Questions tagged [genesis]
The first book of the Hebrew Bible which covers events from Creation to the start of Israel's sojourn in Egypt. It tells the origins of heaven and earth, Adam, Noah, Noah's sons, Shem, Terah, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau and Jacob.
1,345
questions
2
votes
1
answer
85
views
What is the true meaning of "śûaḥ" (meditate?) in Genesis 24:63?
It seems there is very little on the meaning of this word, and it's only used once in the Bible. The translation comes out as "Meditate" but it seems like a guess. I haven't even found ...
- 51
0
votes
2
answers
34
views
Did the patriarchs always get a son on their birthday? If not, we have to add months, say, about 7 years total difference when counting
When we count the age from creation to the flood, we forget that the father is always some months more than the age in years. Sometimes the person is many months older, but still the number of years ...
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good,
The Beginning
Genesis 1:1-5
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the
earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was ...
- 1
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why does Genesis 3:14 say that the snake would eat dust?
We read in Genesis 3:14, of the curse given to the serpent that he would crawl on his belly and eat dust all his life. Those who watch snakes sticking out their tongue while moving on the dusty ground ...
1
vote
1
answer
22
views
Is Genesis 28:20-22 intended as a description of Jacob's conversion/"becoming a true Jew"?
Is Genesis 28:20-22 intended as a description of Jacob's conversion/"becoming a true Jew"? If not, what is being described?
[Gen 28:20-22 NASB95] [20] Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "...
- 14.8k
0
votes
2
answers
29
views
Would Abram have thought Sarai's womb was dead in Genesis 12?
In Genesis 12, Abram is 75. Sarai a bit younger. In our current age such a woman would have a dead womb. And God promised to Abram: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you"...
- 1,191
1
vote
2
answers
302
views
What fruit was God referring to?
In Genesis 2:16, 17 when God commanded Adam not to eat the fruits from the tree of knowledge. what fruit was he referring to an apple or sexual sins
Gen 2:16, 17 - And the LORD God commanded him, “...
- 19
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
Shinar is east of the Garden of Eden, two rivers run through it, 'Tigris' and 'Euphrates', do these rivers flow west to east and how far from Eden?
According to Gen. 11, men moved from the east to Shinar, a plain watered by two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates both mentioned in Gen. 2:10-14 as flowing from the Garden. what is the proximity of ...
0
votes
6
answers
127
views
Do the Stars in Genesis 1 support an allegorical view on the Creation account
Stars are commonly used in biblical views as an allegory to angels. The most common of these is in Revelation when it states a third of the stars will "fall down from heaven". We can also ...
- 11
2
votes
4
answers
253
views
Could those heads of the "Sons of Israel" really have encountered some "Sons of the Nephilim', when spying out the "Promised Land". Numbers 13:33
The Nephilim are only mentioned in one other book of the Bible, Gen, 6:4
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of men, and ...
- 2,331
0
votes
2
answers
115
views
Multi-personal creation in Genesis or exclusive? [closed]
At some level, each part of the Trinity could be said to be involved in the "creation"—the Father presumably is aware of the creation and had furnished the designs or forms. However, I would ...
- 497
6
votes
3
answers
536
views
דְּמוּת and צֶלֶם in Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 5:3
Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 5;3 are the only two Hebrew verses wherein both דְּמוּת (dimut) and צֶלֶם (tzelem) occur together (as a couplet).
Genesis 1:26
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַֽעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ ...
- 11.4k
1
vote
2
answers
76
views
Judah's sons Er & Onan were killed by God for their sins, and yet, greater sins were maybe made by Judah's brothers Simeon & Levi, for NO punishment?
InGenesis 38:7-10 we are told of the deaths of Er and Onan but with little accounting. In Genesis Ch 34 however we have the whole accounting of Simeon and Levi's despicable actions, which were acted ...
- 2,331
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
Dust will be the snake food..?
Is there a connection between Gensesis 3:14 & Isaiah 65:25?? What does it means by dust in Genesis and Isaiah?
4
votes
2
answers
216
views
Which term is ‘Elyon’ derived from and what is its significance?
Genesis 14:18
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
The ‘Most High’ translates the Hebrew adjective ‘Elyon’. What is the term which ‘Elyon’ ...
- 990
2
votes
4
answers
169
views
Who is the author of the first 9 chapters of Genesis? And are we to believe that the author knew what God said in his heart? Gen 8:21
Genesis 8:21 KJV
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil ...
