The mimetic translation of the word
bǝrēʾšît () in the
Hebrew Bible is: 'In beginning'. The word is made of two parts,
bǝ (a prepositional suffix) and
rēʾšît (a noun). As a result, this forms part of a genitive phrase, leading to a linguistic and exegetical translation of this word being 'In the beginning of...'. More accurately, the Hebrew word for "In the beginning,", the non-genitive phrase, would be "
barēʾšît". The traditional translation of the word
bǝrēʾšît as "In the beginning," has been disputed. There is debate on whether, despite its traditional translation as "in the beginning", it was originally intended to be read that way.
Joseph Blenkinsopp argues that a more functional equivalent English translation of the first three words of Genesis 1:1 is: "When God began to create...".
Thomas Römer, Administrator and theological professor at the
Collège de France, says that according to the
Masoretes, in the written tradition
bǝrēʾšît is "a beginning" among other possible ones and not the absolute Beginning. Other scholars, such as
John Day and Benjamin Kantor, support the traditional translation of
bǝrēʾšît as "In the beginning". () is the original word used in the
Septuagint translation of Genesis 1:1 and in
John 1:1. ==Usage==