LXX Gen 1:6–8, 1:16, and 1:26–28: στερέωμα and εἰκών
Says Swete renders רָקִיעַ (raqia') as στερέωμα (stereōma, "firm structure"): Γενηθήτω στερέωμα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ ὕδατος (1:6), and God names it οὐρανόν (1:8; vol. 1, p. 1, viewer leaf n32). καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως stands at the end of 1:6; Hebrew וַיְהִי־כֵן (wayhi-khen) stands at the end of 1:7. 1:8 adds καὶ ἴδεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι καλόν, which that Hebrew verse lacks. See the textual notes on 1:6–7, 1:8, and 1:9.
Says At 1:16 (vol. 1, p. 2, viewer leaf n33) the two great lights are εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς ἡμέρας and εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς νυκτός (eis archas, "for rule"). At 1:26 Swete has Ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον κατ’ εἰκόνα ἡμετέραν καὶ καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν for נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ (na'aseh adam betsalmenu kidmutenu). 1:27 has κατ’ εἰκόνα θεοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτόν· ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς, and no equivalent of the first בְּצַלְמוֹ (betsalmo). 1:28 uses κατακυριεύσατε (katakyrieusate, "exercise dominion") and ἄρχετε (archete, "rule"), has λέγων where the Hebrew has וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים, and adds καὶ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ πάσης τῆς γῆς.
Implies κατακυριεύσατε and ἄρχετε describe delegated, accountable rule: God gives them as commands after blessing (1:28) and joins the rule to the image (1:26). Alternatively, the verbs say only that humans rule, not how.
Uncertain στερέωμα does not by itself decide a solid dome, the sky, or phenomenological language. Ποιήσωμεν does not decide how the plural is meant. Whether εἰκών and ὁμοίωσις differ in sense is likewise open. No lean is taken on those questions, or on applications of dominion.
Claims
- Saysστερέωμα renders רָקִיעַ and is named οὐρανόν; καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως is at the end of LXX 1:6, and 1:8 adds καὶ ἴδεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι καλόν.
- Says1:16 has the two great lights εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς ἡμέρας and εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς νυκτός; 1:26 has Ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον κατ’ εἰκόνα ἡμετέραν καὶ καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν; 1:27 has κατ’ εἰκόνα θεοῦ and ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ, and lacks an equivalent of the first בְּצַלְמוֹ; 1:28 uses κατακυριεύσατε and ἄρχετε, has λέγων for the Hebrew's second speech clause, and has one plus.
- Impliesκατακυριεύσατε and ἄρχετε describe delegated, accountable rule, on the grounds that God gives them as commands after blessing and joins the rule to the image; the alternative is that the verbs say only that humans rule, not how.
- UncertainThe Greek does not decide the picture of στερέωμα, the sense of the plural Ποιήσωμεν, or whether εἰκών and ὁμοίωσις differ. No lean is taken on those questions, or on applications of dominion.
Citations
- LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Gen 1:6–8, vol. 1, p. 1 (oldtestamentingr01swetuoft, viewer leaf n32); Gen 1:16, 26–28, vol. 1, p. 2 (oldtestamentingr01swetuoft, viewer leaf n33); read on the page images
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 1:6–8, 16, 26–28 (WLC/OSHB)
- Abbott-Smith public domain s.vv. στερέωμα (LXX Gen 1:6 ff.: a solid body, the firmament), κατακυριεύω (LXX Gen 1:28: to gain or exercise dominion); paraphrased
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
2026-11-10
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