Is There a Gap in Time Between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2?

Written and personal study by Felicia Trecek
(May 2005)

Genesis 1:1 reads, "In the beginning, Elohim AZ created the heavens and the earth."

Genesis 1:2 reads, "And the earth came to be formless and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of Elohim was moving gently on the face of the waters."

In Jeremiah 4:23-25, Elohim was reflecting upon the time of the formless and void earth.

Firstly, verse 22 reads, "For My people are foolish, they have NOT known Me. They are stupid children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge."

Verses 23-25 read, (v:23) "I looked at the earth, and saw it was formless and empty. And the heavens, they had no light." (v:24) "I looked at the mountains, and saw they shook, and all the hills were swaying." (v:25) "I looked and saw THERE WAS NO MAN, and all the birds of the heavens had fled."

Jeremiah 4:23-25 is Elohim's reflection upon the time in Genesis 1:2 since verse 23 of Jeremiah 4 clearly states; 1) it was a time WHEN the earth WAS FORMLESS and EMPTY, and 2) verse 25 of Jeremiah 4 clearly states it was a time WHEN THERE WAS NO MAN. And - interestingly, verse 25 also informs us that the birds had fled. Hence, a creation existed before Genesis 1:2.

Continuing to read in Jeremiah 4: Verses 26-28 read, (v:26) "I looked and saw the garden land was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of YHWH, by His burning displeasure." (v:27) "For thus said YHWH, 'All the earth shall be a ruin, but I shall not make a complete end.' " (v:28) "On the account of this, let the earth mourn and the heavens above be dark... "

Verses 26-27 of Jeremiah 4 is a bit curious. The clarity of verses 23-25 of Jeremiah 4 (quoted above) which is; a thought reflection upon Genesis 1:2, appears to be continuous in verses 26-27.

Verse 26 is written in the past tense; the garden land WAS a wilderness. And, all of the cities WERE broken down at the presence of YHWH, by His burning displeasure. Although, all of the cities in Judah during the time of chapter four in Jeremiah WERE NOT broken down. Therefore, when were the cities all broken down by His burning displeasure? What time was YHWH referring back to when all of the cities WERE broken down?

Verses 25 and 26 appear be within the same thought and they read together as follows...(Please notice that both verses 25 and 26 begin with, "I looked and saw...")

Jeremiah 4:25-26 reads, (v:25) "I looked and saw THERE WAS NO MAN, and all the birds of the heavens had fled." (v:26) "I looked, and saw the garden land was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of YHWH, by His burning displeasure."

Moreover, all of the four verses, verses 23-26, begin with the phrase: "I looked...".

Verses 27 and 28 of Jeremiah 4 are written in the future tense unlike verse 26 which is in the past tense. Yet, in the future, all the earth shall mourn during YHWH's wrath of displeasure.

The implication of Jeremiah chapter 4, verses 22-28 is this:

1. The children of Israel are sinning again. (Specifically the house of Judah).
2. There was a previous time when there was no man on earth, but there was a creation.
3. During the time previous to Adam and Eve, the earth was destroyed due to YHWH's burning displeasure.
4. Because the people are sinning, YHWH's burning wrath will occur again and destroy the earth, but not to an utter ruin the second time as like the time in Genesis 1:2.
5. YHWH's burning wrath occurs because of sins which results in the earth's destruction.

Whether or not verse 26 of Jeremiah 4 occurred between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 is debatable since it states that the cities were broken down. Did cities exist between the time of Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2? The fact that verse 26 is written in the past tense cannot be ignored. And, it's interesting that both verses 25 and 26 both begin with... "I looked and saw..." which also cannot be ignored.

There is at least one additional scripture worthy of consideration in connection with verse 26 of Jeremiah 4, the broken down cities. It is Ezekiel 28:16. It speaks of the King of Tsor - verse 12 - which is none other than Satan. He was the anointed kerub that covered - verse 14.

Ezekiel 28:16-17 reads, (v:16) "By the greatness of YOUR TRADE you became filled with violence within, and you sinned. So I thrust you from the mountains of Elohim, and I destroyed you, O covering kerub, from the midst of the stones of fire." (v:17) "Your heart was lifted up because of your loveliness, you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I threw you to the earth, I laid you before the kings to look at you."

Some colossal event occurred between the time of Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. We know from Genesis chapter 3, Satan, the crafty corrupted serpent, was already on the earth and lied to Eve. Hence, Satan was TRADING before Genesis 1:2. Did Satan use cities on the earth before Genesis 1:2?

Again, what actually existed and what sins Satan committed between the time of Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 which brought about YHWH's displeasure and earth's destruction is debatable. However, because of the clear statements in Jeremiah 4:23-25, a creation existed before the existence of mankind upon the earth and before Genesis 1:2. This aspect is a fact. And, the implication to this fact is that the earth became formless and void in Genesis 1:2 due to YHWH's displeasure and wrath between the time of Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. This time has been labeled as: "the gap". Although, some of "the gap theorists" also believe in evolution. This author does not.

As a repeat: Jeremiah 4:22-28 all-together read: (v:22) "For My people are foolish, they have NOT known Me. They are stupid children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." (v:23) "I looked at the earth, and saw it was formless and empty. And the heavens, they had no light." (v:24) "I looked at the mountains, and saw they shook, and all the hills were swaying." (v:25) "I looked and saw THERE WAS NO MAN, and all the birds of the heavens had fled." (v:26) "I looked and saw the garden land was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of YHWH, by His burning displeasure." (v:27) "For thus said YHWH, 'All the earth shall be a ruin, but I shall not make a complete end.' " (v:28) "On the account of this, let the earth mourn and the heavens above be dark... "