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(
, 1254), “to create, make.” This verb is of profound theological
significance, since it has only God as its subject. Only God can “create” in the sense
implied by
!
The verb expresses creation out of nothing, an idea seen clearly in
passages having to do with creation on a cosmic scale: “In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1; cf. Gen. 2:3; Isa. 40:26; 42:5). All other verbs for
“creating” allow a much broader range of meaning; they have both divine and human
subjects, and are used in contexts where bringing something or someone into existence is
not the issue.
0
is frequently found in parallel to these other verbs, such as
“to make”
(Isa. 41:20; 43:7; 45:7, 12; Amos 4:13),
, “to form” (Isa. 43:1, 7; 45:7; Amos 4:13),
and
$
, “to establish.” A verse that illustrates all of these words together is Isa. 45:18:
“For thus saith the Lord that created [
] the heavens; God himself that formed
[
] the earth and made [
] it; he hath established [
$
] it, he created [
] it
not in vain, he formed [
] it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.”
The technical meaning of
(to “create out of nothing”) may not hold in these
passages; perhaps the verb was popularized in these instances for the sake of providing a
poetic synonym. Objects of the verb include the heavens and earth (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 40:26;
42:5; 45:18; 65:17)man (Gen. 1:27; 5:2; 6:7; Deut. 4:32; Ps. 89:47; Isa. 43:7; 45:12);
Israel (Isa. 43:1; Mal. 2:10); a new thing (Jer. 31:22); cloud and smoke (Isa. 4:5); north
and south (Ps. 89:12); salvation and righteousness (Isa. 45:8); speech (Isa. 57:19);
darkness (Isa. 45:7); wind (Amos 4:13); and a new heart (Ps. 51:10). A careful study of
the passages where
occurs shows that in the few nonpoetic uses (primarily in
Genesis), the writer uses scientifically precise language to demonstrate that God brought
the object or concept into being from previously nonexistent material.
Especially striking is the use of
in Isaiah 40-65. Out of 49 occurrences of the
verb in the Old Testament, 20 are in these chapters. Because Isaiah writes prophetically
to the Jews in Exile, he speaks words of comfort based upon God’s past benefits and
blessings to His people. Isaiah especially wants to show that, since Yahweh is the
Creator, He is able to deliver His people from captivity. The God of Israel has created all
things: “I have made [
] the earth, and created [
] man upon it: I, even my hands,
have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded” (Isa. 45:12). The
gods of Babylon are impotent nonentities (Isa. 44:12-20; 46:1-7), and so Israel can expect
God to triumph by effecting a new creation (43:16-21; 65:17-25).
Though a precisely correct technical term to suggest cosmic, material creation from
nothing,
is a rich theological vehicle for communicating the sovereign power of
God, who originates and regulates all things to His glory.
%
(
, 7069), “to get, acquire, earn.” These basic meanings are dominant in
the Old Testament, but certain poetic passages have long suggested that this verb means
“create.” In Gen. 14:19, Melchizedek blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by
God Most High, maker [
KJV
, “possessor”] of heaven and earth” (
RSV
). Gen. 14:22 repeats