Greek Connections: Genesis 1–11 and the Poetry of Hesiod

Abstract

A comparison between Genesis 1–11 and the poetry of Hesiod reveals many interesting similarities that suggest the biblical authors, the Yahwist Historian and the Priestly Editors, were familiar with Hesiod's works in the fifth century BCE. Interesting similarities include the decline in the quality of human existence, the distancing of God/ gods from the world, creation of the world, woman and the “fall,” divine-human offspring, the descendants of the food hero, segmented genealogies, and other themes.