Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Genesis 1 – An Insignificant Word?
Is this significant or nothing: When reading Genesis 1, I noticed how the word seed was used repeatedly, even when unnecessary. Such an example of the latter is, “I have given you every seed-bearing plant…and every tree whose fruit contains seed” to eat. Why not just say plants and fruit? Would the significance be the theme of seed throughout Genesis?
First, the Hebrew, zera, is used 47 times in Genesis which is a biographical book of genealogies. Zera is translated seed, offspring, descendants, and more.
Second, Paul found this one word significant in making an essential point:
“Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.” (CSB’17 Galatians 3:16)
Third, Genesis is a book about seed, none more important than “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring/zera and her offspring/zera. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (CSB’17 Genesis 3:15).
What was this short article about? It wasn’t really about seed. Sometimes seemingly insignificant words are very important. Inspiration as a concept is often more important than we realize; at least Paul thought so. So let me plant this seed in your brain: learn something even from a single word, in a seemingly insignificant sentence.
Comments