Differing Conceptions of the Divine Creator

The two creation stories of Genesis, chapters 1 and 2-3 (P and J) introduce two long narratives which continue throughout much of the Torah. Each is working with a different conception of the creator—a rather human-like God versus a majestic and distant deity.

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"Differing Conceptions of the Divine Creator" (2013, September 22). TheTorah.com. https://www.thetorah.com/article/differing-conceptions-of-the-divine-creator

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Bereshit

Published: September 22, 2013

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Last Updated: September 7, 2026

  1. See David Frankel, “Rosh Hashanah: Celebrating the Creation of the Individual or the Community?” TheTorah (2013).

  2. See Rashi and the sources he cites from b. Sanhedrin 38b and Tanhuma.

  3. For more on this, see my “The Multifaceted Revelation at Sinai,” TheTorah (2013).

Prof. Marc Zvi Brettler is Bernice & Morton Lerner Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) of Judaic Studies at Duke University, Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies (Emeritus) at Brandeis University, and a research professor at Hebrew… Read More
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