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Q:
Why do some people say that there is a gap between the first
two verses of Genesis 1?
A
: The idea of adding
a break between the first two verses of Genesis 1 is called
the gap theory, and there are many different versions of this
theory. But they all, in some way, try to fit the supposed
billions of years of earth's history between Genesis 1:1 and
1:2.
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But
the Hebrew grammar does not allow for such a gap.
Genesis
1:2 begins: “And the earth … .” The use of the English word
“and” there is because of what's called an explanatory use of
a waw disjunctive in Hebrew, when it is connected
to a noun like “earth.” In Hebrew grammar, this means this verse
is a comment on the previous verse. |
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It
is not a part of the sequence of the narrative.
Now
in verse 1:3, we read “And God said … .” |
When
the waw is connected to a verb like “said,” this is
called a waw consecutive. This means this is
part of the sequence of the narrative.
Thus,
Genesis 1:1 actually connects directly to verse 1:3—so verse
1:2, where there is an alleged gap, is a comment or description
of the earth in verse 1:1.
The
bottom line is that the original Hebrew grammar does not allow
for a gap between the first two verses.
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