Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

I appears to me that TOHU WA BOHU ( תוהו ובוהו ) is a  
disguised TOKU WA POKU ( תוכו ופוכו ), inside out.

Isaac Fried
Boston University

On Jan 11, 2010, at 11:55 PM, Richard wrote:

> Is it possible that the words Tohu and  Bohu in Genesis 1:2 *could*  
> mean
> that the earth was "waste and desolate" meaning that the planet was  
> already
> created but lay waste and desolate (probably covered with water and  
> ice with
> even the sun extinguished) and that God basically remodeled  
> it? ...That even
> the plants and animals already had been previously created and were
> reinstated (with appropriate omissions and changes as needed)?
>
> Actually this question could cover the translation of most of the  
> first six
> days. But starting with tohu bohu.
>
> Maybe this question gets too far into theology but I'm wondering if  
> it is
> possible (or impossible) or a legitimate way to potentially view  
> the Hebrew
> this way. I don't have a hard opinion about it but I can't help but  
> wonder.
> I know there may be very strong opinions against this potential  
> view but I
> want to understand from as strictly a Hebrew point of view as  
> possible.
>
> Thanks
>
> Richard Conaway
>
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