Jeremiah Chapter 6

3 which thy sons and thy daughters should eat; they shall eat up thy flocks and thy herds; they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig-trees; they shall beat down thy fortified cities, wherein thou trustest, with the sword.

4 But even in those days, saith Jehovah, I will not make a full end with you.

5 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore hath Jehovah our God done all these things unto us? then shalt thou say unto them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served foreign gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

6 Declare ye this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,

7 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; that have eyes, and see not; that have ears, and hear not:

8 Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it.

9 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

10 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Jehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; that preserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

11 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good from you.

12 For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men.

13 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxed rich.

14 They are waxed fat, they shine: yea, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they plead not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

15 Shall I not visit for these things? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

16 A wonderful and horrible thing is come to pass in the land:

17 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

18 Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looketh forth from the north, and a great destruction.

19 The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off.

20 Shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

21 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

22 Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

23 For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

24 As a well casteth forth its waters, so she casteth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds.

25 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from thee; lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.

26 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn again thy hand as a grape-gatherer into the baskets.

27 To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of Jehovah is become unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

28 Therefore I am full of the wrath of Jehovah; I am weary with holding in: pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

29 And their houses shall be turned unto others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah.

30 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a signal in Beth-haccerem; for evil appeareth out of the north, and a great destruction.

2 The comely and delicate one do I cut off, the daughter of Zion.

3 Shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch [their] tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

4 Prepare war against her. Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day hath declined, for the shadows of the evening are lengthening.

5 Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

6 For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said: Hew ye down trees, and cast a mound against Jerusalem. She is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

7 As a well poureth forth her waters, so she poureth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction are heard in her; before me continually are grief and wounds.

8 Be thou instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from thee; lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.

9 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: They shall thoroughly glean like a vine the remnant of Israel: turn back thy hand, as a grape-gatherer unto the baskets.

10 To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of Jehovah is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

11 And I am full of the fury of Jehovah, I am weary with holding in. Pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken; the aged with him [that is] full of days.

12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, [their] fields and wives together; for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah.

13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely.

14 And they have healed the breach of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace! when there is no peace.

15 Are they ashamed that they have committed abomination? Nay, they are not at all ashamed, neither know they what it is to blush. Therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall stumble, saith Jehovah.

16 Thus saith Jehovah: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the ancient paths, which is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].

17 Also I have set watchmen over you: — Hearken ye to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O assembly, what is among them.

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts; for they have not hearkened unto my words, and as to my law, they have rejected it.

20 To what purpose should there come to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing unto me.

21 Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall over them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

22 Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation is stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.

23 They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as a man for the battle, against thee, daughter of Zion.

24 We have heard the report thereof: our hands are grown feeble; anguish hath taken hold of us, pain as of a woman that travaileth.

25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for [there is] the sword of the enemy, terror is on every side.

26 Daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and roll thyself in ashes: make mourning, [as] for an only son — bitter lamentation; for the spoiler cometh suddenly upon us.

27 I have set thee among my people as an assayer, a fortress, that thou mayest know and try their way.

28 They are all the most rebellious of rebels, going about with slander: they are bronze and iron; they are all corrupters.

29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed by the fire; they have melted, and melted in vain; and the bad are not plucked away.

30 Reprobate silver shall they call them, for Jehovah hath rejected them.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 Strengthen yourselves, ye children of Benjamin, [to flee] out of the midst of Jerusalem, and sound an alarm with the trumpet in Thecue, and set up a signal over Bæthacharma: for evil threatens from the north, and a great destruction is coming.

2 And [thy] pride, O daughter of Sion, shall be taken away.

3 The shepherds and their flocks shall come to her; and they shall pitch [their] tents against her round about, and shall feed [their flocks] each with his hand.

4 Prepare yourselves for war against her; rise up, and let us go up against her at noon. Woe to us! for the day has gone down, for the shadows of the day fail.

5 Rise, and let us go up against her by night, and destroy her foundations.

6 For thus saith the Lord, Hew down her trees, array a numerous force against Jerusalem. O false city; [there is] all oppression in her.

7 As a cistern cools water, so her wickedness cools her, ungodliness and misery shall be heard in her, [as] continually before her.

8 Thou shalt be chastened, O Jerusalem, with pain and the scourge, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee a desert land, which shall not be inhabited.

