Creation

Question 1

Answer 1

(Pronounced “Bereseet”) “In the beginning”

Question 2

Answer 2

(Pronounced “Bara”) created

Question 3

Answer 3

(Pronounced “Elohim”)- God

Question 4

Answer 4

(Pronounced “et”)- the marker for a direct object

Question 5

Answer 5

(Pronounced “hashimayim”) - the heavens

Question 6

Answer 6

(Pronounced “veh-eht”)- another marker of the direct object

Question 7

Answer 7

(Pronounced “ha-ah-res”)- the earth

Question 8

Answer 8

(Pronounced “veh-he-ar-es”)- and the earth

Question 9

Answer 9

(Pronounced “hi-ya-ta”)- was

Question 10

Answer 10

(Pronounced “to-hu”, rhymes with “tofu”)- formless

Question 11

Answer 11

(Pronounced “va-bo-hu”)- and void/helter skelter/chaos

Question 12

Answer 12

(Pronounced “vu-HO-sek”)- (and) darkness

Question 13

Answer 13

(Pronounced “al”)- [was] on

Question 14

Answer 14

(Pronounced “peh-neh” like penne)- the face/the surface

Question 15

Answer 15

(Pronounced “teh-ho-um”)- of the deep

Question 16

Answer 16

(Pronounced “veh-ROO-ah”)- and the spirit

Question 17

Answer 17

(Pronounced “eh-lo-heem”)- [of] God

Question 18

Answer 18

(Pronounced “meh-rah-heh-pet”)- moved, hovered

Question 19

Answer 19

(Pronounced “al”)- on

Question 20

Answer 20

(Pronounced “peh-neh” like penne)- the face, the surface

Question 21

Answer 21

(Pronounced “hah-may-im”) - of the waters

Question 22

In the creation narratives, what are three main characteristics that help distinguish the P source from the J source?

Answer 22

1. The P source (Gen 1:1-2:4a) refers to God as Elohim (a general name for God) and his creation as “bara” (an act of creation that only God can do). The J source (Gen 2:4b-3:24) refers to God as YHWH Elohim (putting both the tetragrammaton and the general name for God) and his creation as “yatzar” (a general term for making stuff, like you can “yatzar” your breakfast).
2. The order of creation differs between the two accounts. In P, the order goes from (light and darkness to the dome to separate the waters to) plants to animals to humankind. In J, the order goes from Adam to plants and animals to creating the woman.
3. J characterizes God’s creative process as coming down and getting God’s hands dirty in an improvisational way. P characterizes God’s creative process as orderly, decisive, and clear.

Question 23

Identify and state the significance of the concept of etiology.

Answer 23

1. Etiology is a story that explains how something came to be.
2. Etiology is a major part of the J account in Genesis explaining why men labor to hard in the fields, why women have such pain in childbirth, why snakes slither, and so much more. Etiology is not limited to Genesis nor is it limited to Hebrew scripture among the cultures of the Ancient Near East, and etiological narratives should be read as an origin narrative (as opposed to reading the front page of the New York Times).