Genesis Chapter 18
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael.
2
And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
3
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
4
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
5
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
6
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations.
7
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.
8
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
9
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
10
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
11
And God said unto Abraham, And as for thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations.
12
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised.
13
And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt me and you.
14
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed.
15
He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
16
And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
17
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
18
And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be
19
a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.
20
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
21
And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!
22
And God said, Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.
23
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
24
But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
25
And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
26
And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
27
And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
28
And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
29
In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
30
And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
31
And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
32
and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
33
and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And Jehovah appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre. And he sat at the tent-door in the heat of the day.
2
And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, three men standing near him. And when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and bowed himself to the earth,
3
and said, Lord, if now I have found favour in thine eyes, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.
4
Let now a little water be fetched, that ye may wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5
And I will fetch a morsel of bread; and refresh yourselves; after that ye shall pass on; for therefore have ye passed on towards your servant. And they said, So do as thou hast said.
6
And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, Knead quickly three seahs of wheaten flour, and make cakes.
7
And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf tender and good, and gave [it] to the attendant; and he hasted to dress it.
8
And he took thick and sweet milk, and the calf that he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood before them under the tree, and they ate.
9
And they said to him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10
And he said, I will certainly return to thee at [this] time of the year, and behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent-door, which was behind him.
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old [and] advanced in age: it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12
And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am become old, shall I have pleasure, and my lord old?
13
And Jehovah said to Abraham, Why is this, that Sarah laughs, saying, Shall I indeed bear, when I am become old?
14
Is [any] matter too wonderful for Jehovah? At the time appointed I will return to thee, at [this] time of the year, and Sarah shall have a son.
15
And Sarah denied, saying, I did not laugh; for she was afraid. And he said, No; but thou didst laugh.
16
And the men rose up thence, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to conduct them.
17
And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?
18
Since Abraham shall indeed become a great and mighty nation; and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.
19
For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice, in order that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham what he hath spoken of him.
20
And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grievous,
21
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me; and if not, I will know [it].
22
And the men turned thence, and went towards Sodom; and Abraham remained yet standing before Jehovah.
23
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also cause the righteous to perish with the wicked?
24
There are perhaps fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not forgive the place for the sake of the fifty righteous that are therein?
25
Far be it from thee to do so, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that the righteous should be as the wicked — far be it from thee! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26
And Jehovah said, If I find at Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sakes.
27
And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak unto the Lord; I, who am dust and ashes.
28
Perhaps there may want five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city on account of the five? And he said, If I shall find forty-five there, I will not destroy [it].
29
And he continued yet to speak with him, and said, Perhaps there may be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake.
30
And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry that I speak! Perhaps there may be thirty found there. And he said, I will not do it if I find thirty there.
31
And he said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak with the Lord. Perhaps there may be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for the twenty's sake.
32
And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, that I speak yet but this time! Perhaps there may be ten found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for the ten's sake.
33
And Jehovah went away when he had ended speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And God appeared to him by the oak of Mambre, as he sat by the door of his tent at noon.
2
And he lifted up his eyes and beheld, and lo! three men stood before him; and having seen them he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and did obeisance to the ground.
3
And he said, Lord, if indeed I have found grace in thy sight, pass not by thy servant.
4
Let water now be brought, and let them wash your feet, and do ye refresh [yourselves] under the tree.
5
And I will bring bread, and ye shall eat, and after this ye shall depart on your journey, on account of which [refreshment] ye have turned aside to your servant. And he said, So do, as thou hast said.
6
And Abraam hasted to the tent to Sarrha, and said to her, Hasten, and knead three measures of fine flour, and make cakes.
7
And Abraam ran to the kine, and took a young calf, tender and good, and gave it to his servant, and he hasted to dress it.
8
And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he had dressed; and he set them before them, and they did eat, and he stood by them under the tree.
9
And he said to him, Where is Sarrha thy wife? And he answered and said, Behold! in the tent.
