Byzantique

Genesis

50 chapters · Updated Brenton Septuagint (ENGLXXUP)

Genesis (Greek Γένεσις, "origin"; Hebrew בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית / Bereshit, "in the beginning") is the first book of the Law (תּוֹרָה / Torah) / Pentateuch and of the whole Bible. It moves from the creation and ordering of the cosmos to the founding of a people: the primeval history of chapters 1–11 (creation, the Fall, the flood, and Babel) gives way to the patriarchal histories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph in chapters 12–50.

In the Orthodox tradition Genesis is read liturgically and Christologically. Its opening is appointed for the Vespers of Holy Saturday, and the Fathers hear the "beginning" of Genesis in light of the "beginning" of John's Gospel, the same Word through Whom all things were made.

In general, the LXX follows the Hebrew closely for the book of Genesis. However, there are some notable differences at times (although this perhaps represents an earlier Hebrew manuscript tradition than the MT, as the DSS have revealed in certain places).

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Book commentary
Book Genesis

Toledot formula

Genesis is structured around a series of תּוֹלֵדוֹת (toledot, "these are the generations of…") formulas that carry the narrative from the cosmos down to the family of Jacob (consistently represented in the LXX as γενέσεως / geneseōs). The Hebrew word means "descendants," "histories," "genealogy," or "generation(s)" (in reference to successors, usually introducing a geneaological list and related narratives) and various occurrences of it are thought to divide Genesis into 10–12 sections.

The occurrences in Genesis occur at:

  1. 2:4 (heavens and the earth); some don’t consider this instance to be a section marker
  2. 5:1 (Adam)
  3. 6:9 (Noah)
  4. 10:1 (Noah's sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth)
    1. It also occurs at 10:32 but this is thought to be part of this "section"
  5. 11:10 (Shem)
  6. 11:27 (Terah, father of Abraham)
  7. 25:12–13 (Abraham's son: Ishmael)
  8. 25:19 (Abraham's son: Isaac, father of Jacob); some don’t consider this instance to be a section marker
  9. 36:1 (Isaac's son: Esau)
    1. It also occurs at 36:9 and specifically emphasizes Esau as the father of the Edomites, but some consider this to be part of this same section
  10. 37:2 (Isaac's son: Jacob, father of Joseph); some don’t consider this instance to be a section marker

Learn more

  • Peter Leithart, "Toledoth and the Structure of Genesis." Theopolis Institute blog. September 5, 2017. Retrieved from https://theopolisinstitute.com/toledoth-and-the-structure-of-genesis/

  • Wilrens Hornstra, "Toledot in Genesis – What Are They and Why Do They Matter?" Create a Learning Site blog. April 1, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.wilrens.org/2021/04/cals84/

  • Allen P. Ross, "Genesis," in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 22–26.

Referenced elsewhere · 13 notes