Genesis 1:1 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads:
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Meaning in Simple Terms:
This verse is the very first sentence of the Bible. It declares that God is the Creator of everything—the heavens (sky/universe) and the earth (land/world). It emphasizes that everything had a starting point, and that beginning was initiated by God.
Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew (Transliteration & Translation)
Hebrew (Original Text):
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
Transliteration (how to pronounce it):
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz
Literal Translation:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
🧠 Breakdown of Each Word:
| Hebrew Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| בְּרֵאשִׁית (Bereshit) | “In the beginning” – Refers to the start of time and history |
| בָּרָא (bara) | “Created” – A Hebrew verb used only for divine creation (used only when God creates something from nothing) |
| אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) | “God” – A plural word with a singular meaning, emphasizing majesty and power |
| אֵת (et) | A Hebrew particle that marks the direct object (not translated into English) |
| הַשָּׁמַיִם (hashamayim) | “The heavens” – Refers to the skies, outer space, and the spiritual realm |
| וְאֵת (ve’et) | “And [also]” – Connects the two parts of creation |
| הָאָרֶץ (ha’aretz) | “The earth” – The physical world, land, and matter |
📖 Genesis 1:1 – In Various English Bible Translations
| Bible Version | Genesis 1:1 Text |
|---|---|
| King James Version (KJV) | “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” |
| New International Version (NIV) | “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” |
| English Standard Version (ESV) | “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” |
| New Living Translation (NLT) | “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” |
| New King James Version (NKJV) | “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” |
Note: The main difference is that the KJV says “heaven” (singular), while most modern versions use “heavens” (plural). The original Hebrew “shamayim” is plural, so modern translations reflect that.
✨ Theological Significance of Genesis 1:1
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God is Eternal – He exists before time, space, and matter.
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God is Creator – Everything begins with God’s power and will.
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Creation Is Not Accidental – It has order, design, and purpose.
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Heaven and Earth = All Reality – This phrase represents everything that exists, both visible and invisible.