9 For thus saith the Lord, Glean, glean thoroughly as a vine the remnant of Israel: turn back [your hands] as a grape-gatherer to his basket.

10 To whom shall I speak, and testify, that he may hearken? behold, thine ears are uncircumcised, and they shall not be able to hear: behold, the word of the Lord is become to them a reproach, they will not at all desire it.

11 And I allowed my wrath to come to the full, yet I kept [it] in, and did not utterly destroy them: I will pour it out on the children without, and on the assembly of young men together: for man and woman shall be taken together, the old man with him that is full of days.

12 And their houses shall be turned to others, [with] their fields and their wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of this land, saith the Lord.

13 For from the least of them even to the greatest they have all committed iniquity; from the priest even to the false prophet they have all wrought falsely.

14 And they healed the breach of my people [imperfectly], making light [of it], and saying, Peace, peace: and where is peace?

15 They were ashamed because they failed; yet they were not ashamed as those who are [truly] ashamed, and they knew not their own disgrace: therefore shall they [utterly] fall when they do fall, and in the time of visitation shall they perish, said the Lord.

16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths of the Lord; and see what is the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find purification for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [in them].

17 I have set watchmen over you, [saying], Hear ye the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hear [it].

18 Therefore have the nations heard, and they that feed their flocks.

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evils upon this people, [even] the fruit of their rebellions; for they have not heeded my words, and they have rejected my law.

20 Wherefore do ye bring me frankincense from Saba, and cinnamon from a land afar off? your whole-burnt-offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices have not been pleasant to me.

21 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I [will] bring weakness upon this people, and the fathers and sons shall be weak together; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

22 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people comes from the north, and nations shall be stirred up from the end of the earth.

23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; [the people] is fierce, and will have no mercy; their voice is as the roaring sea; they shall array themselves for war against thee as fire on horses and chariots, O daughter of Sion.

24 We have heard the report of them: our hands are weakened: anguish has seized us, the pangs as of a woman in travail.

25 Go not forth into the field, and walk not in the ways; for the sword of the enemy lingers round about.

26 O daughter of my people, gird thyself with sackcloth: sprinkle [thyself] with ashes; make for thyself pitiable lamentation, [as] the mourning for a beloved [son]: for misery will come suddenly upon you.

27 I have caused thee to be tried among tried nations, and thou shalt know me when I have tried their way.

28 [They are] all disobedient, walking perversely: [they are] brass and iron; they are all corrupted.

29 The bellows have failed from the fire, the lead has failed: the silversmith works at his trade in vain; their wickedness is not consumed.

30 Call ye them reprobate silver, because the Lord has rejected them.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Confortamini filii Beniamin in medio Ierusalem, et in Thecua clangite buccina, et super Bethacarem levate vexillum: quia malum visum est ab Aquilone, et contritio magna.

2 Speciosæ et delicatæ assimilavi filiam Sion.

3 Ad eam venient pastores, et greges eorum: fixerunt in ea tentoria in circuitu: pascet unusquisque eos, qui sub manu sua sunt.

4 Sanctificate super eam bellum: consurgite, et ascendamus in meridie: væ nobis, quia declinavit dies, quia longiores factæ sunt umbræ vesperi.

5 Surgite, et ascendamus in nocte, et dissipemus domus eius.

6 Quia hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Cædite lignum eius, et fundite circa Ierusalem aggerem: hæc est civitas visitationis, omnis calumnia in medio eius.

7 Sicut frigidam fecit cisterna aquam suam, sic frigidum fecit malitiam suam: iniquitas et vastitas audietur in ea, coram me semper infirmitas et plaga.

8 Erudire Ierusalem, ne forte recedat anima mea a te, ne forte ponam te desertam terram inhabitabilem.

9 Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Usque ad racemum colligent quasi in vinea reliquias Israel: converte manum tuam quasi vindemiator ad cartallum.

10 Cui loquar? et quem contestabor ut audiat? ecce incircumcisæ aures eorum, et audire non possunt: ecce verbum Domini factum est eis in opprobrium: et non suscipient illud.

11 Idcirco furore Domini plenus sum, laboravi sustinens: effunde super parvulum foris, et super consilium iuvenum simul: vir enim cum muliere capietur, senex cum pleno dierum.

12 Et transibunt domus eorum ad alteros, agri et uxores pariter: quia extendam manum meam super habitantes terram, dicit Dominus.

