Genesis 1

reviewed Translated by Claude Fable under the WPB rules; gated and blind-read.

1 When Elohim began creating 1 the skies and the land— 2 now the land was 1 tohubohu, and darkness was on the face of Abyss 2, and the wind 3 of Elohim was fluttering on the face of the waters— 3 and Elohim said, "Let light be," and light was. 4 And Elohim saw the light, that it was good; and Elohim distinguished between the light and between the darkness. 5 And Elohim called to the light, "Day," and to the darkness he called, "Night." And evening was, and morning was: day one 4.

1 v. 1 Crux. בְּרֵאשִׁית is pointed without the article (בְּ, not בָּ), and רֵאשִׁית elsewhere stands in construct (Jer 26:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית מַמְלְכוּת, "in the beginning of the reign of"); a construct before a finite clause is attested… more

2 v. 2 תְהוֹם without the article, as nearly always in the singular (with it only at Isa 63:13; Ps 106:9). The word is the primeval ocean (Gen 7:11; 8:2 "the springs of Abyss"; Prov 8:24, 27–28 "when there were no abysses… on the face… more

3 v. 2 Crux. רוּחַ is wind, breath and spirit; the split (31) gives "spirit" when Elohim is the possessor, but 31 itself keeps cruxes under ruling 1, and this is the crux it was written for. For "wind": the context is weather and water… more

4 v. 5 יוֹם אֶחָד is the cardinal, "day one," where the following days take ordinals (second, third…) without the article; only the sixth day (v. 31) has the article, הַשִּׁשִּׁי, and the seventh (2:2–3). The grammar counts the first… more

1 When God began to create the sky and the earth— 2 while the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the deep, and a wind from God was hovering over the water— 3 God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Evening came, and morning came: the first day.

1 בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ

2 וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֨הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם

3 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי אֽוֹר

4 וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת הָא֖וֹר כִּי ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ

5 וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד

6 And Elohim said, "Let a hammered sheet be in the middle of the waters, and let it be distinguishing between waters to waters." 7 And Elohim made the hammered sheet, and distinguished between the waters that were under the hammered sheet and between the waters that were above the hammered sheet. And it was thus. 8 And Elohim called to the hammered sheet, "Skies." And evening was, and morning was: a second day.

6 Then God said, "Let there be a dome in the middle of the water, to keep one body of water apart from the other." 7 So God made the dome and separated the water under the dome from the water above it. And that is how it was. 8 God called the dome "sky." Evening came, and morning came: the second day.

6 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יְהִ֥י רָקִ֖יעַ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַמָּ֑יִם וִיהִ֣י מַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם

7 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת הָרָקִיעַ֒ וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֨יִם֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ וַֽיְהִי כֵֽן

8 וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָֽרָקִ֖יעַ שָׁמָ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שֵׁנִֽי

9 And Elohim said, "Let the waters under the skies be pooled to one place, and let the dry be seen." And it was thus. 10 And Elohim called to the dry, "Land," and to the pool of the waters he called, "Seas." And Elohim saw that it was good. 11 And Elohim said, "Let the land sprout sprouts 5: plant seeding seed, fruit-tree making fruit after its kind, whose seed is in it, on the land." And it was thus. 12 And the land brought out sprouts: plant seeding seed after its kind, and tree making fruit whose seed is in it, after its kind. And Elohim saw that it was good. 13 And evening was, and morning was: a third day.

9 Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, so that dry ground appears." And that is how it was. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered water he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, "Let the land grow plants: plants that make seeds, and fruit trees that make fruit after their kind, with seeds inside, on the land." And that is how it was. 12 The land brought out plants: plants that make seeds after their kind, and trees that make fruit with seeds inside, after their kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 Evening came, and morning came: the third day.

