Mark Chapter 13

5 And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

6 And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered.

7 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs.

8 And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it.

9 And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;

10 and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple.

11 And he taught, and said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers.

12 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.

13 And every evening he went forth out of the city.

14 And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.

15 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

16 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.

18 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

19 And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

20 Many ancient authorities add v. 26

21 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

22 Com. Mat 6:15; 18:35

23 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders;

24 and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?

25 And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

26 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.

27 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

28 But should we say, From men—they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.

29 And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

30 And he began to speak unto them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.

31 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruits of the vineyard.

32 And they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

33 And again he sent unto them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and handled shamefully.

34 And he sent another; and him they killed: and many others; beating some, and killing some.

35 He had yet one, a beloved son: he sent him last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

36 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

37 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 And as he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples says to him, Teacher, see what stones and what buildings!

2 And Jesus answering said to him, Seest thou these great buildings? not a stone shall be left upon a stone, which shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat on the mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

4 Tell us, when shall these things be, and what is the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?

5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any one mislead you.

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, It is I, and shall mislead many.

7 But when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be not disturbed, for [this] must happen, but the end is not yet.

8 For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be earthquakes in [different] places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these things [are the] beginnings of throes.

9 But ye, take heed to yourselves, for they shall deliver you up to sanhedrims and to synagogues: ye shall be beaten and brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them;

10 and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

11 But when they shall lead you away to deliver you up, be not careful beforehand as to what ye shall say, [nor prepare your discourse]: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak; for ye are not the speakers, but the Holy Spirit.

12 But brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

13 And ye will be hated of all on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end, he shall be saved.

14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not, (he that reads let him consider [it],) then let those in Judaea flee to the mountains;

15 and him that is upon the housetop not come down into the house, nor enter [into it] to take away anything out of his house;

16 and him that is in the field not return back to take his garment.

17 But woe to those that are with child and to those that give suck in those days!

18 And pray that it may not be in winter time;

19 for those days shall be distress such as there has not been the like since [the] beginning of creation whichGod created, until now, and never shall be;

20 and if [the] Lord had not cut short those days, no flesh should have been saved; but on account of the elect whom he has chosen, he has cut short those days.

21 And then if any one say to you, Lo, here [is] the Christ, or Lo, there, believe [it] not.

22 For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and give signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

23 But do ye take heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand.

24 But in those days, after that distress, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give its light;

25 and the stars of heaven shall be falling down, and the powers which are in the heavens shall be shaken;

26 and then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory;

27 and then shall he send his angels and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from end of earth to end of heaven.

28 But learn the parable from the fig-tree: when its branch already becomes tender and puts forth the leaves, ye know that the summer is near.

29 Thus also ye, when ye see these things happening, know that it is near, at the doors.

30 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall in no wise pass away, till all these things take place.

31 The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away.

32 But of that day or of that hour no one knows, neither the angels who are in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.

33 Take heed, watch and pray, for ye do not know when the time is:

34 [it is] as a man gone out of the country, having left his house and given to his bondmen the authority, and to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch.

35 Watch therefore, for ye do not know when the master of the house comes: evening, or midnight, or cock-crow, or morning;

36 lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 But what I say to you, I say to all, Watch.

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

1 Et cum egrederetur de templo, ait illi unus ex discipulis suis: Magister, aspice quales lapides, et quales structuræ.

2 Et respondens Iesus, ait illi: Vides has omnes magnas ædificationes? Non relinquetur lapis super lapidem, qui non destruatur.

3 Et cum sederet in Monte olivarum contra templum, interrogabant eum separatim Petrus, et Iacobus, et Ioannes, et Andreas:

4 Dic nobis, quando ista fient? et quod signum erit, quando hæc omnia incipient consummari?

5 Et respondens Iesus cœpit dicere illis: Videte ne quid vos seducat:

6 multi enim venient in nomine meo dicentes, quia ego sum: et multos seducent.

7 Cum audieritis autem bella, et opiniones bellorum, ne timueritis: oportet enim hæc fieri: sed nondum finis.

8 Exurget enim gens contra gentem, et regnum super regnum, et erunt terræmotus per loca, et fames. Initium dolorum hæc.

9 Videte autem vosmetipsos. Tradent enim vos in consiliis, et in synagogis vapulabitis, et ante præsides, et reges stabitis propter me, in testimonium illis.

