How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #4
[T]hen the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. (NRSV 2:7)
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (KJV 2:7)
Creation is a pretty hands-on endeavor in this verse. But if you remember back to the first creation story, God just says the word and things spring into existence. What's the effect of these two stories on their own? Together?
Quote #5
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. (NRSV 2:21-22)
And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (KJV 2:21-22)
Ah, here we go. This is the one where woman is created out of man. Talk about fodder for misogynistic POVs. But let's not overlook God in this passage. Again, he's got a hands-on attitude, playing the part of anesthesiologist, surgeon, and… human builder?
Quote #6
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. (NRSV 6:7)
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (KJV 6:7)
All that hard work God did back in the early chapters of Genesis is wasted. Or is it? Could we have this third creation story without the first two? At least literarily—no. The flood story is chock full of allusions to the original creation stories. We dare you to find 'em all.