9 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִקָּו֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם מִתַּ֤חַת הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ אֶל מָק֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וַֽיְהִי כֵֽן

10 וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים לַיַּבָּשָׁה֙ אֶ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְוֵ֥ה הַמַּ֖יִם קָרָ֣א יַמִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי טֽוֹב

11 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ דֶּ֔שֶׁא עֵ֚שֶׂב מַזְרִ֣יעַ זֶ֔רַע עֵ֣ץ פְּרִ֞י עֹ֤שֶׂה פְּרִי֙ לְמִינ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ ב֖וֹ עַל הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי כֵֽן

12 וַתּוֹצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ דֶּ֠שֶׁא עֵ֣שֶׂב מַזְרִ֤יעַ זֶ֨רַע֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וְעֵ֧ץ עֹֽשֶׂה פְּרִ֛י אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ ב֖וֹ לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי טֽוֹב

13 וַֽיְהִי עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שְׁלִישִֽׁי

14 And Elohim said, "Let light-givers be in the hammered sheet of the skies, to distinguish between the day and between the night; and let them be for signs and for appointed feasts, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for light-givers in the hammered sheet of the skies, to give light on the land." And it was thus. 16 And Elohim made the two great light-givers—the great light-giver for the rule of the day, and the small light-giver for the rule of the night—and the stars. 17 And Elohim gave 6 them in the hammered sheet of the skies, to give light on the land, 18 and to rule in the day and in the night, and to distinguish between the light and between the darkness. And Elohim saw that it was good. 19 And evening was, and morning was: a fourth day.

14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be for signs and for festivals, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to shine on the earth." And that is how it was. 16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the smaller light to rule the night. He made the stars too. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to shine on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came, and morning came: the fourth day.

14 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים

15 וְהָי֤וּ לִמְאוֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי כֵֽן

16 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים אֶת הַמָּא֤וֹר הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת הַמָּא֤וֹר הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וְאֵ֖ת הַכּוֹכָבִֽים

17 וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל הָאָֽרֶץ

18 וְלִמְשֹׁל֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑שֶׁךְ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי טֽוֹב

19 וַֽיְהִי עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם רְבִיעִֽי

20 And Elohim said, "Let the waters swarm a swarm 5 of living soul, and let flyers fly over the land, on the face of the hammered sheet of the skies." 21 And Elohim created the great dragons, and every living soul that creeps, which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged flyer after its kind. And Elohim saw that it was good. 22 And Elohim blessed them, saying, "Bear fruit and be many, and fill the waters in the seas; and let the flyers be many on the land." 23 And evening was, and morning was: a fifth day.

20 Then God said, "Let the water swarm with living souls, and let flying creatures fly above the earth, across the dome of the sky." 21 So God created the great sea dragons, every living soul that moves, which the water swarmed with, after their kinds, and every winged flying creature after its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Bear fruit and become many. Fill the water in the seas, and let the flying creatures become many on the earth." 23 Evening came, and morning came: the fifth day.

20 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם שֶׁ֖רֶץ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֑ה וְעוֹף֙ יְעוֹפֵ֣ף עַל הָאָ֔רֶץ עַל פְּנֵ֖י רְקִ֥יעַ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם

21 וַיִּבְרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת כָּל נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַֽחַיָּ֣ה הָֽרֹמֶ֡שֶׂת אֲשֶׁר֩ שָׁרְצ֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם לְמִֽינֵהֶ֗ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל ע֤וֹף כָּנָף֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי טֽוֹב

22 וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֗וּ וּמִלְא֤וּ אֶת הַמַּ֨יִם֙ בַּיַּמִּ֔ים וְהָע֖וֹף יִ֥רֶב בָּאָֽרֶץ

23 וַֽיְהִי עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם חֲמִישִֽׁי

24 And Elohim said, "Let the land bring out living soul after its kind: beast and creeper and living thing of the land after its kind." And it was thus. 25 And Elohim made the living thing of the land after its kind, and the beast after its kind, and every creeper of the ground after its kind. And Elohim saw that it was good. 26 And Elohim said, "Let us make human in our icon, as our likeness; and let them master the fish of the sea and the flyers of the skies and the beast and all the land and every creeper creeping on the land." 27 And Elohim created the human in his icon; in the icon of Elohim he created him; male and female he created them.7 28 And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, "Bear fruit and be many, and fill the land and subdue it; and master the fish of the sea and the flyers of the skies and every living thing creeping on the land." 29 And Elohim said, "Look, I have given to you every plant seeding seed that is on the face of all the land, and every tree that has in it fruit of tree seeding seed: to you it will be for eating.

