Tohu or Not Tohu... That is the Question

The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 34 • July 04, 2025

INTRODUCTION

There are several views when it comes to the interpretation of Genesis 1:1-2, yet only one can be correct. By using a line upon line study of the Bible, and not the thoughts or ideas of any past theologian, we are left with enough information to determine the proper interpretation of these verses, if we are willing to search for it and consider if it is so.¹

Today, we will be looking at one aspect of the interpretation that upholds that Genesis 1:1 was the first creative act of the first day of creation, where God created heaven and earth in a formless and void state. Specifically we will be considering the question:

Did God create the earth as formless and void?

VERSES

As we consider this question let us first look at these two verses to see how exactly they are phrased.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1–2, KJV)

The traditional interpretation upholds a belief that on day 1, God created the heaven and the earth, and that when He created the earth, He created it without form and void.

MOSES’ DESCRIPTION

With our focus upon the state of the earth, let us rephrase Genesis 1:1-2, as it pertains to the earth, with the traditional interpretation in mind. Consider the following rephrasing for the traditional interpretation:

In the beginning, God created the earth without form and void.

Let us also consider the exact Hebrew words that are used to describe this condition of the earth. The Hebrew word for “without form” is the word “tohu (תהו).”

Adding this Hebrew word in place of “without form” we would get the following:

When we break the verse down in this way, it is pretty simple to see, in terms of the words used, what Moses is writing about the earth and how he is describing its condition in Genesis 1:2.

ISAIAH’S DESCRIPTION

Let us consider the following verse in Isaiah:

“For thus saith the LORD [JEHOVAH] that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, He created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:18, KJV)

Following the same process as above, with our focus upon the earth and how Isaiah describes it, we can write the following phrase from this verse:

God himself created the earth not in vain.

Now we must also introduce an appropriate Hebrew word from the original manuscripts behind this translation. The word “in vain” in this verse uses the same Hebrew word “tohu (תהו)” that we described above. Let’s refine our phrase further with the Hebrew word inserted:

COMPARISON

Let us now compare, side by side, the results of our above findings.

Moses’ description (based on the traditional interpretation):

Isaiah’s description:

So here we see Moses (apparently) saying that God created the earth as “tohu (תהו)” and Isaiah saying that God did not create the earth as “tohu (תהו).”

The two statements contradict one another. How are we to resolve this contradiction?

RESOLVING THE CONTRADICTION

We know that the Bible must have harmony amongst its verses. Any contradictions are only apparent contradictions, and thus they must be explained in some way.

With the above contradiction, we can only resolve this matter by doing away with an erroneous interpretation. We cannot harmonize Isaiah 45:18 with Genesis 1:1-2 if we believe that God created the earth on day 1 in a formless (tohu) state.

IF, however, we uphold the interpretation that the earth (defined as the “dry land”) was not created until the third day and that Genesis 1:1 is merely an introductory statement, we find complete harmony between Genesis 1:2 and Isaiah 45:18.

In verse 2, Moses isn’t describing what God created, but rather he is describing the condition of the earth (dry land) on day 1 of the creation narrative. Since Genesis 1:1 is an introductory statement, Moses is describing the earth as not yet formed, or “tohu (תהו).”

CONCLUSION

Isaiah declares that God did not create the earth as “tohu.” Therefore, Moses cannot be stating in Genesis 1:1-2 that God did create the earth as “tohu.”

Instead, Moses is describing the earth as “tohu” on day 1, for it had not yet been formed/made/created.

The interpretation, of defining “the earth” of Genesis 1 as the “dry land,” and holding to the exact details that are given in the narrative of its being created on the third day, is the only way to harmonize Genesis 1:1-2 with Isaiah 45:18.

This interpretation is also a safeguard against any form of the false heliocentric model.

Please consider these words and verses as you study this matter out for yourself.

God Bless,

Charles

SCRIPTURE INDEX / REFERENCES

1. Acts 17:11