Abstract
J.G. Herder (1744-1803) started his work in biblical studies with an interpretation of the creation story. In his analysis, Genesis 1 as an ancient document reflects a religious tradition which goes back far beyond the age of Moses or Abraham. Consequently, he reads Genesis 1 as an early Oriental poetic text that testifies to the origin of religion at the beginning of human history. Herder's notion of 'poetic' texts in the Old Testament, as well as his attempt at locating his work on the biblical tradition within eighteenth-century debates about universal history and natural religion are worth reconsidering.
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