2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 1:2 The “earth” is first described in its pristine state at the inception of creation before it is transformed into a suitable habitation for human life. Six creation “days” are described from the terrestrial perspective of a person observing the transformation. Also while ʾereṣ, “earth,” stands opposite “heavens” in v. 1, together referring