Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Every discussion about whether or not the first word in Genesis should be 
understood as definite or indefinite is unfortunately shackled to the 
traditional English rendering. The Hebrew makes perfect sense in and of 
itself as adverbial. There is no need for any discussion of definiteness. The 
definiteness dilemma is purely the figment of English translations.

I suggest a better English rendering, which reflects the Hebrew more closely, 
is "At first".


Regards,

GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au