Final answer:
The idea that God creates by the spoken word, as a king does, is a feature of Hebrew monotheism. This notion represents God's sovereign authority, and it grew more pronounced in the Hebrew culture's shift towards belief in an omnipotent and omnipresent deity, paralleling the authority of a monarch.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept that God creates by the spoken word in the manner of a king is a prominent feature in Hebrew monotheism. In the scriptures, this paradigm is exemplified through Yahweh, who is spoken of as having the divine authority to create and command with His word, similar to how a king rules and decrees. This notion aligns with the understanding of God as sovereign and the ultimate arbiter of the cosmos, performing acts of creation and legislation akin to those of a monarch. Throughout the history of the Hebrew people, particularly during their transition towards monotheism, the portrayal of Yahweh evolved from a regional deity, worshiped exclusively by the Hebrews, to a more omnipotent and omnipresent God. This change coincided with significant historical events, such as the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, which reinforced the worship of Yahweh and His authority equivalent to that of a king on His throne. Furthermore, in the surrounding cultures where kings were seen as intermediaries between the divine and the mortal realms, the concept of God's word as a creative force mirrored the secular authority of kings. In Hebrew scriptural texts, God's spoken word has the power to bring about reality, just as a king's pronouncement could establish law and order within his realm.