10
And he said, I will return and come to thee according to this period seasonably, and Sarrha thy wife shall have a son; and Sarrha heard at the door of the tent, being behind him.
11
And Abraam and Sarrha were old, advanced in days, and the custom of women ceased with Sarrha.
12
And Sarrha laughed in herself, saying, The thing has not as yet happened to me, even until now, and my lord is old.
13
And the Lord said to Abraam, Why is it that Sarrha has laughed in herself, saying, Shall I then indeed bear? but I am grown old.
14
Shall anything be impossible with the Lord? At this time I will return to thee seasonably, and Sarrha shall have a son.
15
But Sarrha denied, saying, I did not laugh, for she was afraid. And he said to her, Nay, but thou didst laugh.
16
And the men having risen up from thence looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha. And Abraam went with them, attending them on their journey.
17
And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraam my servant what things I intend to do?
18
But Abraam shall become a great and populous nation, and in him shall all the nations of the earth be blest.
19
For I know that he will order his sons, and his house after him, and they will keep the ways of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraam all things whatsoever he has spoken to him.
20
And the Lord said, The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha has been increased towards me, and their sins are very great.
21
I will therefore go down and see, if they completely correspond with the cry which comes to me, and if not, that I may know.
22
And the men having departed thence, came to Sodom; and Abraam was still standing before the Lord.
23
And Abraam drew nigh and said, Wouldest thou destroy the righteous with the wicked, and shall the righteous be as the wicked?
24
Should there be fifty righteous in the city, wilt thou destroy them? wilt thou not spare the whole place for the sake of the fifty righteous, if they be in it?
25
By no means shalt thou do as this thing [is] so as to destroy the righteous with the wicked, so the righteous shall be as the wicked: by no means. Thou that judgest the whole earth, shalt thou not do right?
26
And the Lord said, If there should be in Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole city, and the whole place for their sakes.
27
And Abraam answered and said, Now I have begun to speak to my Lord, and I am earth and ashes.
28
But if the fifty righteous should be diminished to forty-five, wilt thou destroy the whole city because of the five [wanting]? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I should find there forty-five.
29
And he continued to speak to him still, and said, But if there should be found there forty? And he said, I will not destroy it for the forty's sake.
30
And he said, Will there be anything [against me], Lord, if I shall speak? but if there be found there thirty? And he said, I will not destroy it for the thirty's sake.
31
And he said, Since I am able to speak to the Lord, what if there should be found there twenty? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I should find there twenty.
32
And he said, Will there be anything [against me], Lord, if I speak yet once? but if there should be found there ten? And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.
33
And the Lord departed, when he left off speaking to Abraam, and Abraam returned to his place.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Apparuit autem ei Dominus in convalle Mambre sedenti in ostio tabernaculi sui in ipso fervore diei.
2
Cumque elevasset oculos, apparuerunt ei tres viri stantes prope eum: quos cum vidisset, cucurrit in occursum eorum de ostio tabernaculi, et adoravit in terram.
3
Et dixit: Domine, si inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, ne transeas servum tuum:
4
sed afferam pauxillum aquæ, et lavate pedes vestros, et requiescite sub arbore.
5
Ponamque buccellam panis, et confortate cor vestrum, postea transibitis: idcirco enim declinastis ad servum vestrum. Qui dixerunt: Fac ut locutus es.
6
Festinavit Abraham in tabernaculum ad Saram, dixitque ei: Accelera, tria sata similæ commisce, et fac subcinericios panes.
7
Ipse vero ad armentum cucurrit, et tulit inde vitulum tenerrimum et optimum, deditque puero: qui festinavit, et coxit illum.
8
Tulit quoque butyrum et lac, et vitulum quem coxerat, et posuit coram eis: ipse vero stabat iuxta eos sub arbore.
9
Cumque comedissent, dixerunt ad eum: Ubi est Sara uxor tua? ille respondit: Ecce in tabernaculo est.