13 A minore quippe usque ad maiorem omnes avaritiæ student: et a propheta usque ad sacerdotem cuncti faciunt dolum.

14 Et curabant contritionem filiæ populi mei cum ignominia, dicentes: Pax, pax: et non erat pax.

15 Confusi sunt, quia abominationem fecerunt: quin potius confusione non sunt confusi, et erubescere nescierunt. quam ob rem cadent inter ruentes: in tempore visitationis suæ corruent, dicit Dominus.

16 Hæc dicit Dominus: State super vias, et videte, et interrogate de semitis antiquis, quæ sit via bona, et ambulate in ea: et invenietis refrigerium animabus vestris. Et dixerunt: Non ambulabimus.

17 Et constitui super vos speculatores. Audite vocem tubæ. Et dixerunt: Non audiemus.

18 Ideo audite Gentes, et cognosce congregatio, quanta ego faciam eis.

19 Audi terra: Ecce ego adducam mala super populum istum, fructum cogitationum eius: quia verba mea non audierunt, et legem meam proiecerunt.

20 Ut quid mihi thus de Saba affertis, et calamum suave olentem de terra longinqua? holocautomata vestra non sunt accepta, et victimæ vestræ non placuerunt mihi.

21 Propterea hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego dabo in populum istum ruinas, et ruent in eis patres et filii simul, vicinus, et proximus peribunt.

22 Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce populus venit de terra Aquilonis, et gens magna consurget a finibus terræ.

23 Sagittam et scutum arripiet: crudelis est, et non miserebitur. vox eius quasi mare sonabit: et super equos ascendent, præparati quasi vir ad prælium, adversum te filia Sion.

24 Audivimus famam eius, dissolutæ sunt manus nostræ: tribulatio apprehendit nos, dolores ut parturientem.

25 Nolite exire ad agros, et in via ne ambuletis: quoniam gladius inimici pavor in circuitu.

26 Filia populi mei accingere cilicio, et conspergere cinere: luctum unigeniti fac tibi, planctum amarum, quia repente veniet vastator super nos.

27 Probatorem dedi te in populo meo robustum: et scies, et probabis viam eorum.

28 Omnes isti principes declinantes, ambulantes fraudulenter, æs et ferrum: universi corrupta sunt.

29 Defecit sufflatorium, in igne consumptum est plumbum, frustra conflavit conflator: malitiæ enim eorum non sunt consumptæ.

30 Argentum reprobum vocate eos, quia Dominus proiecit illos.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 “Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the middle of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa and raise up a signal on Beth Haccherem, for evil looks out from the north with a great destruction.

2 I will cut off the beautiful and delicate one, the daughter of Zion.

3 Shepherds with their flocks will come to her. They will pitch their tents against her all around. They will feed everyone in his place.”

4 “Prepare war against her! Arise! Let’s go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

5 Arise! Let’s go up by night, and let’s destroy her palaces.”

6 For the LORD of Armies said, “Cut down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be visited. She is filled with oppression within herself.

7 As a well produces its waters, so she produces her wickedness. Violence and destruction is heard in her. Sickness and wounds are continually before me.

8 Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you, lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.”

9 The LORD of Armies says, “They will thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine. Turn again your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.”

10 To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, the LORD’s word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it.

11 Therefore I am full of the LORD’s wrath. I am weary with holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife will be taken, the aged with him who is full of days.

12 Their houses will be turned to others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land, says the LORD.”

13 “For from their least even to their greatest, everyone is given to covetousness. From the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely.

14 They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. Therefore they will fall among those who fall. When I visit them, they will be cast down,” says the LORD.

16 The LORD says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’

18 Therefore hear, you nations, and know, congregation, what is among them.

19 Hear, earth! Behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.

20 To what purpose does frankincense from Sheba come to me, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.”

21 Therefore the LORD says, “Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people. The fathers and the sons together will stumble against them. The neighbor and his friend will perish.”

22 The LORD says, “Behold, a people comes from the north country. A great nation will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.

23 They take hold of bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Zion.”

24 We have heard its report. Our hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, and pains as of a woman in labor.

25 Don’t go out into the field or walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and terror are on every side.

26 Daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and wallow in ashes! Mourn, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for the destroyer will suddenly come on us.

27 “I have made you a tester of metals and a fortress among my people, that you may know and try their way.