24 Then God said, "Let the land bring out living souls after their kind: livestock, crawling things, and wild animals, each after its own kind." And that is how it was. 25 God made the wild animals after their kind, the livestock after their kind, and every crawling thing on the ground after its kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, like us, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, the flying creatures of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and every crawling thing that crawls on the earth." 27 So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, "Bear fruit and become many. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish of the sea, the flying creatures of the sky, and every living thing that crawls on the earth." 29 Then God said, "Look, I have given you every plant on the whole earth that makes seeds, and every tree with fruit that has seeds in it. They will be yours for food.

24 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תּוֹצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ נֶ֤פֶשׁ חַיָּה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ בְּהֵמָ֥ה וָרֶ֛מֶשׂ וְחַֽיְתוֹ אֶ֖רֶץ לְמִינָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי כֵֽן

25 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֩ אֶת חַיַּ֨ת הָאָ֜רֶץ לְמִינָ֗הּ וְאֶת הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל רֶ֥מֶשׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי טֽוֹב

26 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ וְיִרְדּוּ֩ בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבְכָל הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבְכָל הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל הָאָֽרֶץ

27 וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֶת הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹת֑וֹ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם

28 וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם֮ אֱלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת הָאָ֖רֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ וּרְד֞וּ בִּדְגַ֤ת הַיָּם֙ וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּבְכָל חַיָּ֖ה הָֽרֹמֶ֥שֶׂת עַל הָאָֽרֶץ

29 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶת כָּל עֵ֣שֶׂב זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל פְּנֵ֣י כָל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת כָּל הָעֵ֛ץ אֲשֶׁר בּ֥וֹ פְרִי עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה

30 And to every living thing of the land and to every flyer of the skies and to everything creeping on the land in which is living soul—every green of plant 8 for eating." And it was thus. 31 And Elohim saw everything that he had made, and look—very good. And evening was, and morning was: the sixth day 4.

30 And to every wild animal, every flying creature of the sky, and everything that crawls on the earth and has a living soul in it, I give every green plant for food." And that is how it was. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and it was very good. Evening came, and morning came: the sixth day.

30 וּֽלְכָל חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ וּלְכָל ע֨וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּלְכֹ֣ל רוֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה אֶת כָּל יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאָכְלָ֑ה וַֽיְהִי כֵֽן

31 וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַֽיְהִי עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי

