Earth's Age: Does the Bible Indicate a Time Interval Between the First and
Second Verses of Genesis?
We are introduced to the account of the creation of the earth in Genesis 1:1-2: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth
was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep."
The original Hebrew wording, combined with a comparison to other passages
of Scripture, has led some to conclude that a considerable time interval
is indicated between these two verses. If such an interval is indeed intended,
there is no discrepancy between the Bible record and scientific determinations
that the earth is up to several billion years old. If, on the other hand,
there is no such gap, then the earth itself must be only around 6,000 years
old-which most scientists consider an impossibility.
Do other passages, as well as history, shed any light on this question?
Some scholars propose that Genesis 1:2 can or should be translated "Now
the earth became without form, and void... " as opposed to the
common rendering "The earth was without form, and void... " Others
dismiss this idea entirely. They assume the original Hebrew word hayah must
be translated "was" and then assume the earth was originally created in
this disorderly way.
