As the creation story unfolds, the formation of the woman stands out as a uniquely intimate and deliberate act of God. Many in our culture today recognize the deep human longing for companionship and argue that, since God made us with this desire—even need—for relationship, He would never deny us fulfillment, no matter how…

God’s creative work, up to this point, has been marked by repeated affirmations of goodness, yet for the first time we hear that something is “not good”—the man’s aloneness. Even in Eden, with honorable work and God’s presence, Adam is missing something essential. God’s response is not to provide Adam with a group, multiple women, another…

At the heart of God’s relationship with humanity lies both profound freedom and meaningful boundaries. When Yahweh God addresses the first human, His speech is striking in its generosity: “From all the trees of the garden you may surely eat.” The first command in Scripture is not a prohibition but a lavish invitation to enjoy His creation. Only after this…

The narrative of Eden takes a purposeful turn as God places the man in the garden, not merely for leisure, but with a holy commission: to “work” and “guard” it. These words are deeply significant. They echo the language later used for the duties of priests in the tabernacle and temple, where the Levites were called to serve (ʿābad) and to guard (šāmar) God’s…

Reading the description of Eden, we discover a garden overflowing with life, beauty, and abundance. What stands out in this section is not only the fertile river that waters Eden and then branches into four mighty streams, but also the rich mention of gold, precious stones, and aromatic resins. The text slows to let us savor the vivid details…

Stepping into the garden, we find a landscape overflowing with beauty and abundance. God, in His generosity, causes every tree to spring up—each one pleasing to the eye and good for food—creating a “Garden of Plenty.” Yet, at the very heart of Eden, two trees stand apart: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good…

The creation of humanity marks a turning point in the biblical narrative, distinguished by profound intimacy and intention. Unlike the animals, who are brought forth from the ground, the formation of the first human is described in vivid, personal terms: God acts as a potter, shaping man from the dust of the earth and then breathing into his nostrils…

As the focus of Genesis shifts from the broad cosmic scope of creation to the intimate beginnings of human life, a remarkable literary and theological transition occurs. For the first time in Scripture, we encounter the divine name Yahweh (often rendered “LORD”), joined with Elohim (“God”)—together, “the LORD God.” This unique combination…

Completion is a powerful word, and as the narrative of creation draws to a close, its resonance fills the text: “the heavens and the earth and all their array were finished.” The language of completion here does more than simply mark an end; it echoes through later scripture—especially in the building of the tabernacle (and later, the temple)—where…

As the story of creation reaches its crescendo, God’s gracious provision for all living beings becomes abundantly clear. God pronounces a performative grant, bestowing every seed-bearing plant and fruit-bearing tree as food for humanity, while “every green plant” serves as sustenance for the animals of the earth and sky. This divine gesture is marked…

The creation of humankind stands as the pinnacle of God’s creative work. Unlike the previous acts of creation, God now pauses for a moment of unique deliberation—“Let Us make humankind in Our image, after Our likeness.” This shift in divine speech underscores the extraordinary dignity and calling of humanity. The “image of God” language, so rich…

As the creative week draws near its climax, God’s word calls forth the living creatures of the land in all their diversity and wonder. The earth, which was formed and prepared in earlier days, now becomes the stage for the appearance of domestic animals, wild beasts, and creatures that crawl upon the ground. God’s initiative and artistry…

The story of creation takes a dramatic turn as God’s word brings forth a teeming abundance of life in the waters and the skies. Divine speech once again echoes with artistry and authority, commanding the waters to “swarm with swarmers” and the skies to be filled with birds in flight. Even as the waters and earth are invited to participate…

When the ancient world looked to the heavens, people saw not just beauty but power—deities and omens woven into the fabric of the night. The creation account, however, proclaims a radically different truth: the sun, moon, and stars are not gods, but servants, purposefully set in the sky by the one true God. God’s sovereign command brings…

From the first moments when dry land appeared, God’s creative word brought forth a world teeming with potential. He spoke, and the earth responded, yielding a rich tapestry of seed-bearing plants and fruit trees. The repetition of the word “seed” in this account underscores its importance—not merely as a detail of botany, but as a theological…

From the earliest moments of creation, the narrative reveals a God who brings order out of chaos, shaping a world that is both purposeful and life-giving. The act of gathering the waters and revealing the dry land is not merely a physical event, but a profound demonstration of God’s sovereignty and creative wisdom. 

From the earliest dawn of history, human eyes have gazed upward in awe at the great expanse above, wondering at its mystery and majesty. The ancient Hebrews, like their neighbors, pictured the sky as a vast, beaten dome—an expanse spread out by God’s command, separating the primal waters above from those below. God’s creative…

With a single, sovereign command, God’s voice shattered the primeval silence and brought forth light where only darkness reigned. The creation of light is not presented as a philosophical meditation on the nature of physics, but as the foundational act that makes all subsequent order possible. By introducing light, God initiates the…

Before the world as we know it took shape, the universe existed in a state of profound disorder and emptiness. The ancient text paints a picture of the earth as "desolate chaos," shrouded in darkness and submerged beneath the deep, primeval waters. This depiction is not merely a description of physical conditions but a literary and…

This first commentary will be a little long. Genesis 1:1 is a short verse, but it is packed with meaning. 

The opening words of the Bible stand as a majestic overture to the entire scriptural narrative, setting the stage for all scriptures that follow. Genesis 1:1 is not only the first sentence of the Bible but also a literary and theological