2
votes
2
answers
80
views
God did not intend ALL animals to be fruitful and multiply according to this passage ....or am I misreading?
Genesis 8:17 ESV
Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be ...
- 121
11
votes
6
answers
4k
views
What attracted Abimelech to an old woman in her 80s or 90s?
At the risk of sounding crass, Sarah was advanced in years in Genesis 18, but in Genesis 20 King Abimelech took Sarah because he was apparently attracted to her. Then in Genesis 21 Abraham becomes a ...
1
vote
2
answers
71
views
How is it possible for G'd to be blessed by the servant of Abraham?
When we read this (from Sefer Torah Genesis 24:48)
And I kneeled and prostrated myself to the Lord, and I blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, Who led me on the true path, to take the ...
- 1,045
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Who was the Man Jacob wrestled with at Peniel?
The Bible tells of a tale where Jacob wrestled with a Man and he prevailed. And because of this he was named Israel. Scripture refers to him as both Man and God respectively.
Genesis 32:24
And Jacob ...
- 394
1
vote
0
answers
64
views
Tenses in Genesis 2:4-7
There seems to be a lot of variation between the way tenses are used in this passage between translations. For example:
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were ...
- 457
4
votes
4
answers
723
views
How did Abraham learn about the God, YHWH (LORD, KJV), in Chaldea, enough to communicate with Him?
Chapter 12:1 of Genesis bluntly introduced the narrative between Abraham and God with simply:
The LORD (YHWH) had said to Abraham...
No information was given about the religious life of Abraham and ...
- 1,820
4
votes
3
answers
499
views
On Why Joseph Specifically Chose Simeon to be the Hostage in Gen. 42?
As a follow-up to When Did Israel First Expect Deliverance from Egypt?, I would like to add:
In Gen 42:25, we read (regarding Joseph)---
And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he ...
- 543
2
votes
1
answer
120
views
Genesis 4:8 - Cain kills himself?
Genesis 4:8
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
καὶ εἶπεν Καιν πρὸς Αβελ τὸν ἀδελφὸν ...
- 497
2
votes
1
answer
59
views
Did Leah agree with Laban's plan to deceive Jacob in Genesis 29?
Genesis 29:21-25 NIV
Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my [d]time is completed, that I may have relations with her.” 22 So Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast. ...
- 23.3k
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What Does "and of Their Fat" Specifically Mean in Abel's Sacrifice to God?
In Gen. 4:3-5 (D-R), we read:
And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord. Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their ...
- 543
1
vote
1
answer
63
views
May it be Inferred that the Sacrifices of Cain and Abel Occurred on a Sabbath?
We read in Gen. 4:3-5 (D-R):
3 And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord. 4 Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their ...
- 543
2
votes
3
answers
146
views
What is Sarah's "pleasure" in Genesis 18:12?
In Genesis 18:12, Sarah says the following (NKJV, emphasis added):
“After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
What does Sarah mean by having pleasure? Most directly, ...
- 1,687
1
vote
2
answers
88
views
Why were the offspring of the "sons of God and the daughters of men" described as men of renown? Were they mightier than the rest of the population?
Does men of renown in the Genesis 6:4 mean that the offspring of the union of the "sons of God with the daughters of men" mean that the said offspring were mightier than the rest of the ...
- 2,974
3
votes
5
answers
651
views
How does Genesis 22:17 "the stars of heavens"tie to Rev. 6:13 when the stars fell to earth?
As the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed, and the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and as God's prophesies are revealed in the New Testament, then in light of Gen. 22:17 where ...
- 9,785
2
votes
2
answers
55
views
In Genesis 2:17, some translations omit "in the day" while some contain the phrase "in the day"
Genesis 2:17 translations
New International Version
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
King James Bible
But of ...
- 2,615
4
votes
1
answer
75
views
How certain are we that the "deep" of Genesis 1:2 involves water?
How certain are we that the "deep" of Genesis 1:2 involves water? I note that the Septuagint translation uses "abyss" which seems to suggest empty space rather than ocean. Yet I ...
- 41
3
votes
2
answers
269
views
Genesis 1:3 - Septuagint - Let there be Man?
Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός γενηθήτω φῶς καὶ ἐγένετο φῶς
Modern Koine readers will have the advantage of accent marks to tell the ...