10
Cui dixit: Revertens veniam ad te tempore isto, vita comite, et habebit filium Sara uxor tua. Quo audito, Sara risit post ostium tabernaculi.
11
Erant autem ambo senes, provectæque ætatis, et desierant Saræ fieri muliebria.
12
Quæ risit occulte dicens: Postquam consenui, et dominus meus vetulus est, voluptati operam dabo?
13
Dixit autem Dominus ad Abraham: Quare risit Sara, dicens: Num vere paritura sum anus?
14
Numquid Deo quidquam est difficile? iuxta condictum revertar ad te hoc eodem tempore, vita comite, et habebit Sara filium.
15
Negabit Sara, dicens: Non risi, timore perterrita. Dominus autem: Non est, inquit, ita: sed risisti.
16
Cum ergo surrexissent inde viri, direxerunt oculos contra Sodomam: et Abraham simul gradiebatur, deducens eos.
17
Dixitque Dominus: Num celare potero Abraham quæ gesturus sum:
18
cum futurus sit in gentem magnam, ac robustissimam, et BENEDICENDÆ sint in illo omnes nationes terræ?
19
Scio enim quod præcepturus sit filiis suis, et domui suæ post se ut custodiant viam Domini, et faciant iudicium et iustitiam: ut adducat Dominus propter Abraham omnia quæ locutus est ad eum.
20
Dixit itaque Dominus: Clamor Sodomorum et Gomorrhæ multiplicatus est, et peccatum eorum aggravatum est nimis.
21
Descendam, et videbo utrum clamorem qui venit ad me, opere compleverint: an non est ita, ut sciam.
22
Converteruntque se inde, et abierunt Sodomam: Abraham vero adhuc stabat coram Domino.
23
Et appropinquans ait: Numquid perdes iustum cum impio?
24
Si fuerint quinquaginta iusti in civitate, peribunt simul? et non parces loco illi propter quinquaginta iustos, si fuerint in eo?
25
Absit a te, ut rem hanc facias, et occidas iustum cum impio, fiatque iustus sicut impius, non est hoc tuum: qui iudicas omnem terram, nequaquam facies iudicium hoc.
26
Dixitque Dominus ad eum: Si invenero Sodomis quinquaginta iustos in medio civitatis, dimittam omni loco propter eos.
27
Respondensque Abraham, ait: Quia semel cœpi, loquar ad Dominum meum, cum sim pulvis et cinis.
28
Quid si minus quinquaginta iustis quinque fuerint? delebis, propter quadraginta quinque, universam urbem? Et ait: Non delebo, si invenero ibi quadraginta quinque.
29
Rursumque locutus est ad eum: Sin autem quadraginta ibi inventi fuerint, quid facies? Ait: Non percutiam propter quadraginta.
30
Ne quæso, inquit, indigneris Domine, si loquar: Quid si ibi inventi fuerint triginta? Respondit: Non faciam, si invenero ibi triginta.
31
Quia semel, ait, cœpi loquar ad Dominum meum: Quid si ibi inventi fuerint viginti? Ait: Non interficiam propter viginti.
32
Obsecro, inquit, ne irascaris Domine, si loquar adhuc semel: Quid si inventi fuerint ibi decem? Et dixit: Non delebo propter decem.
33
Abiitque Dominus, postquam cessavit loqui ad Abraham: et ille reversus est in locum suum.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
2
He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
3
and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
4
Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5
I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”
6
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
7
Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
8
He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
9
They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”
10
He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12
Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
14
Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”
15
Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
16
The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17
The LORD said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
18
since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
19
For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
20
The LORD said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
21
I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
22
The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23
Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
24
What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
25
May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26
The LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27
Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.
