Introduction
In Genesis 1:1, we find a subtle but intriguing word: אֵת (et). While it serves a grammatical role in Hebrew, marking the direct object, some Christian interpretations see it as a symbol of Jesus as both the Father and the Son, bridging divine creation and human understanding.
Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew
The verse in Hebrew reads:
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
Transliterated: Bereishit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz
Translation: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Symbolism of 'Et' - The Beginning and the End
In Hebrew, אֵת (et) is composed of the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, Aleph (א) and Tav (ת). This mirrors Jesus’ declaration in Revelation, “I am the Alpha and Omega,” a way of saying He is the beginning and the end.
This view holds that et symbolically represents Jesus, uniting the Creator and creation.
Interpretation - Jesus as Father and Son
In Christian theology, Jesus is both distinct as the Son and one with the Father ("I and the Father are one" - John 10:30). Here, et can be seen as a “bridge,” just as Jesus is viewed as the mediator between God and humanity.