| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the demonstrative elleh {אֵ֣לֶּה | ʾêl-leh} followed by toledot {תוֹלְד֧וֹת | tôl-də-ḏôṯ}, a formula marking section headings in Genesis. The nominal pair hashamayim vehaarets {הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ | haš-šā-ma-yim wə-hā-ʾā-reṣ} functions as the grammatical subject summarizing cosmic creation. Behibbaram {בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם | bə-hib-bā-rə-ʾām}, a Niphal infinitive construct with a pronominal suffix, forms a temporal clause “when they were created.” The idiom beyom asot {בְּי֗וֹם עֲשׂ֛וֹת | bə-yôm ʿă-śōt} “in the day of making” utilizes “day” to denote a period rather than a literal twenty-four hours. The shift from “heavens and earth” (initial) to “earth and heavens” (final) frames the focus transition to the earth-centered narrative. The compound divine title Yahweh Elohim {יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים | Yə-hō-wāh ʾĕ-lō-hîm} unites the personal covenant name and the general divine title, foregrounding both relationship and creative sovereignty. |