Moves or hovers over the face of the waters? (Or something else...)

This is your opportunity to read the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew original!
No previous knowledge is needed!
This time, it is the second sentence of Genesis 1:2.

Note that this channel is educational and non-religious, designed to look at the biblical text from a purely linguistics point of view.

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More about this video:
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Description:

Uncover the hidden meanings in Genesis 1:2! Join Ilan as we explore the second part of this verse in its original Hebrew. Learn about the dual meanings of "Ruakh" (רוח) - wind and spirit - and the intriguing verb "Merakhefet" (מרחפת), which could mean hovering, fluttering, or even shielding.

We'll delve into:

"Ruakh Elohim" (רוח אלוהים): Exploring the connection between wind and spirit in the Hebrew Bible.
"Merakhefet" (מרחפת): Decoding the verb's multiple interpretations and its modern Hebrew usage.
"Al-Pnei HaMayim" (על פני המים): Understanding "upon the waters" and its implications.
Linguistic nuances: Gaining insights into the differences between Hebrew and English translations.
Unbiased analysis: A linguistic approach, free from religious interpretations.
Discover the rich imagery and subtle complexities of the Hebrew text!

Keywords: Genesis 1:2, Ruakh, Merakhefet, Elohim, HaMayim, Hebrew Bible, Tanakh, Old Testament, biblical Hebrew, Hebrew language, Bible translation, ancient Hebrew, linguistic analysis, word study, original Hebrew, deep dive, hebrew roots, wind, spirit, hover.

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About This Channel:
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Unlock the hidden beauty of the Biblical Hebrew language! This channel offers in-depth, long-form explorations of the Tanakh (Old Testament) in its original Hebrew, making it accessible to English speakers of all backgrounds, even without any prior Hebrew knowledge.

Discover the nuances lost in translation! We delve into the vocabulary, grammar, syntax, prepositions, and conjugations of Biblical Hebrew, revealing layers of meaning often missed in English translations. Our approach is purely linguistic and unbiased, free from religious interpretations, making it perfect for anyone interested in:

- The Biblical Hebrew Language: Learn the intricacies of the original text.
- Tanakh (Old Testament) Analysis: Gain a deeper understanding of this foundational text.
- Linguistic Studies: Explore the differences between Hebrew and English.
- Ancient Languages: Discover the beauty of a historical language.
- Foreign Language Learning: Experience a unique approach to language study.
- Historical Texts: Explore a cornerstone of human civilization.

Why is this channel unique?

- a word-by-word, comprehensive breakdown of the Hebrew text.
- exploring the context of each word by examining its usage throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament).
- highlighting the connections between words sharing the same Hebrew root across the scripture.
- indicating any differences between Biblical Hebrew and modern Hebrew usage.
- focusing on pure linguistics, and remove any religious interpretations.

Translating the Bible is complex. Each Hebrew word carries a rich tapestry of meaning, and much is lost in translation. By exploring each word in detail, we aim to bridge the gap and provide a deeper understanding of the original text.

Join us on this journey! We read the original Hebrew text directly, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.

Keywords: Biblical Hebrew, Tanakh, Old Testament, Hebrew language, Bible translation, ancient Hebrew, Hebrew grammar, Hebrew vocabulary, linguistic analysis, language learning, historical texts, word study, etymology, unbiased Bible study, Hebrew roots, Tanakh study, biblical linguistics.

Credit for photos used by permission or under fair use / Creative Commons / public domain:
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Image of hummingbird:
Tess on Pixabay

Image of vulture flying:
Image by JACQUES BARBARY from Pixabay

Image of a hovercraft:
JFNikon on Pixabay

Image of a paraglider:
Paul Henri Degrande on Pixabay

Image of Mayim Bialik, Jam Ong on Flickr:

Image of Haim Nahman Bialik
Public domain

AI generated images:
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Spirit + spiritual + spirituality
Astronaut
Drone
Cold water

No copyright misuse or violation was intended.

[acampos]

Thank you so much for the clear explanation. I’ve been self studying modern Hebrew for 4 years, my original motivation was my trip to Israel which I did. I read the Hebrew Bible here and there but my main focus is Modern Hebrew. I watch lots of videos related to the Hebrew language and you exceed on explaining Biblical Hebrew. Thank you so much. I am enjoying and learning watching your videos

[elzeeh]

Todah raba, Dr Ilan. Shalom from Nigeria.