28 They are all grievous rebels, going around to slander. They are bronze and iron. All of them deal corruptly.

29 The bellows blow fiercely. The lead is consumed in the fire. In vain they go on refining, for the wicked are not plucked away.

30 Men will call them rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 Strengthen yourselves, sons of Benjamin, From the midst of Jerusalem, And in Tekoa blow ye a trumpet, And over Beth-Haccerem lift ye up a flame, For evil hath been seen from the north, And great destruction.

2 The comely and the delicate one I have cut off, The daughter of Zion.

3 Unto her come do shepherds and their droves, They have stricken tents by her round about, They have fed each <FI>in<Fi> his own station.

4 Sanctify ye against her the battle, Rise, and we go up at noon. Woe to us, for turned hath the day, For stretched out are the shades of evening,

5 `Rise, and we go up by night, And we destroy her palaces.'

6 For thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Cut down her wood, And pour out against Jerusalem a mount, She <FI>is<Fi> the city to be inspected, Wholly--she is oppression in her midst.

7 As the digging of a well, is <FI>for<Fi> its waters, So she hath digged <FI>for<Fi> her wickedness, Violence and spoil is heard in her, Before My face continually <FI>are<Fi> sickness and smiting.

8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem, Lest My soul be alienated from thee, Lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.

9 Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: They surely glean, as a vine, the remnant of Israel, Put back thy hand, as a gatherer to the baskets.

10 To whom do I speak, and testify, and they hear? Lo, their ear <FI>is<Fi> uncircumcised, And they are not able to attend. Lo, a word of Jehovah hath been to them for a reproach, They delight not in it.

11 And with the fury of Jehovah I have been filled, (I have been weary of containing,) To pour <FI>it<Fi> on the suckling in the street, And on the assembly of youths together, For even husband with wife are captured, An elder with one full of days,

12 And their houses have been turned to others, Fields and wives together, For I stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land, An affirmation of Jehovah.

13 For from their least unto their greatest, Every one is gaining dishonest gain, And from prophet even unto priest, Every one is dealing falsely,

14 And they heal the breach of the daughter of my people slightly, Saying, `Peace, peace!' and there is no peace.

15 They were ashamed when they did abomination! Yea, they are not at all ashamed, Yea, blushing they have not known, Therefore they do fall among those falling, In the time I have inspected them, They stumble, said Jehovah.

16 Thus said Jehovah: Stand ye by the ways and see, and ask for paths of old, Where <FI>is<Fi> this--the good way? and go ye in it, And find rest for yourselves. And they say, `We do not go.'

17 And I have raised up for you watchmen, Attend ye to the voice of the trumpet. And they say, `We do not attend.'

18 Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O company, That which <FI>is<Fi> upon them.

19 Hear, O earth, lo, I am bringing evil on this people, The fruit of their devices, For to My words they gave no attention, And My law--they kick against it.

20 Why <FI>is<Fi> this to Me? frankincense from Sheba cometh, And the sweet cane from a land afar off, Your burnt-offerings <FI>are<Fi> not for acceptance, And your sacrifices have not been sweet to Me.

21 Therefore thus said Jehovah: Lo, I do give to this people stumbling blocks, And stumbled against them have fathers and sons together, The neighbour and his friend do perish.

22 Thus said Jehovah: Lo, a people hath come from a north country, And a great nation is stirred up from the sides of the earth.

23 Bow and javelin they take hold of, Fierce it <FI>is<Fi> , and they have no mercy, Their voice as a sea doth sound, And on horses they ride, set in array as a man of war, Against thee, O daughter of Zion.

24 `We have heard its sound, feeble have been our hands, Distress hath seized us, pain as of a travailing woman.

25 Go not forth to the field, And in the way walk not, For a sword hath the enemy, fear <FI>is<Fi> round about.

26 O daughter of My people, Gird on sackcloth, and roll thyself in ashes, The mourning of an only one make for thee, A lamentation most bitter, For suddenly come doth the spoiler against us.

27 A watch-tower I have given thee, Among My people a fortress, And thou knowest, and hast tried their way.

28 All of them are turned aside by apostates, Walking slanderously--brass and iron, All of them are corrupters.

29 The bellows have been burnt, By fire hath the lead been consumed, In vain hath a refiner refined, And the wicked have not been drawn away.

30 `Silver rejected,' they have called to them, For Jehovah hath kicked against them!

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).