Devine Scripture

Genesis 1:2

What does Genesis 1:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 1:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 1:2 means

Before God began to form and fill the world, the earth was an unorganized, uninhabited state, characterized by deep darkness and a watery expanse. The phrase "waste and void" indicates a lack of form and emptiness rather than inherent evil. Crucially, the Spirit of God is present and active, hovering over the waters, signifying His readiness to bring order, life, and purpose to the formless raw material. This active hovering demonstrates the Spirit's involvement in the creative work from the very beginning, setting the stage for the direct commands of God.

Genesis 1:2 in context

Genesis 1 — The Six Days of Creation

The Bible opens not with an argument for the existence of God but with the announcement of his creative act. In six measured days God speaks the cosmos into being — light, sky, sea, land, plants, sun and moon, fish and birds, animals, and finally man and woman in his own image. Each act ends with the refrain, 'and God saw that it was good.' The chapter establishes God's sovereignty, the goodness of the material world, the dignity of humanity, and the rhythm of work and rest that will shape all of Scripture.

  • Creation ex nihilo
  • The image of God
  • The goodness of creation
  • Sabbath rhythm

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the earth was waste and without form; and it was dark on the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God was moving on the face of the waters.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

the earth hath existed waste and void, and darkness <FI>is<Fi> on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God fluttering on the face of the waters,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit ofGod was hovering over the face of the waters.

Context

Following the grand announcement of God's initial act of creation in verse 1, this verse describes the raw, unformed state of the earth. It details the conditions—darkness, watery deep, and emptiness—that God will address and transform in the subsequent creative days. The presence of the Spirit of God here is vital, as it introduces the active agent who will participate in bringing order and life out of this initial chaos, preparing for the command to bring light.

v.1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

v.2This passage

v.3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Job 26:7

    He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.

  • Psalms 33:6

    By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

  • Isaiah 45:18

    For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else.

  • Psalms 104:30

    Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; And thou renewest the face of the ground.

  • Isaiah 40:12

    Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

  • Job 26:14

    Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?

Sermon ideas from Genesis 1:2

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Genesis 1:2 teaches us about creation ex nihilo

  • What Genesis 1:2 teaches us about the image of god

  • What Genesis 1:2 teaches us about the goodness of creation

  • What Genesis 1:2 teaches us about sabbath rhythm

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