Notes

Decision↩ Back to the text
Expected: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form" (KJV) / "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form" (RSV)
Rulings 1, 46
Crux. בְּרֵאשִׁית is pointed without the article (בְּ, not בָּ), and רֵאשִׁית elsewhere stands in construct (Jer 26:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית מַמְלְכוּת, "in the beginning of the reign of"); a construct before a finite clause is attested (Hos 1:2 תְּחִלַּת דִּבֶּר־יְהוָה, "when Adonai first spoke"). On that reading v. 1 is a temporal clause, v. 2 is circumstantial ("now the land was…"), and the main verb is וַיֹּאמֶר in v. 3: the same shape as the second account's opening at 2:4b–7, which the KJV hides. The absolute reading ("In the beginning") is the LXX's Ἐν ἀρχῇ, Targum Onkelos בְּקַדְמִין, the Vulgate, and John 1:1; the Masoretic accent (ṭipḥa on בְּרֵאשִׁית) has been read both ways. Rashi and Ibn Ezra take the construct; Genesis Rabbah 1:1 reads רֵאשִׁית as wisdom/Torah (Prov 8:22). Doctrinally decisive: the absolute reading has carried creation from nothing (2 Macc 7:28; Theophilus, Ad Autolycum 2.4) and the construct reading leaves tohubohu, darkness and Abyss already there when Elohim speaks. The stranger reading is printed (ruling 1); both traditions are named (46). The marker at v. 2 "now the land was" shows where the circumstantial clause begins.
Decision↩ Back to the text
Expected: "the deep" (KJV, RSV)
Rulings 5, 18, 80
תְהוֹם without the article, as nearly always in the singular (with it only at Isa 63:13; Ps 106:9). The word is the primeval ocean (Gen 7:11; 8:2 "the springs of Abyss"; Prov 8:24, 27–28 "when there were no abysses… on the face of Abyss"), cognate with Akkadian Tiamat, the sea slain in Enuma Elish; here it is not fought but simply there. The LXX ἄβυσσος supplies the cognate because the Hebrew gloss is open (ruling 5), and English has it (Luke 8:31; Rom 10:7; Rev 9:1). The capital treats the anarthrous word as name-like, as English already treats שְׁאוֹל "Sheol"; under ruling 80 (name-like cosmic nouns take the capital of a name, not the lowercase of a personification).
Decision↩ Back to the text
Expected: "the Spirit of God" (KJV, RSV)
Rulings 1, 31, 46
Crux. רוּחַ is wind, breath and spirit; the split (31) gives "spirit" when Elohim is the possessor, but 31 itself keeps cruxes under ruling 1, and this is the crux it was written for. For "wind": the context is weather and water (darkness, Abyss, the waters), the verb רחף is a bird's motion (Deut 32:11), and Gen 8:1 ends the flood with a רוּחַ Elohim passes over the land. Readings: Targum Onkelos "a wind from before Adonai"; Ibn Ezra, wind; Rashi, the throne of glory hovering by the breath of the Holy One; NJPS and NRSV "a wind from God." For "spirit": the LXX πνεῦμα θεοῦ, the Vulgate spiritus Dei, Basil (Hexaemeron 2.6), Augustine (De Gen. ad litt. 1.5), and the whole Christian reading of Gen 1:2 as the Spirit's first appearance. Doctrinally decisive (46). "Wind" is printed as the stranger attested reading; "of Elohim" is kept as a construct, not "from God," so the reader can still take it either way.
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יוֹם אֶחָד is the cardinal, "day one," where the following days take ordinals (second, third…) without the article; only the sixth day (v. 31) has the article, הַשִּׁשִּׁי, and the seventh (2:2–3). The grammar counts the first day as a unit and marks the sixth as the one the series was heading for. The KJV levels this to "the first day… the sixth day"; the RSV keeps "one day."
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Ruling 6
Cognate objects kept: "sprout sprouts" (תַּדְשֵׁא דֶּשֶׁא, v. 11) and "swarm a swarm" (יִשְׁרְצוּ שֶׁרֶץ, v. 20). The KJV paraphrases both ("bring forth grass," "bring forth abundantly"). The same figure recurs in the second account ("eating you may eat," "dying you shall die," 2:16–17).
Decision↩ Back to the text
Expected: "set" (KJV, RSV)
Ruling 2
נָתַן is "give," its home gloss (v. 29 "I have given to you"); with בְּ and a place it means to put, as at Exod 40:5–8 for setting the altar and the laver in the tabernacle. The home gloss is held so that the two gifts of the chapter, the light-givers in v. 17 and the plants in v. 29, carry the same verb.
Reading↩ Back to the text
Rulings 14, 81
The verse falls in three parallel members (he created the human in his icon / in the icon of Elohim he created him / male and female he created them), and BHS sets it as verse. The Leningrad Codex does not: it runs as prose, and the atnach divides it in two, after אֹתוֹ. It is printed as prose here, and the parallelism is left for the ear; under ruling 81, a passage outside the three poetic books is lined only where L sets it as verse or the translator lines it and says so. "Him" renders אֹתוֹ, which agrees with הָאָדָם in grammar, not in sex (standing note on pronouns, ruling 8); the verse goes on to "male and female he created them."
Decision↩ Back to the text
Expected: "every green herb" (KJV) / "every green plant" (RSV)
Ruling 39
יֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב is a construct, "green of plant," where יֶרֶק is a noun (greenery, as at Num 22:4 "the green of the field"), not an adjective. The construct is kept; the sense is the green growth of plants as against their seed and fruit, which v. 29 gave to the human.

