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Genesis 2:4

EOB (Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible):

This is what happened when the LORD God created the heavens and the earth.

EOB Footnote:

The MT includes the divine name YHWH (the LORD) in the phrase “the LORD God,” while the LXX reads only “God” (theos) without the tetragrammaton. This represents a significant theological difference in how the divine name is rendered in this verse. The MT reads “in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven,” reversing the order found in the LXX, which has “heaven and earth.” The MT’s word order places earth before heaven, while the LXX follows the more common sequence. The phrase “these are the generations” translates the Greek “this is the book of the origin,” which differs slightly from the MT’s “these are the generations” (toledot). The LXX uses “book” (biblos) where the MT has simply “generations.”

Other Translations:

KJV (King James Version):

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

WEB (World English Bible):

This 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.

Benton LXX (Vaticanus):

These are the generations of heaven and earth when they were made, in the day in which the Lord God made the heaven and the earth,

Douai-Rheims (Vulgate):

These are the generations of the heaven and the earth, when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the heaven and the earth.

Apostoliki Diakonia (LXX):

These are the generations of the heaven and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heaven.

YLT (Young Literal Translation )(MT):

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heavens.

BBE (Bible in Basic English):

This is the story of the making of the heavens and the earth when they were put together, in the day when the Lord God made earth and heaven.

EOB COMMENTARY:

EOB Commentary:

Commentary on Genesis 2:4

This verse serves as a pivotal hinge in the Genesis narrative, transitioning from the cosmic account of creation to the intimate formation of humanity. The phrase “these are the generations” (toledot in Hebrew) introduces a pattern that structures the entire book of Genesis, but here it uniquely applies to heaven and earth themselves, suggesting that creation has a history, a story that unfolds under divine providence.

Patristic Interpretation: The Church Fathers noted with great interest the shift in divine names at this point. Saint John Chrysostom observed that the combination “LORD God” (Kyrios ho Theos) reveals both the transcendent majesty and intimate involvement of the Creator with His creation. This dual naming anticipates the full revelation of God as both wholly other and deeply personal, culminating in the Incarnation.

Saint Ephrem the Syrian understood this verse as marking the beginning of a more detailed account focused on humanity’s special place in creation. The Fathers consistently read this transition as emphasizing that while all creation declares God’s glory, human beings are the crown and purpose of the created order.

Christological Significance: Orthodox theology sees in this verse a preparation for understanding Christ as the New Adam. Just as this passage introduces the detailed account of the first Adam’s formation, it points forward to the “new creation” inaugurated by Christ. The Apostle Paul’s teaching that believers are a “new creation” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) finds its foundation in the original creative work described here. The Lord who formed the first human from the earth is the same Lord who takes on human flesh to restore and elevate that creation.

Liturgical Connections: This passage is read during the Vespers of Great and Holy Saturday, when the Church commemorates Christ’s descent into Hades and the renewal of all creation. The connection between the original creation and the new creation accomplished through Christ’s death and resurrection is thus liturgically affirmed. The faithful hear again of God’s creative work precisely as they await the celebration of the ultimate creative act: the resurrection of the dead.

Spiritual Application: For Orthodox spirituality, this verse reminds us that we exist within a story authored by God. The phrase “in the day that the LORD God made” emphasizes divine initiative and sovereignty. Our lives are not random occurrences but part of the ongoing toledot, the generations of heaven and earth, which find their fulfillment in the Kingdom of God. This awareness cultivates the virtue of wonder and thanksgiving that characterizes authentic Orthodox piety.

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