The first verse of the Bible is separate from the second verse. I was taught it was simply a summary of the verses that followed (2-27), which are a more detailed account of the 7 days of creation. But maybe there’s a deeper, more defining purpose, or prophecy.
The Bible is written in two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Originally, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. While there are multiple Bible translations and interpretations, most versions begin Genesis by saying,
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
However, in Hebrew, it is written, “Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’arets.”
Breaking it down looks like this:
- Bereshit = First, beginning, best, chief, choice part
- bara = to create, shape, form from nothing
- Elohim = God
- et = Aleph Tav. These 2 characters are Aleph (e) and Tav (t). They’re not translated into any other language. Normally the Aleph Tav would be a type of conjunction pointing to the direct object, but not in this instance. There are hundreds of places in the Bible where the Aleph Tav sits there by itself without a direct object. Most interestingly, in each of these places, the Aleph Tav refers to what we know as the Alpha & Omega, Jesus the Christ (Rev 1:8,18 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. I am he that lives and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hades and of death.”).
- hashamayim = the visible heavens: sky (1st heaven); visible universe (2nd heaven); heaven where God lives (3rd heaven)
- ve’et = conjunction, e.g. (and, therefore, then, also) plus et, the Aleph Tav
- ha’arets = land, earth; whole earth as opposed to heaven
In Paleo Hebrew it looks like this:
Notice there are 7 words in the first verse. Not an accident. There are 7 days of creation. The seven 24-hour days of creation also represent a 7,000-year plan. We’re entering the 7,000th year now according to Biblical history.
The middle word, the 4th word, is et, the Aleph Tav. When was Jesus born? Messiah was born in the 4,000th year along with the kings and prophets. In Genesis 1:14 we learn the sun, the moon and the stars were created the 4th day. Here in the middle of the first verse of the Bible, we find reference to Christ’s existence prior to creation. God arranged to mention him – put him right in there – as the 4th word. Not an accident.
What’s the connection between the 4th word, the 4th day, and the 4000th year?
“I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word, the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:2-9
Hint: God is seriously amazing. It’s like he’s behind a curtain dropping breadcrumbs for us to munch on. Here in Peter’s letter, God happens to drop a big clue. He reminds us that while it seems like a long, long time since he promised the Messiah would return, it’s all happening according to his plan. The big breadcrumb here is – ‘a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day’.
Since God mentioned Christ in the 4th word of the first verse of the Bible – revealing he existed before creation – we can also connect him to the 4th day (or 4th 1,000 year period), because Jesus was born in the 4000th year along with the kings and prophets (the sun, the moon and the stars to rule over the day and night).
And if we find reference to Christ’s existence before the world was created in the first verse of the Bible, we need to confirm in the New Testament that he existed before creation, which we find in Paul’s letter to the Colossians:
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – kings, kingdoms, rulers and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began and he holds all creation together. Colossians 1:15-17
Now, look at the last 3 words of that first verse. The 5th and 7th words are ‘heaven(s)’ and ‘earth’.
The 6th word is ve’et. The ve in Paleo Hebrew can be a picture of a hook or connector or a nail with the et referring to Christ. Also, notice God put this 6th letter right between the 5th and 7th letters. The Aleph Tav (Christ) will connect the earth and the heavens by the nails in his hands on a cross. The whole plan of salvation is hidden in the first word of the Bible.
Rico Cortez took the Paleo-Hebrew letters for Bereshit (the first word of the Hebrew Bible) and sort of played Scrabble. By using only the “Scrabble” words from the Paleo Hebrew word “Bereshit”, he came up with an amazing prophecy: The Father created a house, appointed a son, who was a teacher. He will judge by the strength of YHVH (Yahveh). He will bring forth judgment with fire. We will recognize our shame. On the first of Tishri we will look up with awe and fear and by the seal of the cross with fear repent and return to the desire and integrity and restore the covenant of fire observing the Shabbat.
(For a deeper dive, Google “Rico Cortez Aleph and Tav”. It is an amazing study. https://wisdomintorah.com/mystery-of-the-Aleph-tav-wisdom-in-bereshit/)
The whole plan of salvation – the first word of the Bible. Just the beginning.
“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” – Isaiah 46:9-10