Similarities Between Genesis And Egyptian Creation Myths

Within the texts of Genesis which belong to the biblical scriptures of the Hebrews, and the myths of Egyptian origin, there are a multitude of similarities and differences. When compared side by side, the most obvious factor of both texts is that a single God was the creator of all that we know today. In Genesis that creator is simply referred to as God, while in Egyptian mythology, the creator is known as Neb-er-tcher. Both creators have striking resemblances, such as the ways they went about the production of the world.

In Genesis, it is written that everything came to be by the word of God. For example, the establishment of light. “And God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) In the Egyptian creation myths it is written similar to Genesis, in that

Neb-er-tcher created everything by his mouth as well, stating “now the things which I created, and which came forth out of my mouth after that I had come into being myself were exceedingly many.” In addition to how aspects of the world were created, such as animals, land, and people, both texts parallel in that each of the Gods made everything themselves. Both sets of religious texts confirm that their Gods were the sole producers of all that exists.
In addition to the divine similarities, they also had very noticeable differences, such as the making of man.

In Genesis, God made one male and later one female companion for him from his rib. In Egyptian lore, Neb-er-tcher created multiple men and woman from his tears at the same time, as shown when he states “…I gathered together my members, and I wept over them, and men and women sprang into being from the tears which came forth from my Eye.” Another apparent difference between the two texts is displayed when Neb-er-tcher creates two more Gods from his own being. Where Neb-er-tcher expanded the divine hierarchy, in Genesis, God remained the sole deity.

While the Hebrews and Egyptians creation theories bear resemblances and differences, the study and comparison of both the Egyptian myths and the biblical account allow us to comprehend the religious views of ancient civilizations in a better light. One may come to the conclusion that the Hebrews were influenced by the cultures of Egyptians by creating similarities in their own beliefs, or by drawing a line of defense of what is in their terms true, by separating from the mass ideals of the Egyptians and establishing distinct

differences.