The Garden

Genesis 2:4–6 NKJV

4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

NOTES

This is the generations or history of the creation of the heavens and the earth.  No man was present to witness the creation.  Therefore, this information must have been communicated from God to Adam and was then passed down until the time of Moses who recorded in the book of Genesis.

LORD is the Hebrew word Jehovah or Yahweh.  This is the first use of this title for God in the Bible. Our English word LORD derives from the Anglo-Saxon word for bread because ancient English men of high stature would keep a continual open house, where all could come and get bread. They gained the honorable title of lords, meaning “dispensers of bread.”

There was originally no rain cycle as we know it today. God originally created the earth to be watered by what seems to have been some sort of heavy dew or ground-fog.

Even after Adam and Eve were created, they were placed in one specific place in the Garden of Eden.  There was no one to till the ground on the rest of the planet. 

QUESTIONS

What might the significance be of God giving a more personal name here in Chapter 2 (Jehovah Elohim) than the one given in Chapter 1 (Elohim).

The use of "Jehovah Elohim" emphasizes God's personal and covenantal relationship with humanity, contrasting the more general "Elohim" from Genesis 1, which highlights His power and majesty as Creator. It reflects His desire to relate personally to His creation.

What does the narrative regarding God taking care of the vegetation by providing a natural watering system, since there was no man to till the ground, tell us about His nature and character?

God's provision of a natural watering system shows His foresight, care, and ability to sustain creation independently of human intervention. It reveals His character as a provider and sustainer.

Are there any New Testament Scriptures that illustrate God’s care for His creation and for mankind?  Give an example and explain how we should view our daily needs in light of these verses.

Matthew 6:25-34 describes God providing for the birds and flowers, teaching us to trust Him for our daily needs. This aligns with the Genesis narrative, showing God's consistent care for creation and humanity.

Genesis 2:7 NKJV

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

NOTES

It is humbling to think that God would create mankind out of the dust of the ground. Dust carries the idea of lowliness and humility (Genesis 18:27, 1 Samuel 2:8, 1 Kings 16:2).  Yet it is equally amazing to think that God could take something so seemingly insignificant and create something as biologically complex as the human body and place within that body a soul which is capable of intelligence, free will, emotions, and relationship, including intimate relationship with God Himself.

formed is the Hebrew word yatsar (yaw-tsar’) which has the idea of squeezing or molding into shape. It carries the idea of a potter molding clay into a vessel.

But now, O LORD, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou art our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

Man did not become a living soul (living being) until the breath of God entered into him. God is both the giver and the sustainer of life.

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. (Job 33:4)

 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being…seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” (Acts 17:24-25)

“The implication, readily seen by any Hebrew reader, [is] that man was specially created by God’s breathing some of His own breath into him.” (Boice)

QUESTIONS

Do there seem to be any distinctions between the creation of humanity and the rest of the animals on Day 6?  If so, what are the distinctions?

Humans were created with God's breath, making them uniquely living beings capable of a spiritual relationship with Him, unlike animals formed without this divine breath.

From a Christian perspective, how should the understanding of the way in which God created humanity determine our views on issues such as abortion, genocide, euthanasia, etc.?

Understanding humanity's divine creation emphasizes the sanctity of life, shaping views against abortion, genocide, and euthanasia, affirming each life as precious and purposeful.

What does the Bible teach regarding the composition of human beings?  Are we made up of body, soul, and spirit? Is there a distinction between soul and spirit?  What implications does this have for how we relate to the physical and spiritual realms?

The Bible describes humans as body (physical), soul (mind/will/emotions), and spirit (spiritual connection to God). For example, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 distinguishes these elements, guiding believers in their holistic care for both physical and spiritual realms.

Genesis 2:8–9 NKJV

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

NOTES

God planted the Garden of Eden as a special and perfect habitation for Adam (and later Eve).

The Garden of Eden must have been a place of unimaginable beauty (pleasant to the sight) and enjoyment (good for food).

God planted two specific trees in the Garden of Eden: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Tree of Life: The purpose of this tree was to grant (or sustain) eternal life (Genesis 3:22).

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: Some have referred to this tree as the tree of death. This is because God specifically prohibits Adam and Eve to eat of this tree and the curse or punishment for disobedience was death.

QUESTIONS

Are there any other references to the Tree of Life outside of the Book of Genesis?  If so where are these references and what is the context?

Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 22:2 mention the Tree of Life, representing eternal life for believers in paradise, showing God's ongoing plan for restoration and life.

Is knowledge evil?  Use Scripture to support your answer.

Knowledge itself is not evil; Proverbs 1:7 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The sin came from disobedience and pride, not the act of gaining knowledge.

Genesis 2:10–14 NKJV

10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

NOTES

The purpose of these verses seems to be to give some sort of geographical context to the location of the Garden of Eden. However, it is impossible to determine the location because Noah’s flood completely changed the landscape and the course of these rivers.

