Genesis 1: Creation Ex Nihilo or Out of Chaos?

If you’ve ever compared the Genesis creation story with those of surrounding ancient cultures, you’ll notice something extraordinary. While many other cultures describe their gods forming the universe out of some kind of pre-existing chaos, the Genesis account seems to stand out by introducing the idea of *creation ex nihilo*—that is, creation out of nothing.

At first glance, the King James Version seems to support this idea:
Genesis 1:1-2 (KJV):
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 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.

Here, it sounds like God begins with absolutely nothing and brings everything into existence. But what happens if we look at other translations, like Young’s Literal Translation?
Genesis 1:1-2 (YLT):
1 In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth—
2 the earth hath existed waste and void, and darkness [is] on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God fluttering on the face of the waters.

Whoa! That feels different, right? Suddenly, the text suggests that the earth already existed in some kind of chaotic state, described as "waste and void," and God was preparing or shaping it.

Featuring Jeff A. Benner https://jeffbenner.net/
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