Is the word 'was' correctly translated in Genesis 1 verse 2 or should it more properly be 'became' as in Genesis 19 verse 26?

Answer 1

A:The King James Version of The Bible has the verb 'was' twice in Genesis 1:2, with the second occurrence in italics. The KJV does use italics when the word is not a literal translation of the original, or when the translators were not sure of the intended meaning. Genesis 1:1-2 (KJV): "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Looking at a modern Jewish copy in English translation, Genesis 1:1-2 reads: "In the beginning of God's creation of the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was astonishingly empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water."

In spite of the italics, the two version agree on the wording of 'darkness was on the face of the deep', and agree that the earth was empty or without form, but not on the fundamental meaning of the sentence. Since the early centuries of the Common Era, tradition has held that Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning God created heaven and earth." As long ago as the eleventh century CE, the influential Jewish scholar, Rashi, said that this should read, "When God began to create" or "In the beginning of God's creation ..." In line with this, we see in the Jewish Bible, quoted above, that the earth was pre-existing but empty. Most English translations are inaccurate on the fundamental meaning, but accurate in using 'was' in verse 2.

Additional Comments:

This question has been discussed for nearly 2,000 years now and there are varying answers. Perhaps a Hebrew scholar can shed more light on the proper translation of the term translated as 'was.' My understanding is that the word "was" in Genesis 1:2 is the Hebrew word "hayah," which means "to exist, that is, to become, come to pass." Hence, the earth already existed in Genesis 1:2, and it became without form, and void; and darkness covered the face of the deep.

Many writings exist on the meaning of Genesis 1:2 with the Ante-Nicean Father, Origen (circa late 2nd to mid 3rd century AD), who wrote in his commentary, 'De Principiis' thought the Earth 'had been cast downwards' suggesting a previous time before the Creation of mankind.

Supplemental Information:

When translating from one language into another language, the translator sometimes needs to understand 'CONTEXT', to determine which usage is appropriate.

The Hebrew word in question in both Genesis 1:2 and 19:26, the same Hebrew word CAN be translated BOTH ways --- DEPENDING. Depending on understanding the context.

(A loose example might be if a foreigner saw the English word 'bear'. It really does have 2 completely different meanings --- DEPENDING on Context. In one place it might be 'an animal'; in another place it might mean 'carrying'. Context would be the determining factor. This is a loose example I know, but gives an idea of the difficulty in 'translating' from one language into another.)

Likewise with Genesis 1:2. The context is discussion the 'creation --- PROCESS'.

While Jehovah God had created the Universe, including the earth; the earth needed to be prepared for the completely new forms of life God would create. For example: Animal-LIFE would need oxygen, and food. An empty planet would not suffice to support such life. So God PREPARED things one step at a time; no doubt to the amazing wonderment of the angels observing this creative process.

God had to create Plant-Life, to provide oxygen, and food, for this future form of life. But Plant-life required 'LIGHT' to exist. This is how God PREPARED things in STAGES.

Therefore in Genesis 1:2, the translation of 'was' is appropriate. The context was dealing with the 'past condition' of the earth up to this point.

But in Genesis 19:26, the context is quite different. Lot's wife 'became' a pillar of salt, due to her disobedience to God's instructions not to look back. This was a punishment by God.

Therefore while both renderings of 'was' and 'became' is correct for the one Hebrew word; -- CONTEXT determines HOW it is to be translated into another language, for accuracy of understanding things in the new language.