10 Et in omnes gentes primum oportet prædicari Evangelium.

11 Et cum duxerint vos tradentes, nolite præcogitare quid loquamini: sed quod datum vobis fuerit in illa hora, id loquimini non enim vos estis loquentes, sed Spiritus sanctus.

12 Tradet autem frater fratrem in mortem, et pater filium: et consurgent filii in parentes, et morte afficient eos.

13 Et eritis odio omnibus propter nomen meum. Qui autem sustinuerit in finem, hic salvus erit.

14 Cum autem videritis abominationem desolationis stantem, ubi non debet, qui legit, intelligat: tunc qui in Iudæa sunt, fugiant in montes:

15 et qui super tectum, ne descendat in domum, nec introeat ut tollat quid de domo sua:

16 et qui in agro erit, non revertatur retro tollere vestimentum suum.

17 Væ autem prægnantibus, et nutrientibus in illis diebus.

18 Orate vero ut hieme non fiant.

19 Erunt enim dies illi tribulationes tales, quales non fuerunt ab initio creaturæ, quam condidit Deus usque nunc, neque fient.

20 Et nisi breviasset Dominus dies, non fuisset salva omnis caro: sed propter electos, quos elegit, breviavit dies.

21 Et tunc si quis vobis dixerit: Ecce hic est Christus, ecce illic, ne credideritis.

22 Exurgent enim pseudochristi, et pseudoprophetæ, et dabunt signa, et portenta ad seducendos, si fieri potest, etiam electos.

23 Vos ergo videte: ecce prædixi vobis omnia.

24 Sed in illis diebus post tribulationem illam sol contenebrabitur, et luna non dabit splendorem suum:

25 et stellæ cæli erunt decidentes, et virtutes, quæ in cælis sunt, movebuntur.

26 Et tunc videbunt filium hominis venientem in nubibus cum virtute multa, et gloria.

27 Et tunc mittet angelos suos, et congregabit electos suos a quattuor ventis, a summo terræ usque ad summum cæli.

28 A ficu autem discite parabolam. Cum iam ramus eius tener fuerit, et nata fuerint folia, cognoscitis quia in proximo sit æstas:

29 sic et vos cum videritis hæc fieri, scitote quod in proximo sit in ostiis.

30 Amen dico vobis, quoniam non transibit generatio hæc, donec omnia ista fiant.

31 Cælum, et terra transibunt, verba autem mea non transibunt.

32 De die autem illo, vel hora nemo scit, neque angeli in cælo, neque Filius, nisi Pater.

33 Videte, vigilate, et orate: nescitis enim quando tempus sit.

34 Sicut homo, qui peregre profectus reliquit domum suam, et dedit servis suis potestatem cuiusque operis, et ianitori præcepit ut vigilet.

35 Vigilate ergo, (nescitis enim quando dominus domus veniat: sero an media nocte, an galli cantu, an mane)

36 ne cum venerit repente, inveniat vos dormientes.

37 Quod autem vobis dico, omnibus dico: Vigilate.

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

1 As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!”

2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.”

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”

5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.

6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray.

7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.

11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

13 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,

15 and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.

16 Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.

17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!

18 Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter.

19 For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.

20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

21 Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it.

22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

23 But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.

24 But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,

25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.

26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

28 “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near;

29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.

30 Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 “But of that day or that hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.

34 “It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.

35 Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;

36 lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping.

37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!”

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 και εκπορευομενου αυτου εκ του ιερου λεγει αυτω εις των μαθητων αυτου διδασκαλε ιδε ποταποι λιθοι και ποταπαι οικοδομαι

2 και ο ιησους ειπεν αυτω βλεπεις ταυτας τας μεγαλας οικοδομας ου μη αφεθη ωδε λιθος επι λιθον ος ου μη καταλυθη

3 και καθημενου αυτου εις το ορος των ελαιων κατεναντι του ιερου επηρωτα αυτον κατ ιδιαν πετρος και ιακωβος και ιωαννης και ανδρεας

4 ειπον ημιν ποτε ταυτα εσται και τι το σημειον οταν μελλη ταυτα συντελεισθαι παντα

