Genesis Chapter 2

Verses 1-3 Summary of Chapter One/Seventh Day

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.[1]

Verse 1

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them – This refers to the full of creation. All in which would be created is created. The list would include the things mentioned in the first six day, and those of which was not mentioned. The angels who rejoiced at the foundations of the earth were created with all the invisible.

Verse 2

On the seventh day – This is the first reference of the Sabbath day, although it is not called Sabbath in this account. Another interesting point to Adam, this would have been his first day, whereas, he was created on the sixth.

God ended His work which He had made – This does not imply God performed creative work on the seventh day. Rather, the authors intention is to conclude by the seventh day the full of God’s creative work was completed.

And He rested – Two things to notice from the saying. First – God rested from His creative work. He had not rested from all work. Throughout the Bible, we will see God continuing to nurture His creation through the Sabbath. Second – While God rested, there is not yet a command given to keep this day as a day of rest.

The word “rested,” from the Hebrew, is the word of which we get “Sabbath,” which literally means “to cease.”

Verse 3

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it – It is unusual to bless a day. It is common to bless people, animals, and things, but not a day. The day is Holy unto the Lord, and the blessing is partly to human observers who observe the Sabbath. We know medically today that humans and land need rest to continue functioning properly and long term.

Verses 4-7 Creation of Man

4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 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 soul.[2]

Verse 4

These are the generation of the heavens and the earth – Generations has the definitions of “family line, descended from,” as well as “the history or account.” The latter is the definition we should choose while reading here. This is the history, the account of the creation.

In the day Lord God made them – In chapter one, day referred to a twenty-four hour period. In this case, it refers to a time in the past when God performed His creative work.

Verse 5

Every plant of the field – This specifically refers to wild brushes with thorns.

Every herb of the field – Specifically referring to cultivated grain.

Many try to take these plants from verse five, and call it a contradiction to the creation account in chapter one. Why would these plants not yet been brought up like the others? The answer lies in man. Without man to cultivate the land “farm,” there is not cultivated grains. Man answers for the former plant as well, the wild shrubs, for without mans fall, the sin, thorns were not part of creation.

God had not caused it to rain upon the earth – There was no rain upon the earth until the period of the worldwide flood.

Verse 6

Rather than rain, as we know it, there was a continuous mist, or low laying cloud that dropped dew upon the ground. Others would point out that none could conclude such an argument, and verse six merely implies that until the creation of man God had not caused it to rain upon the earth.

Verse 7

Man is formed from the dust of the ground – I also find this interesting, many would mock such a statement. If you consider your body, and the elemental make-up of it, we have the same proportions of vital elements in our body as the earth contains within. The forming of man from earth is a loose foreshadow of the relationship man will have with the earth (when Adam is kicked forth from the garden).

Upon forming man, God breaths life into his nostrils. This is a intimate interaction between God and His creation.

Verses 8-17 Garden of Eden

8 And 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 made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.[3]

Verse 8

And the Lord God planted a garden – The garden is planted after the creation of Adam.

Eastward in Eden – This is the only time the garden is mentioned as being placed in Eden. In all other places, the garden is referred to as a location itself, the Garden of Eden. This verse indicates that Eden is a larger geographic region and the garden exists within the region.

There are two main locations suggested for the garden. One of which is in Eastern Turkey, near Van Lake. The other suggested location is near the Babylon Plain, near Basrah in modern day Iraq. In either case, we cannot know for certain which location is the site of Eden. Using the descriptions of the rivers from verses ten through fourteen, the eastern Turkey location appears most ideal. Both the Euphrates and Tigris rivers get their start roughly near that location and both discharge into the Persian Gulf. ***see notes on the rivers below.

Verse 9

Every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food – God planted within the garden fruit bearing trees that were pleasant to look at and provided providence for Adam and Eve. In this verse we see the abundance of care God provides for His creation.

Tree of life in the midst – In the center of the garden stood the tree of life. Where God is, in the midst, you will also find life. Adam and Eve were not prohibited from eating of this tree until their fall.

And the tree of knowledge of good and evil – The tree has caused much debate among religions. Does the tree grant moral knowledge, knowing right from wrong? Such does not seem to be the case, as Adam is shown to be trusted as a moral agent when he is commanded to eat not of the tree. This demonstrates Adam knows the action is wrong and prohibited. If not, does it demonstrate, and many religions would presume, the tree awakens one to sexual knowledge? Again, this seems unlikely. Before the fall, Adam and Eve were commanded to reproduce and fill the earth. God could not give such a command without giving the knowledge. Rather, the tree represents the decision of man to rely upon God’s judgement of good and evil, or to rely upon our own intellect. This is the choice they reflected in the partaking of the fruit, a desire to rely on their own understanding.

