Unveiling the Biblical Origins: Linguistics Genesis and Evolution

Linguistics, Genesis, and Evolution—Part 1

Introduction

Many discussions and claims about evolution, including those made by scientists, often use personified language to describe the process. This personification often attributes human qualities to non-human entities or presents a mysterious force at work while also emphasizing chance or fatalistic occurrences. This thought pattern is referred to as animistic in sociology.

However, it is not only scientists who make claims about the origin of life. The Bible also contains claims that date back thousands of years. In contrast to the personified language used in evolutionary explanations, the Bible attributes creation to an actual person, God, who speaks things into existence. While this may be difficult to believe for some people, it is important to note that the issue is not purely scientific. Surprisingly, part of the problem lies within the field of linguistics—the study of human speech. In this series of articles, we will explore one key point from linguistics as it relates to the book of Genesis.

The Meaning of "Days" in Genesis 1

One linguistic challenge in understanding Genesis 1 is determining the meaning of the word "days" as used in the context of creation. Are these "days" meant to be understood as literal 24-hour periods, or are they symbolic or metaphorical epochs? To answer this question, we need to determine whether Genesis 1 is written in poetic language, indicating symbolism, or if it is written as straightforward narrative history.

Contrary to popular belief, determining whether a passage is poetry or narrative is not impossible. Genesis 1 was written in Hebrew, a language that consistently uses different structures for narrative and poetry. Linguists classify languages into groups based on the sentence structure used for straightforward statements versus questions and literary devices. All languages have sentences with subjects (S), verbs (V), and objects (O), although not all sentences contain all three elements.

Languages differ in the order in which these elements appear. English is considered an SVO language, while Hebrew is VSO, and Japanese is SOV. For example, the sentence "Our cat caught a mouse" would be structured as follows in these languages:

• English: Our cat (S) caught (V) a mouse (O)
• Hebrew: Caught (V) our cat (S) (a) mouse (O)
• Japanese: Our cat (S) (a) mouse (O) caught (V)

By asking, "What was it (subject) did what (verb) to what (object)?" we can determine the order of the sentence elements. However, English does not always follow this pattern. When rephrasing the sentence as a question, the order becomes roughly VSVO: "Did our cat catch a mouse?" In literature and poetry, languages often change the sentence structure. Hebrew poets, like David in the Psalms, used an SVO structure similar to English. Therefore, if Genesis 1 follows a VSO structure, it can be considered narrative rather than poetic.

Analyzing Genesis 1:1, we find that it follows the VSO pattern:

"At-start created God the heavens and the earth"

This confirms that Genesis 1 is written as narrative history. The same pattern continues throughout Genesis 1, describing the creation of different things on each day. Thus, we are dealing with a historical account rather than poetic symbolism. As a linguist, I understand that this passage claims to be history and therefore should be understood literally unless there is clear evidence to suggest otherwise. Thus, when interpreting the Hebrew word "Yom" or "day," we should take its literal meaning as commonly understood.

The Meaning of "Yom" or "Day"

It is important to note that the most common translation of the Hebrew word "Yom," which means "day," is indeed "day." Furthermore, its primary meaning is an "earth-day." When we say "earth-day," we do not necessarily mean a precise 24-hour day as we experience it today. It is possible that the rotation of the Earth may have been different during the time of Adam, potentially affected by the flood of Noah. However, it does not imply an extended period of time like a geological age.

At this point, two questions arise: 1. Is the Hebrew word "Yom" ever used symbolically? 2. Is it easy to determine when "Yom" is being used symbolically?

The answer to both questions is yes. However, it is important to note that a word cannot be used symbolically or figuratively unless it already has a literal meaning. In both Genesis 2:4-5 and Numbers 7:10, the word "Yom" is used in a way that demonstrates its symbolic usage.

In Genesis 2:4-5, it states, "in the day that God created the heavens and the earth and every plant of the field before it was in the earth." Here, the word "Yom" refers to a group of six literal days that share the commonality of creation.

Similarly, in Numbers 7:10, it says, "in the day the altar was anointed, the princes offered up their offering." In this passage, the writer explicitly clarifies that it took 12 literal days for the princes to offer their offerings. The writer uses "Yom" to refer to a period or group of days with a shared significance while also specifying individual events that occurred on each separate day or "Yom" within that group.

These examples demonstrate that while "Yom" can be used symbolically or metaphorically, its primary and most common meaning is a literal day. Its symbolic usage only makes sense within the context of an already established literal meaning.

Why This Matters

Understanding the linguistic structures and meanings in Genesis 1 is crucial for interpreting the creation account accurately. By recognizing the narrative nature of Genesis 1 and the consistent use of the word "Yom," we can confidently affirm that the text is presenting a historical account of God's miraculous work in creation. This understanding aligns with a young-earth, Christian, Creationist perspective.

Think About It Consider the implications of understanding Genesis 1 as literal history rather than metaphorical poetry. How does this affect your understanding of God's creative power and authority? How does it impact your view of the origin and purpose of humanity? Reflect on how a faithful interpretation of Scripture can shape your perspective on various scientific theories and evolutionary claims.