2:4 This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the [era] that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens.

A Multidisciplinary Contextualized Analysis of Select Passages From Genesis Version 2.0

[This is an excerpt from a new edition I’m writing of a personal study of the book of Genesis, the first edition of which can be found here. The purpose of this exercise is to compare a close reading of the text to our current understanding of language, paleontology, and the physical sciences. Constructive discussion on the elements presented is always encouraged!]

In most modern editions of Genesis in nearly any translation, there is a paragraph break placed between 2:3 and 2:4. But as discussed previously regarding the divisions of chapter and verse, no such paragraph separation was used in the earliest Hebrew manuscripts. These were added later during the medieval and renaissance eras as interpreted by scholars at the time.

Although these additions were well intentioned and largely do enhance the readability of the Bible, those making such judgements are separated from the Genesis author by millennia. It is the position of this analysis that the paragraph and section breaks for Genesis 1:30-2:5 should be placed as follows:

[Conclusion of the sixth “Yom”]

^1:30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.

^1:31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. ^2:1 The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished.

[Seventh “Yom”]

² On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. ³ God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.

⁴This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens.

[Exposition for the Garden of Eden account]

⁵ No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up;...

Although Genesis 2:4 is often interpreted as the headnote for the Adam and Eve narrative, this is inconsistent with the literary pattern found elsewhere in Genesis:

• Neither Adam nor Eve is mentioned in 2:4, where all other genealogies name at least one key participant. Also, Adam is named within the genealogy in Genesis 5 which would make that consideration redundant. The only context in which that makes sense is if 2:4 is a headnote for the whole of Genesis making all other genealogies nested within that one. Again, a unique consideration.

• Headnotes do typically proceed expositions which would be consistent with the interpretation that this verse belongs with the Adam and Eve story. However, Genesis 10:32 is an example of a genealogy footnote resembling that of 2:4.

• Headnotes always precede included narratives. And if 2:4 is the headnote for the Adam and Eve story, then 2:1-3 is a fragment neither part of chapter 1 nor incorporated into the narrative following it. It is confusing to read in that context, and also deviates from the format found throughout Genesis.

I am not clear why “תוֹלְדוֹת” in 2:4 is typically translated to say “history of the generations”. Although I am not an expert in Hebrew, “תוֹלְדוֹת” independently translates to “history” or “chronology” which implies an arbitrary “first this then that” sequence of events. Even if appending “generations” is common in this usage, I argue that does not convey the correct meaning in this case.

To further my point, chapter 5 includes “תּוֹלְדֹת” when referring to the “generations of Adam”. This term by itself also translates to “history” with ”begetting” and “offspring” being other candidates which strongly imply familial history.

In any case, the best interpretation of verse 2:4 is as the proper conclusion and footnote of the creation story.

Regarding the reappearance of the singular use of “Yom“ (יום‎), this time it is in reference to the entire time period of creation overall. If the use of “yom” was a uniform period, then this verse should state the quantity of seven. But since the Hebrew term “Yom” (יום‎) is not firmly time period specific it is acceptable to have one “yom” include several other “yamim”. Therefore one can infer the meaning of "day" in Genesis 1 is not strictly 24-hour time segments but simply a finite period of time highlighted by a particular event. This further supports a flexible interpretation of the period defined by each “Yom” being the intention of the author.

Finally, there may be a symbolic rationale for this creation story taking place over 7 “days” as it is the typical period of a quarter moon phase. To the present day, the 7 day week is a common practice around the world dating back to antiquity. The significance of this quantity of “days” may simply be a mnemonic for an oral tradition for this story. This story has also been the religious reasoning for promotion of the 6 day work week.