17. Verse 2 And the earth was a void and an emptiness, and there was thick darkness over the face ¹ of the deep; and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face ¹ of the waters. The person who has yet to be regenerated is called 'a void and an empty earth', and also 'ground', in which no good or truth at all has been sown - 'void' where there is no good, and 'empty' where there is no truth. Consequently there is 'thick darkness', or stupidity and lack of knowledge about anything that has to do with faith in the Lord and so anything that has to do with spiritual and celestial life. This kind of person is described by the Lord through Jeremiah,

My people are foolish, they know Me not; they are stupid children, having no understanding; they are wise to do evil, and know not how to do good. I looked to the earth, and, behold, a void and an emptiness; and towards the heavens, and they had no light. Jeremiah 4:22-23, 25.

Footnotes:

7223. 'Behold, the children of Israel have not heard me' means that those who are spiritual have not received the things which have been declared to them. This is clear from the representation of 'the children of Israel' as those who are spiritual, that is, those who belong to the Lord's spiritual Church, dealt with in 6426, 6637; and from the meaning of 'not hearing' as not receiving in faith and obedience, dealt with above in 7216. The fact that the things which have been declared to them are meant, that is, things regarding their deliverance, is self-evident.