shows, could designate artistic creation. But the Old Testament usage rejects even this comparison. The verb was retained exclusively to designate the divine creative activity. This effective theological constraint which extends even into the language is significant (cf. sālaḥ, “to forgive,” alluding only to divine forgiving). It means a creative activity, which on principle is without analogy. It is correct to say that the verb bārā’, “create,” contains the idea both of complete effortlessness and