NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible CBSB_Digital Sampler | Page 9
Genesis 1:31 | 7
Mesopotamian imagery refers to “breasts of heaven,” through which rain comes. Uga-
ritic texts use the symbolism of the clouds serving as buckets to deliver the rain. The
OT refers to gates in the sky through which precipitation comes as “windows” used
only for rain, not for the celestial bodies (e.g., Ge 7:11; 8:2; 2Ki 7:2,19). Job 38:22 also
poetically speaks of storehouses for snow and hail. All precipitation (including dew,
see Pr 3:19 – 20) comes from above, and thus weather is regulated by the sky.
It should also be noted that an alternative interpretation of the Hebrew word raqia
is that it refers to the living space created by the separation of the waters. In this case,
a different Hebrew word refers to the vault. ◆
In Egyptian iconography the sky is represented by the goddess Nut, whose body arched
over the land.
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irds in the sky and over every living
b
creature that moves on the ground.”
29 Then God said, “I give you ev
ery seed-bearing p
lant on the face of
the w
hole earth and every tree that
has fruit with seed in it. They will be
easts
yours for food. b 30 And to all the b
of the earth and all the birds in the sky
1:29 b Ps 104:14
1:30
c Ps 104:14, 27;
145:15
1:31
d Ps 104:24
e 1Ti 4:4
tion of people, problems and “noise” also increase. The
gods therefore send plagues, famine and drought to
counteract the population explosion. subdue it. Rule
over. The characterization of humans being made in
the image of God and the functions listed here reflect
a royal role for people since these descriptions would
most frequently be applied to kings (see the article
“Image and Likeness,” p. 8). They are given the respon-
sibility of bringing order to their world. Again, this is
in stark contrast to the role of humanity in the ancient
Near East, where they are created to serve. Here we
and all the creatures that move along
the ground — everything that has the
breath of life in it — I give every green
plant for food. c ” And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, d
and it was very good. e And there was
evening, and there was morning —
the s ixth day.
see the attribution to all people what was the sole pre-
rogative of the king in the rest of the ancient Near East.
1:29 yours for food. When people are created in other
ancient Near East narratives, it is for the purpose of
performing all the menial tasks necessary for provid-
ing food for the gods. God as the one providing food
for people, rather than the other way around, is not
absent from those other ancient Near East accounts,
but the theme occupies a more central role here in
Genesis (cf. also 2:8 – 9, where God planted a garden
for food).