Hi autumnman,
Concerning your questions I am not a mind reader and unable to determine what the author may or may not have meant. But the words used have specific meanings.
autumnman writes:
What does the author mean in Gen. 1:2 when he writes, “and the earth was formless and void”?
Formless is not used. "Without form is used".
Hebrew was translated "without form".
The definition of is:
1) formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
a) formlessness
b) that which is empty
c) wasteland, wilderness (of solitary places)
d) place of chaos
e) vanity
and void
Hebrew ‘ is translated "void".
The definition of ‘ is:
1) emptiness, void, waste
autumnman writes:
What is “the deep” and the “water” the author describes in Gen. 1:2?
Hebrew is translated "the deep".
The definition of is:
1) deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea
a) deep (of subterranean waters)
b) deep, sea, abysses (of sea)
c) primeval ocean, deep
d) deep, depth (of river)
autumnman writes:
The author writes in Gen. 1:3, “Then God said, ”Let there be light’; and there was light.” What is this “light” that the author is describing?
Hebrew is translated "let there be".
The definition of is:
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen,
Hebrew is translated "light".
The definition of is:
1) light
a) light of day
autumnman writes:
In Gen. 1:4 the author states that, “God separated the light from the darkness.” Since “light” by design is “separated” from “darkness”, what might the author be alluding to?
Genesis 1:4 says God "divided" the light from the darkness.
Hebrew ‘— is translated "divided".
The definition of ‘— is:
1) to divide, separate
a) (Hiphil)
1) to divide, separate, sever
2) to separate, set apart
3) to make a distinction, difference
4) to divide into parts
autumnman writes:
In Gen. 1:5 the author describes God calling, “light Day and the darkness he called Night”. Since the “earth” most likely remains “formless and void” and the “sun and moon” have not yet been brought into being, what kind of “Day” and “Night” is the author describing here?
Light is defined above.
Hebrew is translated "day".
The definition of is:
1) day, time, year
a) day (as opposed to night)
b) time, period (general)
Hebrew is translated "darkness".
The definition is:
1) darkness, obscurity
a) dark,
This darkness He called "night".
Hebrew —— is translated "night".
The definition of —— is:
1) night
a) night (as opposed to day)
Hebrew ‘ is translated "and the evening".
The definition of ‘ is:
1) evening, night, sunset
a) evening, sunset
Hebrew ‘ is translated "and the morning".
The definition of ‘ is:
1) morning, break of day
a) morning
1) of end of night
2) of coming of daylight
b) morrow, next day, next morning
Hebrew is translated "were the first day".
The definition of is:
1) one
a) one (number)
b) each, every
c) a certain
Comments:
The first day ended at first light according to Gen. 1:5.
The sun and moon have nothing to do with light and darkness.
Light is mearly an absence of darkness, makes no difference what the source is.
autumnman writes:
Then Gen. 1:5 concludes, “And there was evening and morning, the first day.” According Professor Sarna, “evening ... morning ... terms inappropriate before the creation of the sun on the fourth day” (JPS, Commentary, Genesis, pg. 8).
Professor Sarna has his opinion and others have a different opinion.
God Bless,
"John 5:39 (KJS) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
™ Version 4.2
