the matter
