The verse in Genesis 1:2 that describes the earth as “without form and void” has been the subject of much discussion and debate among biblical scholars. Let’s take a closer look at this cryptic phrase and what it might mean in the context of creation.
The Passage in Context
Genesis 1:2 reads: “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” This verse comes right after Genesis 1:1 which declares “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
So the sequence seems to be: verse 1 – God created the heavens and earth, verse 2 – the earth was somehow formless and empty, then the remaining verses of Genesis 1 go on to describe how God shaped, filled and ordered creation over the next 6 days.
The Meaning of “Without Form and Void”
The phrase “without form and void” is a translation of the Hebrew phrase “tohu wabohu.” This odd combination of words in Hebrew conveys the sense of something chaotic, confused, and empty. The words suggest a wasteland or wilderness – a bleak, desolate landscape with no order or contents.
Some other Bible translations render it “emptiness and confusion” (EXB), “empty and shapeless” (CEV), or “formless and empty” (NLT).
So this description presents a stark contrast between the pristine creation God had just brought into being in verse 1, and the disordered state that verse 2 presents. This raises some key questions:
- Why was the earth in this unfinished, unfilled condition?
- Is verse 1 talking about the original creation of the raw materials of the universe, while verse 2 refers to the ordering and shaping of those materials 6 days later?
- Does this verse imply a “gap” between an original creation and a subsequent reshaping of creation described in Genesis 1?
Scholars have proposed various answers, which have led to quite different interpretations of Genesis 1:2.
The Traditional “Gap” Theory
The traditional “Gap Theory” asserts that there is an indefinite gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. This age represents a previous creation that was marred by sin and judgment, resulting in the earth becoming desolate and dark. Genesis 1:3 onwards then describes a re-creation or reconstitution of the heavens and earth following this period of judgment. There are several key arguments for this view:
- It helps explain the geological record, with its evidence of fossils and natural catastrophes that seem contrary to a perfect “very good” creation.
- It provides time for the rebellion and fall of Satan that precedes the Edenic temptation and fall.
- The verbs in Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 are different – “created” vs “was” – suggesting an indefinite gap between the events.
- It accounts for the chaos, darkness and emptiness described in verse 2 following an original perfect creation.
However, many modern scholars reject the Gap Theory for reasons like:
- There is no mention in the Bible of such a prior creation or cataclysmic judgment.
- It relies on genealogies being figurative rather than literal to allow for the vast ages required.
- The Hebrew verb structure does not necessitate an indefinite gap.
- It was formulated in part to reconcile Genesis with mainstream science, not just exegete the text.
Chaotic Unformed “Materials”
Many conservative scholars, unwilling to allow vast ages or pre-Adamic judgments into Genesis 1, argue instead that the chaos and vacancy of Genesis 1:2 refers simply to “raw materials” or elemental matter created by God out of nothing, but not yet ordered, bounded or inhabited. Prominent evangelical Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke states:
“The initial creation was a shapeless mass of matter or chaotic array of elements … shrouded in darkness prior to God’s acts of separation and formation…”
Similarly, John Calvin wrote that Genesis 1:2 describes unformed “materials” with which God would operate over the next 6 days:
“Before God had perfected the world it was an undigested mass … because the light was still absent, everything would have been confused and disordered.”
In this view, rather than a literal “emptiness” or wasteland, verse 2 refers to elemental raw materials not yet separated, ordered, bounded or populated. So there is no “gap” but simply a description of unorganized initial matter.
A Literary Introduction
Other scholars take a literary or stylistic approach to Genesis 1:2. They argue it serves as a dramatic introduction to the creation account, rather than a literal cosmological statement. It sets the dark, disordered stage against which God’s creation through speech and division can be contrasted.
Old Testament scholar John Walton argues that verse 2 functions as a literary introduction or backdrop to the main story:
“The opening line of Genesis 1:2 functions as a summary introduction of the initial setting… On day one the cosmos is not yet an operational system.”
This view sees Genesis 1:2 as setting up the background “problem” that God in his wisdom and power proceeds to resolve by cosmic commands in the rest of Genesis 1.
A Mix of Literal and Literary Understandings
There are good arguments from the text and linguistics for multiple perspectives on the intriguing phrase “formless and void.” Many modern scholars consider the truth likely involves a mix of literal and literary angles:
- The original creation of the raw materials of the universe is literal (per Genesis 1:1)
- Formlessness and emptiness conjure a literal sense of dark, unorganized matter
- But also serve as a stylistic introduction to the ordered, filled creation of Genesis 1
- Without requiring unknown ages or judgments between the verses
Respected Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke summarizes this balanced understanding:
“Stylistically, Genesis 1:2 introduces the main story… Literally, it describes the original state of creation… Although organized, it was not yet a functioning, ordered system… God created the earth not to remain waste and void but to be inhabited.”
So in summary, Genesis 1:2 powerfully conveys a dark, disordered earth before God’s creative words began to majestically shape and fill it over 6 days to be a splendid, inhabited place for humanity. The evocative phrase “without form and void” vividly contrasts the originally chaotic state of creation with the ordered masterpiece it will become.
God’s Spirit Present Even in Chaos
Though debated, Genesis 1:2 contains a profound theological truth – that God’s Spirit was present even over the primeval chaos. The verse tells us “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” before creation began to be ordered.
