Literary Devices – Bereshit 1/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 1

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Structure

• Bereshit 1-2:3 can be seen as one major unit, describing the creation of the world.  It is framed by an iclusio, opening "בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים" and concluding "אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת".
• It may be subdivided into an introduction (or perhaps a heading) in verses 1-2, and then 7 sections, corresponding to the six days of creation and Shabbat. Each of these (excepting the unit dealing with Shabbat) opens with " ...וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי" and closes with "...וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם"

Repetition

In his article, Epiphora, Professor Yonatan Grossman has pointed out the numerous literary devices that Tanakh uses to convey the harmonious, orderly nature of creation, noting that "the echoing words, consonants, and vowels in this story are connected to the Torah's theme – the Creation of the Universe is an ordered, planned, and organized process":

Epiphora

Epiphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses: 

• The creation story is built around the repetition of the concluding phrase “--- וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם”. 
• “יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם /  וִיהִי מַבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם’" ‎(1:6)
• "וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָרָקִיעַ / וַיַּבְדֵּל בֵּין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מִתַּחַת לָרָקִיעַ / וּבֵין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מֵעַל לָרָקִיעַ" ‎(1:7)
• "וַתּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא עֵשֶׂב מַזְרִיעַ זֶרַע לְמִינֵהוּ / וְעֵץ עֹשֶׂה פְּרִי אֲשֶׁר זַרְעוֹ בוֹ לְמִינֵהוּ ” ‎(1:12). 
• “ וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ לְמִינָהּ / וְאֶת הַבְּהֵמָה לְמִינָהּ / וְאֵת כׇּל רֶמֶשׂ הָאֲדָמָה לְמִינֵהוּ .” ‎(1:25)

Alliteration:

The Torah begins with the alliteration of the words “בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא” and "וְרוּחַ... מְרַחֶפֶת".

Assonance

Assonance is repetition of the same vowel sounds with different consonants: 

• “תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ” ‎(1:2)
• “פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ” ‎(1:22, 1:28)
• “בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ” ‎(1:26).

Concatenation

This device involves the linking together of phrases:

• אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ, וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה.” ‎(1:1-2).

Formulaic Pattern

• Each section dealing with the days of creation follows a similar pattern, with only slight variations.  It opens with a speech of God that something be made (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי), continues with the fulfillment of that command (וַיְהִי כֵן), an evaluation (וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי טוֹב) and a conclusion וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר)

Parallels and Contrasts

Several commentators¹ have noted that the first half of creation (days 1-3) parallels the second half. On Day 1 light is made, while on Day 4 the luminaries are created. On Day 2, the sea and heavens are made, while on Day 5 the fish (sea creatures) and birds (inhabitants of the sky) are created. Finally on Day 3, the land is separated, while on Day 6, its inhabitants, animals and people, are created.

Key Words

Verbs of Creation

• The Tanakh Lab highlights that while the expected roots "עשה" (make) and "ברא", (create) appear 10 and 6 times respectively, it is the root "היה" (to be) that is most prevalent in the narrative of Creation (1:1-2:3), appearing a full 27 times. This might highlight the unique nature of Hashem's creation - things come into existence without effort.²
• Another perhaps unexpected, but significant verb that plays a role in creation is "בדל" (separate), appearing five times in the narrative, making it is 78 times more prevalent here than in the rest of Tanakh.

"According to its Kind"

• Tanakh Lab highlights that one of the most significant keywords in the unit is the noun "מִין".  It appears ten times in the chapter, making it 210 times more prevalent here than elsewhere in Tanakh. Trees, herbs, birds, fish and animals are each created "according to their kind".  The emphasis serves to further mark the orderliness of creation.

Elohim

• The name Elohim appears 35 times in the unit, making it the most prevalent word in the unit (not including minor words). The number might be symbolic, being a multiple of seven (7*5).

Character Titles

• Elohim – The only character to play a role in the unit is God, referred to throughout this chapter consistently as Elohim. In Chapters 2-3, Hashem is instead referred to as "י״י אֱלֹהִים", Hashem Elohim, while it is first in Chapter 4 that the name "י״י", Hashem,  appears alone.

¹ See R. Hirsch and Prof. Cassuto.

² It should be noted, however, that since the word "היה" is always fairly common, despite the numerous occurrences of the word here, it is only 5 times more prevalent here than elsewhere.