מִקּ֥וֹל אַנְחָתִ֑י דָּבְקָ֥ה עַ֝צְמִ֗י לִבְשָׂרִֽי׃
פֿון װעגן די קולות פֿון מײַן קרעכצןאיז מײַן געבײן צוגעקלעפּט צו מײַן הױט.
Sefer HaBahir
Rabbi Yanai said, “The Earth was created before the Heavens, as it is said, ‘[In the day of YHVH God’s making of the] Earth and the Heavens' (Genesis 2:4).’”
They said to him, “Isn’t it written ‘[In the beginning, God created] the Heavens and the Earth’ (Genesis 1:1)?”
He said to them, "To what does this compare? To a king who acquires a beautiful object, but it was not complete, so he did not give it a name. He said, ‘I will complete it and prepare its pedestal and accessories, and then I will give it a name.’ Thus it is written, ‘From eternity You established the Earth’ (Psalms 102:6), and afterward ‘And Heaven is the work of Your hands’ (Psalms 102:26). And it says, ‘He covered Himself with a garment of light, spread out the Heavens like a curtain, and set the waters as the rafters of His chambers’ (Psalms 104:2-3). Futher, it says, ‘He makes the winds His messengers and fiery flames His servants’ (Psalms 104:4), and afterward ‘He established the Earth on its foundation so that it will never [עולם ועד] be moved’ (Psalms 104:5). When He completed the pedestal, [the Earth] was strengthened by it, as is said, 'It will never be moved.’ What is its name? ‘Va’ed' [ועד] and the pedestal is ‘Earth' [עולם], thus it is ‘Olam Va’ed' [עולם ועד].”
They said to him, “Isn’t it written ‘[In the beginning, God created] the Heavens and the Earth’ (Genesis 1:1)?”
He said to them, "To what does this compare? To a king who acquires a beautiful object, but it was not complete, so he did not give it a name. He said, ‘I will complete it and prepare its pedestal and accessories, and then I will give it a name.’ Thus it is written, ‘From eternity You established the Earth’ (Psalms 102:6), and afterward ‘And Heaven is the work of Your hands’ (Psalms 102:26). And it says, ‘He covered Himself with a garment of light, spread out the Heavens like a curtain, and set the waters as the rafters of His chambers’ (Psalms 104:2-3). Futher, it says, ‘He makes the winds His messengers and fiery flames His servants’ (Psalms 104:4), and afterward ‘He established the Earth on its foundation so that it will never [עולם ועד] be moved’ (Psalms 104:5). When He completed the pedestal, [the Earth] was strengthened by it, as is said, 'It will never be moved.’ What is its name? ‘Va’ed' [ועד] and the pedestal is ‘Earth' [עולם], thus it is ‘Olam Va’ed' [עולם ועד].”