Genesis 1:2 “Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface…”

Genesis 1:2

Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

American Standard Version

And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the earth was without forme and void, and darkenesse was vpon the deepe, and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the waters.

Darby Translation

And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Young's Literal Translation

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,

Bible in Basic English

And the earth was waste and without form; and it was dark on the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God was moving on the face of the waters.

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Cross references

“without”

Jeremiah 4:23 Isaiah 45:18 Job 26:7 Nahum 2:10

Jeremiah 4:23 · BSB

I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light.

Isaiah 45:18 · BSB

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Job 26:7 · BSB

He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing.

Nahum 2:10 · BSB

She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!

“Spirit”

Psalm 104:30 Psalm 33:6 Isaiah 40:12–14 Job 26:14

Psalm 104:30 · BSB

When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.

Psalm 33:6 · BSB

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.

Isaiah 40:12–14 · BSB

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance…

Job 26:14 · BSB

Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Read Genesis 1