28
What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29
He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”
30
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31
He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
32
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
33
The LORD went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And Jehovah appeareth unto him among the oaks of Mamre, and he is sitting at the opening of the tent, about the heat of the day;
2
and he lifteth up his eyes and looketh, and lo, three men standing by him, and he seeth, and runneth to meet them from the opening of the tent, and boweth himself towards the earth,
3
And he saith, `My Lord, if, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes, do not, I pray thee, pass on from thy servant;
4
let, I pray thee, a little water be accepted, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree;
5
and I bring a piece of bread, and support ye your heart; afterwards pass on, for therefore have ye passed over unto your servant;' and they say, `So mayest thou do as thou has spoken.'
6
And Abraham hasteth towards the tent, unto Sarah, and saith, `Hasten three measures of flour-meal, knead, and make cakes;'
7
and Abraham ran unto the herd, and taketh a son of the herd, tender and good, and giveth unto the young man, and he hasteth to prepare it;
8
and he taketh butter and milk, and the son of the herd which he hath prepared, and setteth before them; and he is standing by them under the tree, and they do eat.
9
And they say unto him, `Where <FI>is<Fi> Sarah thy wife?' and he saith, `Lo--in the tent;'
10
and he saith, `returning I return unto thee, about the time of life, and lo, to Sarah thy wife a son.'
11
And Sarah is hearkening at the opening of the tent, which is behind him;
12
and Abraham and Sarah <FI>are<Fi> aged, entering into days--the way of women hath ceased to be to Sarah;
13
and Sarah laugheth in her heart, saying, `After I have waxed old I have had pleasure! --my lord also <FI>is<Fi> old!'
14
And Jehovah saith unto Abraham, `Why <FI>is<Fi> this? Sarah hath laughed, saying, Is it true really--I bear--and I am aged? Is any thing too wonderful for Jehovah? at the appointed time I return unto thee, about the time of life, and Sarah hath a son.'
15
And Sarah denieth, saying, `I did not laugh;' for she hath been afraid; and He saith, `Nay, but thou didst laugh.'
16
And the men rise from thence, and look on the face of Sodom, and Abraham is going with them to send them away;
17
and Jehovah said, `Am I concealing from Abraham that which I am doing,
18
and Abraham certainly becometh a nation great and mighty, and blessed in him have been all nations of the earth?
19
for I have known him, that he commandeth his children, and his house after him (and they have kept the way of Jehovah), to do righteousness and judgment, that Jehovah may bring on Abraham that which He hath spoken concerning him.'
20
And Jehovah saith, `The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah--because great; and their sin--because exceeding grievous:
21
I go down now, and see whether according to its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely--and if not--I know;'
22
and the men turn from thence, and go towards Sodom; and Abraham is yet standing before Jehovah.
23
And Abraham draweth nigh and saith, `Dost Thou also consume righteous with wicked?
24
peradventure there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; dost Thou also consume, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty--the righteous who <FI>are<Fi> in its midst?
25
Far be it from Thee to do according to this thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked; that it hath been--as the righteous so the wicked--far be it from Thee; doth the Judge of all the earth not do justice?'
26
And Jehovah saith, `If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the midst of the city, then have I borne with all the place for their sake.'
27
And Abraham answereth and saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord, and I--dust and ashes;
28
peradventure there are lacking five of the fifty righteous--dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He saith, `I destroy <FI>it<Fi> not, if I find there forty and five.'
29
And he addeth again to speak unto Him and saith, `Peradventure there are found there forty?' and He saith, `I do <FI>it<Fi> not, because of the forty.'
30
And he saith, `Let it not be, I Pray thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak: peradventure there are found there thirty?' and He saith, `I do <FI>it<Fi> not, if I find there thirty.'
31
And he saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there are found there twenty?' and He saith, `I do not destroy <FI>it<Fi> , because of the twenty.'
32
And he saith, `Let it not be, I pray Thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak only this time: peradventure there are found there ten?' and He saith, `I do not destroy <FI>it<Fi> , because of the ten.'
33
And Jehovah goeth on, when He hath finished speaking unto Abraham, and Abraham hath turned back to his place.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).