Words in this chapter (76)

Word	Gloss	Instead of	Note
אֱלֹהִים	Elohim (singular agreement); elohim (plural or none)	God	Transliterated; capital by agreement, not by referent (Ps 82:1, 6; Exod 21:6). The gate checks agreement on every occurrence
בָּרָא	create	create	Only Elohim is ever its subject. Kept apart from עָשָׂה "make" (v. 7, 16, 25) and יָצַר "shape" (2:7), so the chapter's three verbs of making stay three
שָׁמַיִם	sky, skies	heaven
אֶרֶץ	land	earth
רֵאשִׁית	beginning	beginning	Construct by its pointing.
מַיִם	waters	waters / water	Hebrew plural kept; the LXX version has the singular ὕδωρ
חֹשֶׁךְ	darkness	light / darkness
הָיָה	be; become (with לְ)	be	"Let light be," "and it was thus"; the LXX version has γίνομαι "come to be". With לְ of the result, "become" by construction: "became a living soul" (2:7), "become a flood" (9:15)
וָבֹהוּ	tohubohu	without form, and void	A rhyming pair English already borrowed (OED, 1619). Jer 4:23 and Isa 34:11 reuse it for un-creation; תֹּהוּ alone is "waste" (Deut 32:10; Isa 45:18)
תֹהוּ	tohubohu	without form, and void	A rhyming pair English already borrowed (OED, 1619). Jer 4:23 and Isa 34:11 reuse it for un-creation; תֹּהוּ alone is "waste" (Deut 32:10; Isa 45:18)
רוּחַ	wind / spirit	wind / Spirit	Split (31): "wind" for weather and the directions of the sky; "spirit" when a person or Elohim possesses it; cruxes under ruling 1 (here, v. 2)
רָחַף	flutter	move	Deut 32:11, the eagle over its young; Jer 23:9, bones that shake. The one verb carries wing and tremor
תְּהוֹם	Abyss (sg.); abysses (pl.)	the deep	See
אוֹר	light	light / darkness
אָמַר	say	say
רָאָה	see	see	"Gaze" is kept for חָזָה (Dan 7, Isa 1:1)
טוֹב	good	good	Core table; the LXX version has καλός "beautiful" (52)
בָּדַל	distinguish	divide / separate	The priestly verb for holy and common, clean and unclean (Lev 10:10; 11:47; 20:25); the chapter's work of creation is a priest's work of sorting. "Separate" is kept for פָּרַד (2:10)
קָרָא	call	call	קָרָא לְ "call to [something] [a name]" keeps the Hebrew construction
עֶרֶב	evening	evening / morning
לַיְלָה	night	day / night
אֶחָד	one	one	The cardinal. departed from
בֹּקֶר	morning	evening / morning
יוֹם	day	day / night
רָקִיעַ	hammered sheet	firmament / dome	רקע is to beat metal thin (Exod 39:3, gold leaf; Num 17:4 [Eng 16:39], plating for the altar; Isa 40:19) or to stamp (Ezek 6:11); Job 37:18 has the skies "hard as a cast mirror." "Beaten" is reserved for מִקְשָׁה "beaten work" (Exod 25:18), so the two stay apart
עָשָׂה	make / do	make / do	Split by construction: "make" with an object made, "do" with an act or "thus." Declared in the guide §3.4
כֵּן	thus	so	"And it was thus" seven times; Ps 1:4 "Not thus the guilty" answers it
קָוָה	be pooled	be gathered / gathering	מִקְוֵה מַיִם is a pool of water that stays ritually clean (Lev 11:36; cf. Exod 7:19). The homograph מִקְוֶה "hope" (Jer 14:8; Ezra 10:2) is a pun the rabbis heard (m. Yoma 8:9); note only
יַבָּשָׁה	the dry	dry land	A substantive, "the dry [thing]"; the word for the sea floor Israel crosses (Exod 14:16, 22)
מִקְוֶה	pool	be gathered / gathering	מִקְוֵה מַיִם is a pool of water that stays ritually clean (Lev 11:36; cf. Exod 7:19). The homograph מִקְוֶה "hope" (Jer 14:8; Ezra 10:2) is a pun the rabbis heard (m. Yoma 8:9); note only
