Was God's work really done when he rested on the 7th day?

If the god were omnipotent, why would she even want to rest--all "physical" states would be equal to her.

Setanta wrote:

If the god were omnipotent, why would she even want to rest--all "physical" states would be equal to her.

The 'rest' referred to does not imply that it was a benefit to God to do so.

It simply says He stopped what He had previously been doing.

He was creating. Then He finished.

It says nothing of a physical benefit, either explicit or implied.

Genesis 2:2 Parallel Translations
NASB: By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. (NASB ©1995)
GWT: By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. On the seventh day he stopped the work he had been doing.(GOD'S WORD®)
KJV: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
ASV: And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
BBE: And on the seventh day God came to the end of all his work; and on the seventh day he took his rest from all the work which he had done.
DBY: And God had finished on the seventh day his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
ERV: And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
JPS: And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
WBS: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
WEB: On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
YLT: and God completeth by the seventh day His work which He hath made, and ceaseth by the seventh day from all His work which He hath made.

real life wrote:

Setanta wrote:

If the god were omnipotent, why would she even want to rest--all "physical" states would be equal to her.

The 'rest' referred to does not imply that it was a benefit to God to do so.

It simply says He stopped what He had previously been doing.

He was creating. Then He finished.

It says nothing of a physical benefit, either explicit or implied.

Oh noooooo, it wouldn't mean he 'rested' not that, no it means something totally different, let's see, what could it mean....

Multiple Bibles wrote:

Genesis 2:2 Parallel Translations
NASB: By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. (NASB ©1995)
GWT: By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. On the seventh day he stopped the work he had been doing.(GOD'S WORD®)
KJV: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
ASV: And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
BBE: And on the seventh day God came to the end of all his work; and on the seventh day he took his rest from all the work which he had done.
DBY: And God had finished on the seventh day his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
ERV: And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
JPS: And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
WBS: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
WEB: On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
YLT: and God completeth by the seventh day His work which He hath made, and ceaseth by the seventh day from all His work which He hath made.

The Hebrew word is shabath, which in various contexts means to cease or put an end to or to end.

see http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H07673&Version=kjv

In each verse referenced, the word numbered 07673 in red is the same word.

So what's yer point, ros?

Do you think the text implies that God 'needed' to rest, or that He 'benefited' from a time of rest?

And if so, show how this is implied.

Setanta wrote:

If the god were omnipotent, why would she even want to rest--all "physical" states would be equal to her.

The 'rest' referred to does not imply that it was a benefit to God to do so.

It simply says He stopped what He had previously been doing.

He was creating. Then He finished.

It says nothing of a physical benefit, either explicit or implied.

Perhaps, but there is no textual basis for that assumption. I am amused by the concept because it is yet another example of anthropomorphizing the god.

Your question assumes that the god explains things to people. . .

Whatever the reason for God's rest, how would he explain cessation of creative activity to humans who have an abundant understanding of 'to rest', but perhaps no understanding of what the period since man's creation means to God.

I think on the seventh day, God was running around, going, "Oh, my God! What haven't I…? Rwanda! I better create Rwanda! Sorry, haven't quite done that… The Tower of Pisa! Oh, it's leaning… Oh, shi… done! Toilets in French camping sites… there we go. English football hooligans… there we go, whatever that is… Mrs. Thatcher's heart… there we go… oh, f**k that! I know, I'll put a stone in, that'll work! There we go…"

neologist wrote:

Whatever the reason for God's rest, how would he explain cessation of creative activity to humans who have an abundant understanding of 'to rest', but perhaps no understanding of what the period since man's creation means to God.

It's very convenient to imply that God "can't" explain certain things to us mortals, but it flies in the face of oft cited omniscient powers of God, and of divine biblical perfection. You can't have it both ways.

Besides the fact that it's just silly.

Let the rationalizations continue...

rosborne979 wrote:

neologist wrote:

Whatever the reason for God's rest, how would he explain cessation of creative activity to humans who have an abundant understanding of 'to rest', but perhaps no understanding of what the period since man's creation means to God.

It's very convenient to imply that God "can't" explain certain things to us mortals, but it flies in the face of oft cited omniscient powers of God, and of divine biblical perfection. You can't have it both ways.

Besides the fact that it's just silly.

Let the rationalizations continue...

Where was it said that God "can't explain . . . ?"

...how would he explain cessation of creative activity to humans...