- 497
5
votes
6
answers
443
views
What support is there for "nephilim" meaning "giants"?
People seem to have an innate bias toward the mythical, preferring it over reality. The Hebrew word "nephilim," first used in Genesis 6:4, is no exception: many questions here are asked ...
- 4,758
2
votes
1
answer
42
views
Your exceeding great reward vs your reward will be great in Gen 15:1
Please I need help understanding the difference in translations.
This morning while studying I stumbled on the difference in translation between ESV and KJV for Gen 15:1 where KJV States "and thy ...
- 121
2
votes
5
answers
295
views
Why would Paul consider Eve sinned before Adam?
In Genesis 3:6, Adam was apparently with Eve together when Eve was deceived by the serpent.
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also ...
- 3,462
3
votes
4
answers
344
views
Can Genesis 2:17 be translated "dying you shall die"?
For in the day that you eat of it, dying you shall die. - Gen 2:17
I understand that the Hebrew words translated "you shall surely die" in most English translations would be transliterated &...
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
175
views
From where does it come from, that the head and feet considered an enemy?
In the book of Genesis, it is said that he will crush your head and you will strike his heel and the creator will put enmity between her seed and his seed. Are the head and feet meant for an enemy in ...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
33
views
According to the Bible were bibleic Egyptians and Pharaos Iaphetan/Japhetan?
I have consulted the Gen 10 but not sure how the actual people at each particular moment of time would map to that genealogy of Noah sons.
Of a particular interest would be to know the provenance of ...
- 412
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why have God chosen to order offering Isaak as a whole-burnt offering to test Abraham?
The LXX text says that God wanted to test ἐπείραζεν Abraham by ordering him to kill Isaak (offer him as a whole-burnt sacrifice). But why did God choose this particular test? Is there more to this ...
- 412
-1
votes
2
answers
337
views
Why does Paul say the law came after 430 years in Galatians 3:17?
Galatians 3:17 NET
What I am saying is this: The law that came 430 years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.
But its clear the law was ...
- 23.3k
1
vote
2
answers
77
views
Genesis 23:6 A mighty prince, or prince of God?
““Hear us, my Lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.””
Genesis 23:6...
- 8,824
2
votes
1
answer
88
views
What does the breath (נְשָׁמָה) of life mean in Genesis 2:7?
A person consists of:
Physical body (from the dust of the earth)
The breath of life (נְשָׁמָה)
The living soul (נֶפֶשׁ)
What does the breath of life (נְשָׁמָה) mean in Genesis 2:7?
0
votes
1
answer
34
views
Are there names in the Gen ch. 5 genealogy which are derivative of the similar names in the Gen ch. 4 genealogy or viceversa?
The Gen ch. 5 genealogy seems to have been built from the Gen ch. 4 genealogy by repeating the pair (Adam - Cain) as (Enosh - Kenan), slightly changing 3 names, and then switching the positions of ...
- 995
1
vote
2
answers
83
views
Tanninim (Great Sea Creatures) not good in Genesis 1?
In John Walton's book The Lost World of Adam and Eve, Walton makes this statement:
Many have noticed that in Genesis 1, day 2 is not labeled as good. Fewer have noticed that the technicalities of the ...
- 13
2
votes
4
answers
174
views
How to reconcile Sarah’s faith in Hebrews 11 with her laugh in Genesis 18?
Hebrews 11:11 NASB
“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”
How do we reconcile Sarah‘s ...
- 4,331
4
votes
1
answer
133
views
On the Biblical Significance of Five
In Genesis 43:34, we learn that Benjamin was served five times as much food as his brothers were.
Later, in Gen. 45:22, we read that Joseph, instead of giving Benjamin "a change" of clothes, ...
- 543
-1
votes
1
answer
67
views
What made us to change from vegetarians to non vegetarians
As per Genesis 1:29-30, all living animals, birds and adam eve will be pure vegetarians.
Why we change from vegetarian to non vegetarian?
If it is because of we eat the fruit then why animals and ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
104
views
Is the Garden of Eden Goshen?
The Nile splits into 4 river heads. The etymology of the word Eden associates it with Isthmus. It is the only place that matches the description given in Genesis. Bolstering that the rare name ...
- 9
4
votes
4
answers
245
views
Is Eve's testimony in Genesis 3:3 reliable?
In Genesis 3:3 ESV Eve said:
but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
So, according to Eve, God not ...
- 175