[saskiascott]

I wanted to share that I was listening to a singer sing the maariv aravim prayer and suddenly recognised the word mp'nei. It was so satisfying to realise that I understood how the sentence is constructed in Hebrew and also why it gets translated a couple of different ways - thanks to this video!
אודה רבה, ילן!

[folkertbleichrodt]

Very interesting! Your videos are very insightful and I learned new insights I did not have before. Hope you can make many more of such videos.

[ivykout]

Todah, todah!😊
Thank you very much dear Moreh, that you make it possible to teach Biblical Hebrew in such a kind of structure in relationship not only with theTorah line by line, but also withthe needy interpretation in connection with the whole history of the Tenach.
This is the Seder of the Holy Tongue.
Todah!

May Hashem be with you and with His Inspiration Power.
Todah!

[LieutenantSoundman]

Excellent teacher. I think we should all support him to make more!! Please find a way that we can support financially so this can be a full time thing for you. Like Patreon or something.

[yunarteful]

I just love your way of teaching! Thanks!

[WMHinsch]

I appreciate these videos, and even more that they are in Genesis, my perennial favorite book of the Bible. I'm currently teaching on the temptation of Eve, and the subtleties in comparing what God commanded compared to the serpent's and Eve's representations. The emphasis is the literalness of "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God", and how minor changes in that exchange changed the character of God, with Eve portraying Him to be less generous - omitting "eating you may eat"/"freely eat", more harsh - adding "neither may you touch it", and questioning God's authority with "lest you die" instead of "dying you will die"/"surely die". There are many other subtleties, and I look forward to hearing your translation insights.
Translators have to be careful about injecting modern idioms into Biblical Hebrew, but like fashions, sometimes what is old becomes new again. An English idiom is someone being "in your/my face". It is usually meant in an assertive sense. When God warns about putting other gods "before me", might that be an appropriate idiom hinted at in the text? The emphasis is nearness, and it doesn't have to be negative, so hovering/moving on the "face" of the waters might carry hints of both assertiveness and closeness?
As for "hovered", my wife is intrigued by the word "brooded" as possibly capturing some of the meaning.

[olusojiijaola]

Thanks so much sir for the clearity and beautiful presentation, you make the biblical texts more meaningful and broaden my horizon of the understanding of the scriptures.God enriches you more and more.

[jobrady]

So exciting thank you for your service and your channel

[QLively]

Thank you so much for taking your time to teach us non-Hebrew speakers the Hebrew text of the Bible. I recently started learning classical /traditional Hebrew, , so I find your teaching videos fascinating. Again, thank you so much. Much blessings!

[michaelwittkopp]

Excellent job! There's a lot of meat in this video. And btw, keep exploring all options for words, I'm loving it.

[jephtejonbalaurita]

This is the best and very best video I ever watch. Very simple and libiral, nothing is hidden, not like other preacher, specially in Christian churches, theologians interpret the bible in a bias way, that sooth their own doctrine. I wait for the verse 26 to be discussed, because verse 26 is debated in Christianity because many used this verse to explain the pre existence of Jesus or the trinity.

[peterstaples]

That was fascinating.
Toda raba, khaver sheli

[charlotteettrup]

Thank You so much! This is just briliant!!!

[al-amiyr]

Shalom my brother. You have given an excellent program. I have studied these magnificent sentences for nearly forty years. It is the nearest to the Arabic RaF:RaFa past tense or yuRaF:RiFu. This means to move in and out. This has a meaning of - from the center to the circumference the Spirit of Elohiym was moving in and out over the waters. This is but a basic explanation when all the meanings of the letters are known.

[paultorbert]

There is something about this verse that calls into my core…

THANK YOU, Ilan !!!!

And yes, I intend to re-watch these videos to get the most I can of a free class in Hebrew, with the most incredible source material available, the Bible/Tanakh

[TheGoreFist]

Resonating is kinda like shaking or trembling, but has other meanings as well. So maybe the Spirit of God was resonating over the waters? This would make sense since normally when things resonate they produce a sound. But in here the Spirit of God would resonate over the water and the resonation produces light.

[ericprive]

Loving these videos - thank you. And the deep explanations and looking at other occurrences of the words elsewhere is really helpful. It's also rather cool that I came across these videos this week because I am reading aloud in Hebrew the first three verses of the Genesis this Sunday as part of a poetic prose I have written, so now my pronunciation maybe a lot better than it would otherwise have been!! (for which I'm sure my listeners will be thankful and relieved!)

[andrew.macdiarmid]

This is great, I’m excited to keep going 🫡