This reveals that even before there was shape, content or order to creation, God’s Spirit was there, poised to begin the majestic work of generating light, life and beauty through divine speech. The Spirit who hovered over the emptiness of the deep was about to guide the Father’s words to summon order and inhabitants for the bleak formlessness.
Theologian TT Shields commented on the immense hope this offers:
“God’s Spirit broods over the wastelands of our lives – the disorder and brokenness of our world. And out of chaos, the Spirit creates life.”
The same Spirit who hovered over the unfurnished emptiness of the unfinished creation hovers over the messiness of our lives today. Just as God transformed chaos into a home for humanity, the Spirit renews our emptiness into fullness, our wilderness into blessing. The God in Genesis 1:2 never leaves or forsakes the formless voids of our lives.
Unformed Yet Not Forgotten
Throughout Scripture, “formless and void” depicts conceptually empty places unproductive and separated from God’s presence and blessing. Job describes the home of the wicked as:
“desolate, and their cities are laid waste like a wilderness, a land blasted and ruined … To dwell in the desert, in a salt land which is not inhabited” (Job 18:15-19)
Jeremiah portrays false idols as emptiness, like scarecrows in a wasteland:
“Like scarecrows in a cucumber field, that cannot speak; They must be carried, because they cannot walk” (Jeremiah 10:5)
The prophet Ezekiel rebukes Israel’s leaders as having hearts of stone and emptiness:
“These also set up idols in their heart and put before them a stumbling block of their iniquity … I am profaned among them in the midst of them” (Ezekiel 14:3-5)
Revelation describes end-time Babylon this way:
“She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit … a dwelling place of every unclean and hated bird … for all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality” (Revelation 18:2-3)
But though “uninhabited,” “blasted” and “profaned,” none of these places existed outside of God’s presence and care. Even over the voids of wastelands and wickedness, God’s Spirit faithfully hovered, keeping even the darkest corners in view of divine hope and redemption.
As John would later declare:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
God’s Preparation of Our Hearts
Though bleak and bare, formless places in Scripture uniquely prepared seeking hearts for God’s presence and filling. As brooded over the deep, the Spirit works in wilderness areas to ready empty souls for renewal.
Moses encountered God’s presence in the burning bush in the wastelands near Sinai (Exodus 3:1-2). The exiled prophet Ezekiel witnessed the glory of God while despairing by the Kebar River in Babylon (Ezekiel 1:1, 3). And John experienced revelation on Patmos, a rocky, barren prison island (Revelation 1:9).
Before filling with divine glory, our souls often require emptying of pride and self-sufficiency. Spiritual deserts strip away our soul’s clutter to make room for God’s presence. Plentiful places tend to fill us with lesser things, keeping our hearts still empty of eternal treasure.
As Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Emptiness creates hunger. Wilderness awakens thirst. Void exposes need. Formlessness reveals helplessness. Ruin highlights frailty. Thus voids prepare hearts for fullness.
Waiting on the Lord
After describing the earth as formless and empty, Genesis 1:2 reveals “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” This depicts a watchful anticipation of God’s Spirit over the wild darkness, eager to infuse it with life and order at the Father’s command.
Likewise, the Spirit faithfully keeps vigil over the chaos and emptiness of our lives. Through the Spirit, God never leaves or loses sight of us even in our darkest seasons of confusion and despair.
The Psalmist captured this:
“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair” (Psalm 40:1-2).
When we feel abandoned in our wilderness, we can be confident our waiting is not in vain. Our cries for help do not go unheard. For wherever emptiness rages, the Spirit continues brooding over the deep void awaiting the Father’s moment to speak light into our darkness and calling life from our barrenness.
From Chaos to Order
Genesis 1 repeats the phrase “God said” as the means by which He transforms the disorder before creation week. John described it this way:
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).
Ten times in Genesis 1, God brings order through His spoken words. Where darkness, emptiness and chaos once reigned, God declared:
“‘Let there be an expanse between the waters’… ‘Let the waters teem with living creatures’ … ‘Let the land produce vegetation’ … ‘Let us make mankind in our image’” (Genesis 1:6, 20, 24, 26).
Words filled creation’s formless void with light, skies, land, seas, vegetation, animals and finally man and woman. God demonstrated that out of chaos, his words summon cosmos. From disorder, the Lord generates life, relationships and beauty.
And this same creating and ordering Voice continues to shape our lives today. God still has chaos-conquering power. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised:
“I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Isaiah 43:19).
The same Spirit who hovered over chaotic waters at creation now attends lovingly to the turbulence and emptiness of our lives. By God’s sovereign Word, our darkness can become light. Our ruined places can be rebuilt. Our dead places revived. Our wastelands will blossom. Our wildernesses will burst into streams.Our voids will overflow with purpose again.
God specializes in bringing order from chaos, fullness from emptiness, relationships from isolation, joy from mourning, purpose from confusion. He fills voids in our families, churches, communities and hearts by the creativity of his Word.
No matter what chaos or emptiness we face, we can trust the Spirit who hovered over primordial disorder remains present, awaiting God’s Word to fill and reorder our lives with blessing and hope.