These rivers are here presented by their ancient names.  The only one we recognize today easily is Euphrates.  These names have changed over the centuries since the Book of Genesis was written.  Many scholars have attempted to identify these rivers by more modern names.  But again, it is impossible to determine whether even the Euphrates flowed along the same course before Noah’s flood. 

QUESTIONS

Why do you think God might have included this much detail about the location of the original Garden of Eden?

The geographical context emphasizes Eden's reality and uniqueness, inviting reflection on God's perfect creation while acknowledging its loss due to sin.

Do we know where the Garden of Eden is today?

The exact location is unknown due to the changes from the flood. The focus is on the theological, not geographical, significance of Eden.

Genesis 2:15–17 NKJV

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

NOTES

The Hebrew word for tend is abad (aw-bad’) which means to work or tend.

Notice that God put Adam in the garden to work in it. Therefore, work is something that is good for man and was part of Adam’s perfect existence before the fall.

“The ideal state of sinless man is not one of indolence [laziness or idleness] without responsibility. Work and duty belong to the perfect state.” (Leupold)

God gave Adam one commandment: do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam was free to eat of every other tree of the garden, including the Tree of Life.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represented a choice for Adam. Without this choice, God could not have truly given Adam and humanity the free will to choose between right and wrong.

God not only gave Adam the commandment, but He also gave him the result of disobedience. The result would mean death.

For the wages of sin is death…(Romans 6:23)

Some have argued that what God declared here was inaccurate because Adam and Eve did not die the same day they ate of the forbidden fruit. However, we know that Adam experienced two types of death:

Spiritual Death: which can be described as separation from God.  The intimate relationship with God that Adam and Eve had before the fall was broken because of their sin.

Physical Death: It is true that Adam did not die that specific day.  However, the death process for Adam began that day because he no longer had access to the Tree of Life.

QUESTIONS

Why do you think God would place the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden and then prohibit Adam and Eve from eating from it? 

The tree represented free will and moral choice, foundational for genuine love and obedience.

Was God intentionally tempting Adam and Eve to sin?  Provide scripture to back up your answer.

No, James 1:13 says God does not tempt anyone. The tree offered choice, not temptation, highlighting human responsibility.

Genesis 2:18 NKJV

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

NOTES

This is the first time that God says something is not good. God was not saying His creation was corrupt. He was simply saying that there was still something missing. It was not good for man (Adam) to be alone. There was one final creative act that needed to take place in order to make man (Adam) complete. God saw that man needed woman.

From the very beginning we see that God intended intimate relationship between two human beings to be exclusively between one man and one woman.

The phrase helper comparable to him comes from the Hebrew word ezer (ay’-zer) which simply means to help or aid. The NIV and NASB render it as a “helper suitable.”

God created the woman to be the perfectly suitable helper to the man. It almost carries the idea that a man is not complete or fulfilled without the woman God designed for him.

The woman is to be considered comparable or a companion to the man. She should be honored as such. She is not to be considered inferior or subservient. The woman is an equal human being with the man and should be considered an equal partner in God’s grace. The two work together to fulfill God’s will, plan, and purpose the family.

QUESTIONS

In light of this understanding of the phrase help meet, how should we as Christians view the roles of men and women?

Men and women are partners in fulfilling God’s purpose, with complementary roles (Galatians 3:28). This mutual support reflects equality and shared responsibility.

What does the Bible have to say on this subject?

Passages like Ephesians 5:22-33 discuss roles within marriage, emphasizing love, respect, and partnership, without promoting inferiority.

Genesis 2:19–20 NKJV

19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

NOTES

Animals were made out of the ground (dust of the earth) just like Adam.  However, there was (and still is) a difference between God’s creation of humans and his creation of animals. Only humans were created in the image of God.

God gave Adam dominion over the earth which included the honor of giving names to all the animals.  This would have required great knowledge and wisdom as well as logic, reasoning, and use of language.

It must have become obvious to Adam, as God brought each variety of animal before him to name them, that the animals had a companion (male and female), but he did not yet have a companion.

QUESTIONS

Do you think God might have used this exercise of naming the animals as a way for Adam to recognize his own aloneness?  Explain.

The naming exercise likely highlighted Adam's uniqueness and need for companionship, preparing him to appreciate Eve.

What does this verse tell us about the intelligence of Adam, the first man?  How does the biblical account conflict with evolutionary theories about the first man (which they refer to as Neanderthals)?

Adam’s ability to name animals shows his wisdom, challenging evolutionary views of primitive humans and emphasizing humanity's unique design.

Genesis 2:21–22 NKJV

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

NOTES

This is the first recorded surgery and the first record of the use of anesthesia.

The Hebrew word translated rib is tsal’ah (tsay-law’).  It can either be used to refer to a literal rib, or more generally to describe a side.

The Hebrew word translated made is bahah (baw-naw’) which means to build.

“When God created the man, the word ‘form’ was used, which is the same word used of a potter forming a clay jar; but the word ‘build’ here seems to mean God paid even more attention to the creation of the woman.” (Horton)

Notice the interesting way in which God made woman. God made Adam from the dust of the ground.  God then took a part of Adam (his side) and made the woman.