Verse 10

There is a water that heads up from Eden and flows into the garden. At some point from the garden, it separates into four smaller rivers described in the following four verses. This river is distinct from the common river, which forms from several small streams combining into one large river.

Verse 11-13

Not much is known of these rivers and they cannot be identified today.

Verse 14

The third river is Hiddekel – Hiddekel is where we get Tigris from. This is one of the two rivers we can easily identify today. It is said to flow East of Assyria.

The forth is Euphrates – The last river which is also easily identified today.

These two rivers are used in determining possible locations for the garden. The two proposed locations are both places where the rivers are in proximity. The Turkey location presents the most probable of the two, where both rivers break off and begin their journey toward the Persian Gulf. The latter location in Iraq seems less likely, as the location where both rivers end.

Another item for consideration is the flood. There should be room in our research and study to conclude neither the Tigris or Euphrates rivers we have today are the same rivers from the garden. While possible, both rivers are remnant, the topography of the land changed greatly with the addition of mountains after the flood. We then should consider those coming forth from the ark may have named the two rivers with names they were familiar with from their previous environment.

Verse 15

The purpose of Adam placed in the garden is to work it. Even in the worlds paradise before the fall, we lived not in laziness. Working is an intricate part of the human condition.

Verse 16-17

The first important detail to observe is those who are present. The conversation takes place between God and Adam (which means man), Eve is not yet present on the scene. It would have been Adams job to properly instruct Eve in the commandment.

Adam is instructed of all the tree’s in the garden may he partake of, except of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The tree stood as the symbol of choice, to rely upon God, of divine wisdom, or the depts of mans heart. This is the challenge that confronts Eve in the garden.

In the day you eat it, you shall surely die – Many view this verse as an error, for Adam and Eve did not die the same day they partook of the fruit. The actual Hebrew states they shall “die die,” each word having a different tense. The Hebrews literal meaning is “in the day you eat it, dying you shall die.” In other words, on that day, they would begin the process of dying.

Verses 18-25 Creation of Women

18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 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. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.[4]

Verse 18

It is not good that man should be alone – Throughout creation, everything had companion. Man was created to be social, and yet was alone. God looked at creation, and it was good, but it was not good for man to be single.

It is of interest that God makes mention of Adams state and takes no actions until later. God fills the need in a time where Adam realizes the loneliness.

I will make a helpmeet for him – The term does not refer to a servant, or one who is inferior. While Eve shall help Adam with his tasks, the help looked for is the mutual support companionship provides.

Verse 19

Out of the ground God formed every beast of the field..foul of the air – As man was formed from the ground, so too, the animals were formed from the ground.

Brought them to Adam to see what he would call them – As God named Adam expressing His authority over him, God desired that man should have dominion over the earth. That dominion is first expressed in the naming of the animals.

Verse 20

For Adam there was not found an help meet – Adam named all the animals and recognized each had a partner and became acutely away of his loneliness, that he had none of his own.

Verse 21

God caused a deep sleep – deep sleep describes divine sleep.

And He took one of his ribs, and closed the flesh – Woman is made from the rib of man. As Matthew Henry said, not from the head to be over, nor from the foot to be trampled upon, but from the side to be equal to. While true, partners are equal, there is to be understood the chain of authority God instituted (God -> man ->wife). To the Hebrews, this pictured the perfect marriage, in which the a relationship would be characterized by harmony and intimacy between the partners.

Verse 23

The first poetry spoken by man springs forth when Adam sees the companion made for him. Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh, this shall be called woman, for from man was taken this. In the statement, Adam recognizes woman as designed specifically for men.

Verse 24

Shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife – The statement would have been shocking to a Hebrew, whose society viewed one honoring parents as their highest duty, after honoring God. The concept is a change in priorities after marriage. Pre-marriage, your priority is to your parents, after, to your spouse.

Shall be one flesh – The image is made perfect in the forming of Eve from the flesh of Adam. A married couple becomes one unit, united, equal, working together. There should be harmony and intimacy between spouse.

One flesh also symbolizes the permanent state of marriage. As one cannot separate their flesh from their bones, so the condition of marriage is meant to permanent before God.

Verse 25

The closing of the scene will make a comparison with their nakedness at the fall. The fact of being unashamed testifies they were comfortable around each other, at ease, without fear of exploitation or evil. The ease disappears as a result of sin entering into the relationship and human existence.

Although their nakedness is literal, it also symbolizes “without sin.”

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ge 2:1–3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ge 2:4–7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ge 2:8–17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ge 2:18–25). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.