Structural Parallels between the Biblical Creation account

and the Babylonian account in Enuma Elish



Biblical Account (P) Enuma Elish
Earth is formless, and void and chaotic deep (Tehom) enveloped in darkness Primordial water chaos - Apsu and Tiamat enveloped in darkness.
The Creation of light Appearance of Marduk, "Sun of the heavens"
The firmament of the heavens is created Marduk overcomes chaos in titanic battle with Tiamat and fashions the sky from half of her body
Water gathered together and dry land appears Earth is formed / ground is consolidated
Light bodies are created Constellations (of stars) are established
Human is created in the image of God to have dominion over all of creation Human is created as servant to the Gods
Gods rests on the seventh day The gods hold a banquet, celebrate.






(Adopted from Flanders, Crapps, and Smith, People of the Covenant, New York, Wiley and Sons, 1973, 72f.)