Genesis Chapter 2
"Concludes God's Week of Creation"
Context: "Heavens and Earth"
Chief People:
- God
- Adam
- Eve
Choice Verses:
GENESIS 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
- This verse summarizes all of chapter 1, it is simply a statement of conclusion. God declared all He had made as "good.", nothing existed in creation which was bad, or corrupt, or out of sync with the plan and purpose of God.
GENESIS 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
- The Hebrew translation of “work he had done” is” to make”; is there any significance here? What does it mean for God to rest, and how does this apply to us today? Is this symbolic for something, being that for the Jewish religion it's known as the Sabbath, a central point of God's Law. How is this important to God?
GENESIS 2:3
Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
- Of all days, the Sabbath (7th day) is blessed, and the only day called Holy, which He sets apart from His other 6 days of creation. This is also unique in that it worships time, and not an object. What is clear though is God intended for this day to be significant; it’s blessed, Holy, one of the 10 Commandments, Part of the “Laws of God”, and the Sabbath. The Sabbath starts Friday at dusk, and ends Saturday at dusk, so why do we view our day of rest as Sunday?
GENESIS 2:4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
- This verse is in the past tense with the use of “created” and “made”, and serves as an introduction to the story of Adam and Eve, and those who would follow. One question though in this verse is if there is any meaning of significance with the combination of both names “Lord God”? The combination is rare, and why is this the first time we see it?
GENESIS 2:5
Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground,
- What is God referring to here “had not sent rain” and “no one to work the ground”? Is he waiting for Man to plant crops, and then rain will be for man’s use? How is this different from Genesis 1 where vegetation preexisted the creation of man?
GENESIS 2:6
but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.
- This verse can easily coincide with science, yet shows how God had prepared a world in which humans could grow and gather food before He even made man. Scientific research suggests that Earth’s water came from both rocky material, such as asteroids and meteors, and from the vast cloud of dust and gas remaining after the sun’s formation, called the solar nebula.
GENESIS 2:7
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
- In (Genesis 1:27) God created man (Adam), This verse He is just giving insight into His creation. “Adam" in lateral terms translated is Earth, as the Hebrew word "adamah” means "earth”, and the Hebrew name Adam means "son of the red Earth." Regardless of the specific process involved, this verse clearly states that God Himself formed man out of the dust of the ground. Literally, God breathed life into man, transforming it into a living being, or "creature," or "soul. One has to believe there was some significance here as “God formed man”, and then “man became a living being.” The Hebrew translation for “the breath of life” (nishmat chayyim) can also mean “the soul of life”, which is only referred to with man, not animals. Interestingly, as God created man from dust, science tell us that at the earliest formation of planets they start as dust particles. The dust particles cling together until enough become rocks. Then gravity takes over and they come together, and after they eventually become planets; both man and planets are formed from dust.
GENESIS 2:8
Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
- Much speculation has been made of where “east, in Eden” could be, but it is likely "Eden," is the territory where the garden is located, not the actual garden itself.
GENESIS 2:9
The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- Although there were many trees in the garden, there were two of more importance than the others; the tree of “life", and the one of “knowledge of good and evil”. The tree of “life” offers eternal life, while the other allows us a choice between “good and evil”. With knowledge, and the choices we make with this knowledge, our life is determined through our “good and evil” decisions. This is emphasized to us even more in later verses.
GENESIS 2:10
A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.
- These words begin to explain the geography of the Garden of Eden, and give more information on where it was located but by no means knowing exactly where.
GENESIS 2:11
The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.
- Based on research, and scriptures, it is believed the ancient 'land of Havilah' would be located in what is now Saudi Arabia. However, the river Pishon is not known, but does not mean it never existed. Given that this is pre-flood geography, there is no way to say for sure if these rivers are exactly the same as the waterways currently called by those names. The Hebrew translation for Pishon can be great outpouring; full flowing; fully diffused. Perhaps this river was a fast flowing river, with many rapids and falls?
GENESIS 2:12
The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.
- This verse gives importance to gold. Science tells us that the origin of gold was deposited in our planet during the explosions of stars and collisions of asteroids, eventually finding its way to earth over time. Today, gold is one of the most valuable precious metals and rarest natural minerals. Interesting that in this verse, the importance of gold is mentioned, perhaps with the writers not knowing how rare it truly was, yet it was viewed as important at creation, as it is now, seemingly knowing it to be rare. Aromatic resin is used in incense, perfumes and natural medicines. It comes from Boswellia, a genus of trees and shrubs endemic to the Horn of Africa, Arabian Peninsula and parts of India. In the previous verse Saudi Arabia is mentioned as a possible location for the river Pishon. Also found in the region were onyx stones, which would later be important to Israel, in decorating the temple and tabernacle.
