01.21. Chapter 14 - Creator

Chapter 14 - Creator The everlasting God Yahweh is the Creator of the ends of the earth

Isaiah 40:28 A “creator” is theologically understood as, “one who makes something out of nothing.” The Hebrew word used in the introductory passage, translated as “creator,” is “arwb” (borey), literally meaning “one who fattens.” Without an understanding of the cultural background of this word, the idea of God “fattening” the heavens and earth is as foreign to our Western mind as the idea of creating something from nothing is to the ancient Hebrews. As we have previously discovered, the Hebrews always view their world with a concrete mind rather than an abstract mind. A “creator” or “one who creates” is an abstract thought which the ancient Hebrews would have had no way of comprehending.

Through our modern Western perspective, we have read the story of creation as an account of God’s miraculous creation of the universe by his command, the reason for which being unclear. This is not the concept that the author of Genesis chapter one implies in the language of the ancient Hebrews. This misconception begins with the Hebrew word “arb” (bara) as found in the first verse of the chapter.

“In the beginning

God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1 (NIV) The word “arb” (bara), translated as “created” above, comes from the parent root “rb” (bar) which we have previously discussed, meaning “grain.” The grains were very important staples to the Hebrews. They were used in making breads and feeding the livestock. This parent root also has the meaning of “fat” as livestock fed on grain become fat. The child root “arb” (bara), also means, “fat” as seen in the following verse.

“And the ugly cows that looked thin ate the seven beautiful cows that looked fat.”

Genesis 41:4 A “fat” cow is one that is “full”; therefore, “arb” (bara) Hebraicly can mean, “to fill.” When we read the first two verses of Genesis from a Hebraic perspective we can see this imagery clearly.

“In the beginning God filled the sky and the land because the land was empty and unfilled.”

Genesis 1:1-2 This “filling” up of the sky and land is also described in the days of creation, which are written in true Hebrew poetry. The first three days of creation describe the separating of the skies and the land, this is paralleled with the last three days that describe the “filling up” of the skies and the land. The first day is the separation of light and darkness and parallels the fourth day where the light and darkness is filled with the sun and moon. The second day is the separation of the water and the sky, it parallels the fifth day where the water and sky are filled with fish and birds. The third day is the separation of water and land and it is paralleled with the six day where the land is filled with the animals and man. The word “arwb” (borey) is derived from the child root “arb” (bara) and literally means “one who fills” rather than “creator.” As we see in the Creation story, God is the one who fills the waters, skies and the land