In this session we will be reading all three sentences (verses) that cover the second day in the Creation Story. This post is part of a series intended to provide practice and insight for reading the Hebrew Scriptures. If you are entirely new to reading Hebrew, start your adventure here: ‘Learn To Read The Hebrew Old Testament In A Single Lesson’ which contains basic instructions.
We are using the format of Letter Meaning Chart – followed by the Reading Portion with prefixes and suffixes indicated with enlarged letters – and then the Related Glossary so that all the words in the portion may be easily looked up.
What’s New
Today you will encounter a couple ‘root’ words that have been altered by adding the letter י (Yod) or ו (Waw) as the 3rd letter which transforms a verb into a noun and is a very common practice.
Hint: The letter Pe at the end of this passage is modern punctuation which you will frequently encounter as you continue to read Hebrew.
Genesis 1 : 6 – 8
Genesis 1 : 6 – 8 Glossary
Word entries are of the form:
Hebrew Word – Equivalent English Letters – Meanings –
Word Construction / Notes and Explanations –
Derived Words (if any)
אלהים ALHYM God as Creator
אל = God+ ה = be + י = bring forth + ם = physical
also: ‘first… far reaching… be… bring forth… physical’
אמר AMR speak
‘source… physical… body’
– reflects the belief that everything is spoken into existence. This word was used in the Creation Story.
אשר AShR which
‘first… doubles… body’
את ATh et (this word connects a following detail to a previous verb)
‘source… together’
בדל BDL piece / separate
בד = separate + ל = far reaching
– describes a piece removed from something.
also: ‘tent… door… extending’
– referring to a closed door’s function ‘to separate’
בין BYN space between / an interval / understand
‘tent… bring forth … ahead’
– perhaps the difference between now and then.
תבונה ThBWNH understanding
בקר BQR dawn / morning / cattle / seek
בקע = split + ר = body
– perhaps a reference to the sun appearing as half on the horizon.
היה HYH be / exist
‘the… bring forth… be’
יום YWM day
‘bring forth… add to… physical
כן KN thus / so / base
‘as like… ahead’
– ‘as like’ is a comparison meaning ‘similar’. Therefore, for example: ‘it should be thus’ means ‘it should be as like ahead’ or ‘it should be similar ahead’.
מים MYM water
‘physical… bring forth… physical’
also: ‘water… bring forth… water’
– the first physical substance created in the Creation Story.
על OL above / yoke
‘seen… far reaching’
– the furthest man could see (back then) was by looking up.
עליון OLYWN most high
ערב ORB evening / pledge / exchange / raven
‘seen… man… tent’
– the time when men return to their tents.
מערב MORB west
עשה OShH make
‘seen… fill… be’
or: ‘seen… doubles… be’
– referring to fashioning rather than inventing.
קרא QRA proclaim
‘venerated… body… source’
or: ק = enduring + ראה = see
– this word is used in the scriptures meaning ‘said’ when someone or something is being named.
מקרא MQRA convocation
רקע RQO spread / hammer / stamp
רק = thin + ע = seen
רקיע RQYO expanse
שמים ShMYM heaven
ש = fill + מים = water
– may refer to day two of the Creation Story when God created the heaven in the midst of the waters.
שני ShNY two / scarlet
‘fill… emerging… bring forth’
– first occurs in Genesis 1:8 as day ‘two’ when God Created the firmament in the midst of the waters and called it heaven.
תוך ThWK halve / middle / midst
‘together… add to… vessel’
תחת ThChTh underlay / under
‘unite… separate… together’
– perhaps by taking hold resulting in something being under one’s hand.
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