5 ο δε ιησους ηρξατο λεγειν αυτοις βλεπετε μη τις υμας πλανηση

6 πολλοι ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες οτι εγω ειμι και πολλους πλανησουσιν

7 οταν δε ακουσητε πολεμους και ακοας πολεμων μη θροεισθε δει γενεσθαι αλλ ουπω το τελος

8 εγερθησεται γαρ εθνος επ εθνος και βασιλεια επι βασιλειαν εσονται σεισμοι κατα τοπους εσονται λιμοι αρχη ωδινων ταυτα

9 βλεπετε δε υμεις εαυτους παραδωσουσιν υμας εις συνεδρια και εις συναγωγας δαρησεσθε και επι ηγεμονων και βασιλεων σταθησεσθε ενεκεν εμου εις μαρτυριον αυτοις

10 και εις παντα τα εθνη πρωτον δει κηρυχθηναι το ευαγγελιον

11 και οταν αγωσιν υμας παραδιδοντες μη προμεριμνατε τι λαλησητε αλλ ο εαν δοθη υμιν εν εκεινη τη ωρα τουτο λαλειτε ου γαρ εστε υμεις οι λαλουντες αλλα το πνευμα το αγιον

12 και παραδωσει αδελφος αδελφον εις θανατον και πατηρ τεκνον και επαναστησονται τεκνα επι γονεις και θανατωσουσιν αυτους

13 και εσεσθε μισουμενοι υπο παντων δια το ονομα μου ο δε υπομεινας εις τελος ουτος σωθησεται

14 οταν δε ιδητε το βδελυγμα της ερημωσεως εστηκοτα οπου ου δει ο αναγινωσκων νοειτω τοτε οι εν τη ιουδαια φευγετωσαν εις τα ορη

15 ο επι του δωματος μη καταβατω μηδε εισελθατω τι αραι εκ της οικιας αυτου

16 και ο εις τον αγρον μη επιστρεψατω εις τα οπισω αραι το ιματιον αυτου

17 ουαι δε ταις εν γαστρι εχουσαις και ταις θηλαζουσαις εν εκειναις ταις ημεραις

18 προσευχεσθε δε ινα μη γενηται χειμωνος

19 εσονται γαρ αι ημεραι εκειναι θλιψις οια ου γεγονεν τοιαυτη απ αρχης κτισεως ην εκτισεν ο θεος εως του νυν και ου μη γενηται

20 και ει μη εκολοβωσεν κυριος τας ημερας ουκ αν εσωθη πασα σαρξ αλλα δια τους εκλεκτους ους εξελεξατο εκολοβωσεν τας ημερας

21 και τοτε εαν τις υμιν ειπη ιδε ωδε ο χριστος ιδε εκει μη πιστευετε

22 εγερθησονται γαρ ψευδοχριστοι και ψευδοπροφηται και δωσουσιν σημεια και τερατα προς το αποπλαναν ει δυνατον τους εκλεκτους

23 υμεις δε βλεπετε προειρηκα υμιν παντα

24 αλλα εν εκειναις ταις ημεραις μετα την θλιψιν εκεινην ο ηλιος σκοτισθησεται και η σεληνη ου δωσει το φεγγος αυτης

25 και οι αστερες εσονται εκ του ουρανου πιπτοντες και αι δυναμεις αι εν τοις ουρανοις σαλευθησονται

26 και τοτε οψονται τον υιον του ανθρωπου ερχομενον εν νεφελαις μετα δυναμεως πολλης και δοξης

27 και τοτε αποστελει τους αγγελους και επισυναξει τους εκλεκτους [αυτου] εκ των τεσσαρων ανεμων απ ακρου γης εως ακρου ουρανου

28 απο δε της συκης μαθετε την παραβολην οταν ηδη ο κλαδος αυτης απαλος γενηται και εκφυη τα φυλλα γινωσκετε οτι εγγυς το θερος εστιν

29 ουτως και υμεις οταν ιδητε ταυτα γινομενα γινωσκετε οτι εγγυς εστιν επι θυραις