God performs a special act of creation in making the woman. The special way in which God made woman out of man establishes the special relationship God intended between a man and a woman.

“There is a beautiful Jewish tradition saying God made woman, not out of man’s foot to be under him, nor out of his head to be over him, but ‘She was taken from under his arm that he might protect her and from next to his heart that he might love her.’” (Barnhouse)

It is important to note at this point that there are not two different creations of the human race, one in Adam and another in Eve.  There was one beginning to the human race in Adam.

This giving of the woman Eve to Adam was the beginning of the marriage covenant.

If we were to ask this question of this verse: “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” we would have to respond “God.”

God is the author of the institution of marriage.

God instituted marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Any other type of union between individuals is not only invalid, but is an abomination to God. (Romans 1:24-28).

QUESTIONS

Besides being a companion for Adam, what other purpose(s) did God have for creating woman?

Woman was created as a companion for Adam, to share in relationship, dominion, and the purpose of reflecting God's image.

Do you see any possible connections between how woman was made from the first man Adam’s side, and the relationship between the Jesus Christ (the last Adam) and His relationship to the bride of Christ (the church) through His death on the cross?  Explain.

Eve's creation from Adam's side parallels the Church (bride of Christ) birthed from Christ's sacrificial death, showing intimacy and union (Ephesians 5:25-32).

Genesis 2:23 NKJV

23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

NOTES

This verse teaches us something about how Adam viewed the relationship he had with his wife, Eve.  He understood that she was essentially part of him and so the two were inseparable.

This verse also teaches us something about how a husband should view the relationship with his wife.

“The natural concern we have for ourselves causes us to take care of ourselves. In a healthy marriage relationship, the husband realizes the essential union he has with his wife, and that he cannot bless her without blessing himself and he cannot mistreat or neglect her without mistreating or neglecting himself.” (Guzik)

QUESTIONS

What does this verse show us about how Adam viewed his relationship with his wife?

Adam saw Eve as an integral part of himself, reflecting unity, equality, and deep connection.

What does the Bible teach in other passages regarding how a husband should love his wife?

Ephesians 5:28-29 teaches husbands to love their wives as their own bodies, emphasizing care and selfless devotion.

Genesis 2:24–25 NKJV

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

NOTES

These verses give further insight into the first marriage relationship.

The man is to leave (separate in terms of dependence) from his parents and be joined (or cling) to his wife and begin a new family unit together.

The two becoming one flesh refers to oneness with distinction. The two are not literally the same person. There are distinctions between the two.  However, they function together as one. The work together to fulfill the God-ordained union of marriage and the family unit.

“Many want to believe that the monogamous, two-parent family was invented in the 1950’s by American television icons Ozzie and Harriet, but Adam and Eve are the original family. This is God’s ideal family. This isn’t polygamy. This isn’t having a concubine. This isn’t the keeping of mistresses. This isn’t adultery. This isn’t homosexual co-habitation. This isn’t promiscuity. This isn’t living together outside the marriage bond. This isn’t serial marriage. This is God’s ideal for the family, and even when we don’t live up to it, it is still important to set it forth as God’s ideal.” (Guzik)

Many take the idea of one flesh to refer exclusively to the sexual union between husband and wife. While the sexual union is certainly related to the idea of one flesh, it is only one part of what it means to be one flesh. It is also about intimacy and a spiritual connection between the two individuals.

The Apostle Paul warns that the sexual union has one flesh implications even if it is unintended. The example Paul gives is when a man has sexual intercourse with a prostitute.

What? Know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two, He saith, shall be one flesh. (1 Corinthians 6:16)

“Husband and wife become one flesh under God’s blessing. In extramarital sex, the partners become one flesh under God’s curse.” (Guzik)

It is apparent that there is a spiritual connection that is established through the sexual union. Some refer to this as a “soul tie,” but the particular wording is not important. What is important is the reality of a spiritual connection beyond the physical contact. The point is there are far-reaching consequences to such actions.

Adam and Eve being naked implies more than just physical nudity. It has the idea of being totally open and exposed before God and before each other.

To be naked…and not ashamed means that they had no sin at this point and therefore nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to hide from God or each other.

QUESTIONS

Are there any passages in the New Testament where Genesis 2:24 is quoted?  If so, where is it quoted and how it is used in those verses?

Jesus quotes it in Matthew 19:5, affirming marriage's permanence and sanctity. Paul references it in Ephesians 5:31 to illustrate the unity of Christ and the Church.

Do you think we should still teach our children the importance of not having sex before marriage or is this just too old fashioned and should church’s teachings be adjusted to fit more with the current culture?

Teaching chastity remains essential, countering cultural trends with biblical values, helping children honor God's design for marriage.

Why do you think God inspired Moses to write that Adam and Eve were naked…but not ashamed at this point of the narrative?

This state reflects innocence and a sinless relationship with God and each other, lost after the fall but restored through Christ.