יָם	sea, seas	sea, seas
זָרַע	seed (v.)	yield seed / seed	Cognate pair kept ("seeding seed"); the noun is also offspring (3:15; 22:18), which the one gloss keeps audible
דָּשָׁא	sprout	bring forth grass / vegetation	Cognate verb and noun; דֶּשֶׁא is the first green (Deut 32:2; 2 Sam 23:4). עֵשֶׂב "plant" and עֵץ "tree" are the two classes it comprises
מִין	kind	kind	Only in Genesis, Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14 and Ezek 47:10: a priestly sorting word
דֶּשֶׁא	sprouts	bring forth grass / vegetation	Cognate verb and noun; דֶּשֶׁא is the first green (Deut 32:2; 2 Sam 23:4). עֵשֶׂב "plant" and עֵץ "tree" are the two classes it comprises
פְּרִי	fruit	tree / fruit	The LXX version has ξύλον "wood" (58, 61); the two versions differ here on purpose (52)
זֶרַע	seed	yield seed / seed	Cognate pair kept ("seeding seed"); the noun is also offspring (3:15; 22:18), which the one gloss keeps audible
עֵשֶׂב	plant	herb / plant	The seed-bearing plant as against דֶּשֶׁא "sprouts" and עֵץ "tree"; "herb" is archaic
עֵץ	tree	tree / fruit	The LXX version has ξύλον "wood" (58, 61); the two versions differ here on purpose (52)
יָצָא	go out (qal) / bring out (hiphil)	bring forth	Split by stem. The hiphil is the Exodus verb (Exod 20:2 "who brought you out"); here the land is its first subject
שָׁנָה	year	year
מָאוֹר	light-giver	light / luminary	Agent noun from אוֹר "light": the thing that gives light. The sanctuary word for the lampstand's lighting (Exod 25:6; 35:14; Num 4:9 "the lampstand of the light-giver"), so sun and moon, unnamed, are set in the skies as the menorah is set in the tent. "Lamp" is kept for נֵר (Exod 25:37; Ps 119:105) by reverse concordance; the LXX version's φωστήρ "light-giver" lets the two versions agree here
מוֹעֵד	appointed feast	season	The fixed times of the festival calendar (Lev 23:2, 4, 37, 44; Num 28–29); the light-givers exist first to keep the calendar. Split needed for אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד "tent of meeting" (Exod 27:21), to be declared at Exodus
אוֹת	sign	sign
אוֹר	give light	give light	The verb of אוֹר "light" (v. 3) and מָאוֹר "light-giver" (v. 14)
מֶמְשֶׁלֶת	rule (n.)	rule / dominion	Kept apart from רָדָה "master" (v. 26, 28), כָּבַשׁ "subdue" (v. 28) and Aramaic שָׁלְטָן "dominion" (Dan 7)
כּוֹכָב	star	star
נָתַן	give	give / set / put	Home gloss held through the chapter (vv. 17, 29). Departures allowed with a note where "give" would create a false sense
מָשַׁל	rule	rule / dominion	Kept apart from רָדָה "master" (v. 26, 28), כָּבַשׁ "subdue" (v. 28) and Aramaic שָׁלְטָן "dominion" (Dan 7)
חַי	living; living thing; life (the plural חַיִּים, 26)	living; beast	חַיָּה as a noun is the wild animal (v. 24–25, 28, 30; Gen 7:14; Lev 11:2); as an adjective with נֶפֶשׁ it is "living soul" (v. 20, 21, 24, 30; 2:7). "Beast" is kept for בְּהֵמָה
עוֹף	flyers	fowl, birds / fly	Collective; includes winged insects (Lev 11:20–23), so "birds" narrows it. Plural in English for the collective ("the flyers of the skies")
נֶפֶשׁ	soul	life; creature
עוּף	fly	fowl, birds / fly	Collective; includes winged insects (Lev 11:20–23), so "birds" narrows it. Plural in English for the collective ("the flyers of the skies")
