Literary Devices – Bereshit 1/0
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Literary Devices – Bereshit 1
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)