30 αμην λεγω υμιν οτι ου μη παρελθη η γενεα αυτη μεχρι ου ταυτα παντα γενηται

31 ο ουρανος και η γη παρελευσονται οι δε λογοι μου ου παρελευσονται

32 περι δε της ημερας εκεινης η της ωρας ουδεις οιδεν ουδε οι αγγελοι εν ουρανω ουδε ο υιος ει μη ο πατηρ

33 βλεπετε αγρυπνειτε ουκ οιδατε γαρ ποτε ο καιρος [εστιν]

34 ως ανθρωπος αποδημος αφεις την οικιαν αυτου και δους τοις δουλοις αυτου την εξουσιαν εκαστω το εργον αυτου και τω θυρωρω ενετειλατο ινα γρηγορη

35 γρηγορειτε ουν ουκ οιδατε γαρ ποτε ο κυριος της οικιας ερχεται η οψε η μεσονυκτιον η αλεκτοροφωνιας η πρωι

36 μη ελθων εξαιφνης ευρη υμας καθευδοντας

37 ο δε υμιν λεγω πασιν λεγω γρηγορειτε

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

1 And as he is going forth out of the temple, one of his disciples saith to him, `Teacher, see! what stones! and what buildings!'

2 and Jesus answering said to him, `Seest thou these great buildings? there may not be left a stone upon a stone, that may not be thrown down.'

3 And as he is sitting at the mount of the Olives, over-against the temple, Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, were questioning him by himself,

4 `Tell us when these things shall be? and what <FI>is<Fi> the sign when all these may be about to be fulfilled?'

5 And Jesus answering them, began to say, `Take heed lest any one may lead you astray,

6 for many shall come in my name, saying--I am <FI>he<Fi> , and many they shall lead astray;

7 and when ye may hear of wars and reports of wars, be not troubled, for these behove to be, but the end <FI>is<Fi> not yet;

8 for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles; beginnings of sorrows <FI>are<Fi> these.

9 `And take ye heed to yourselves, for they shall deliver you up to sanhedrims, and to synagogues, ye shall be beaten, and before governors and kings ye shall be set for my sake, for a testimony to them;

10 and to all the nations it behoveth first that the good news be proclaimed.

11 `And when they may lead you, delivering up, be not anxious beforehand what ye may speak, nor premeditate, but whatever may be given to you in that hour, that speak ye, for it is not ye who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 `And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child, and children shall rise up against parents, and shall put them to death,

13 and ye shall be hated by all because of my name, but he who hath endured to the end--he shall be saved.

14 `And when ye may see the abomination of the desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (whoever is reading let him understand), then those in Judea, let them flee to the mountains;

15 and he upon the house-top, let him not come down to the house, nor come in to take anything out of his house;

16 and he who is in the field, let him not turn to the things behind, to take up his garment.

17 `And woe to those with child, and to those giving suck, in those days;

18 and pray ye that your flight may not be in winter,

19 for those days shall be tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the creation that God created, till now, and may not be;

20 and if the Lord did not shorten the days, no flesh had been saved; but because of the chosen, whom He did choose to Himself, He did shorten the days.

21 `And then, if any may say to you, Lo, here <FI>is<Fi> the Christ, or, Lo, there, ye may not believe;

22 for there shall rise false Christs and false prophets, and they shall give signs and wonders, to seduce, if possible, also the chosen;

23 and ye, take heed; lo, I have foretold you all things.

24 `But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

25 and the stars of the heaven shall be falling, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken.

26 `And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in clouds with much power and glory,

27 and then he shall send his messengers, and gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the end of the earth unto the end of heaven.

28 `And from the fig-tree learn ye the simile: when the branch may already become tender, and may put forth the leaves, ye know that nigh is the summer;

29 so ye, also, when these ye may see coming to pass, ye know that it is nigh, at the doors.

30 Verily I say to you, that this generation may not pass away till all these things may come to pass;

31 the heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

32 `And concerning that day and the hour no one hath known--not even the messengers who are in the heaven, not even the Son--except the Father.

33 Take heed, watch and pray, for ye have not known when the time is;

34 as a man who is gone abroad, having left his house, and given to his servants the authority, and to each one his work, did command also the porter that he may watch;

35 watch ye, therefore, for ye have not known when the lord of the house doth come, at even, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or at the morning;

36 lest, having come suddenly, he may find you sleeping;

37 and what I say to you, I say to all, Watch.'

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).