שֶׁרֶץ	swarm (n.)	bring forth abundantly / moving creature	Cognate pair (Exod 1:7, Israel "swarmed"; Lev 11:10, 20–23 swarming things, winged and watery)
שָׁרַץ	swarm	bring forth abundantly / moving creature	Cognate pair (Exod 1:7, Israel "swarmed"; Lev 11:10, 20–23 swarming things, winged and watery)
רָמַשׂ	creep	creep, move / creeping thing	Cognate pair; everything that moves low on the ground or in the water (Ps 104:25)
תַּנִּין	dragon	whale / sea monster	Serpent (Exod 7:9–12), dragon of the sea (Isa 27:1; 51:9; Ps 74:13; Job 7:12; Ezek 29:3); here created (בָּרָא, the second use of the verb), not fought. "Serpent" is kept for נָחָשׁ (3:1)
פָּרָה	bear fruit	be fruitful / multiply	פָּרָה is the verb of פְּרִי "fruit" (v. 11–12, 29), so the blessing on the creatures uses the plants' word. רָבָה is to be or become many (Gen 6:1; Exod 1:7, 10), the verb of Israel's growth in Egypt; "multiply" turns a state into an act
בָּרַךְ	bless	bless	Core table
מָלֵא	fill	fill / replenish
רָבָה	be many	be fruitful / multiply	פָּרָה is the verb of פְּרִי "fruit" (v. 11–12, 29), so the blessing on the creatures uses the plants' word. רָבָה is to be or become many (Gen 6:1; Exod 1:7, 10), the verb of Israel's growth in Egypt; "multiply" turns a state into an act
רֶמֶשׂ	creeper	creep, move / creeping thing	Cognate pair; everything that moves low on the ground or in the water (Ps 104:25)
בְּהֵמָה	beast	cattle	Domestic and large animals as a class (Exod 9:9–10; Lev 11:2); "cattle" is kept for בָּקָר, "sheep" for צֹאן
אֲדָמָה	ground	earth	Kept apart from אֶרֶץ "land" (v. 1) and עָפָר "dust" (2:7); the word the human (אָדָם) is shaped from and named for (2:7; 3:19)
דְּמוּת	likeness	likeness	Abstract of דָּמָה "be like" (Ezek 1:5, 26, the visions "a likeness of"); 5:1, 3 pairs it with צֶלֶם again
צֶלֶם	icon	image	A cult statue (Num 33:52; 2 Kgs 11:18; Ezek 7:20; Amos 5:26), the thing the second commandment forbids: the human is the one licit icon. The LXX εἰκών supplies the cognate because the Hebrew gloss is open (5), and English has "icon" in the living sense of a representing image; cf. 1 Cor 11:7; Col 1:15
רָדָה	master (v.)	have dominion	Rule as a master over the ruled: of a slave-owner (Lev 25:43, 46, 53), of Solomon over the lands (1 Kgs 5:4), of the foe (Isa 14:2, 6). Not מָשַׁל (v. 16, 18)
דָּגָה	fish	fish
אָדָם	human	man	Core table; always the common noun: the personal name is H121 "Adam," from 5:3 (72, 86). The pun on אֲדָמָה (v. 25 → 2:7) is lost; note at 2:7
זָכָר	male	male / female
נְקֵבָה	female	male / female
כָּבַשׁ	subdue	subdue	With "land" the collocation is settlement (Num 32:22, 29; Josh 18:1); of persons it is forcing (Esth 7:8; Neh 5:5). Collocation decides (3)
הִנֵּה	look	behold	Hebrew הִנֵּה "look"; Aramaic אֲרוּ "lo" (29)
אָכְלָה	eating (n.)	meat / food	Reverse concordance: "food" is kept for אֹכֶל (Gen 41:35; Exod 12:4), and אָכְלָה is the act or allowance of eating (Jer 12:9; Ezek 15:4 "for eating" of fuel for fire). Verbal noun, so the -ing form is allowed (10)
יֶרֶק	green (n.)	green herb	Num 22:4; 2 Kgs 19:26; Isa 15:6: greenery as a substance
שִׁשִּׁי	sixth	sixth	Ordinal; "the sixth day" alone takes the article