GENESIS 2:13
The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.
- The second river described is the Gihon river, one that flowed around the land of Cush. The land of Cush has been known by many names throughout history. The Egyptians knew the land as Cush. To the Greeks and Romans it was Aethiopia (or Ethiopia—though not to be confused with the modern nation located on the Horn of Africa. (2 Kings 19:9) “Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush”. The Kingdom of “Cush”, Egypt’s neighbor to the south, played an important role in biblical history despite being one of the lesser-known kingdoms. (1 Kings 1:33) The book of Kings records Solomon washing his anointing oil in the Gihon spring when he is crowned. he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon.". (2 Chronicles 32:30) The book of Chronicles records how later King Hezekiah blocked the spring's outlet and directed the water into the city. “It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David”.
GENESIS 2:14
The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
- Tigris and Euphrates are well known rivers in the region to this day. In fact, these waterways are strongly connected with the ancient region known as Mesopotamia. The Tigris flows east of the ancient Assyrian capital of Ashur. The Euphrates river is to the west of the Tigris. These rivers flow from the region of modern-day Turkey, through modern-day Iraq, and join into a single path before emptying into the Persian Gulf.
GENESIS 2:15
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
- Now, for the first time, man had a God-given purpose. Even before sin entered the world, human beings were meant to work, to help to accomplish God's purpose. Today in our country it has become increasingly evident that man should become more reliant on the Government than on the fruits of our labor. (Ephesians 2:10), "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
GENESIS 2:16
And the LORD God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden
- both man and animals are created vegetarians. After the flood, God permits man to eat animals (Genesis 9:3-5) “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” The prophet Isaiah later prophesied that the future Kingdom of God would again be vegetarians (Isaiah 11:6-9) “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will.”
GENESIS 2:17
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.
- This is a somewhat confusing verse, following the previous one, This is God's first negative command to human beings, telling the man what he must not do. “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden”. His command “free to” leads us to believe we have a choice, as this statement echoes God's words recorded in (Genesis 1:29): that “all types of seed-bearing plants and fruits from trees were provided for food”. Now here we are instructed that we “must not”, as if it's tempting us, and once again leaving us with a choice. Is this our first lesson of right and wrong? Does it begin with we humans wanting for a life of knowledge and choice, more than a life of innocence. As the Creator, God had the power to not put this “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” in the garden of Eden to tempt us, so then why did he? Was he aware of the Devil's plans to deceive us, and turn us away from God's love. Was it he knew our nature to too often choose evil over good, or was it meant to have a relationship with him based on trust, through obedience.?
GENESIS 2:18
The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.
- For the first time in the Bible, we hear God describe something as "not good.". This emphasized, by God himself, that being alone is not good. Our society today values marriage less important than any other time in history, and coincidentally, as we also view Faith and religion less important. As for “helper suitable”, this has been translated wrongly far more than accurately, in turn placing women at a lesser standing than men. When “ezer” is translated from Hebrew it is “helper.” Kenegdo is translated as “suitable”. However, ezer appears in the Old Testament 21 times, sixteen times where there is a request for God as Israel’s helper. Now “ezer” is often referred to as “strong helper”, which also can be thought of as “equal to’ or “greater than”. Knowing this, it is safe to assume both were created as equals. The label of “lesser” is of man, not God. God often describes Himself with the same root word used here for helper: 'ezer (Psalm 33:20) (Psalm 70:5) (Psalm 115:9)
GENESIS 2:19
Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
- This verse tasks man with another duty, he is to name all living creatures. Once again, there is a partnership between God and man. Some have said this verse contradicts Genesis 1; animals were created before man, and in this verse after. This verse simply says what God “had formed”, telling us it was something that pre existed this verse, and not necessarily a chronological account.
GENESIS 2:20
So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
- This is a sign of great honor, since naming something in biblical times was a sign of ownership and authority. A first in this verse is that man is now called “Adam”. This is done at the same time man is naming all the living creatures; man has authority over all living things, at the same time God names man and has authority over him. A few verses earlier God says it's not good for man to be alone, and in this verse he says “no suitable helper was found”, giving insight to the fact that this “helper” would not be from a living creature. This is more meaningful than it may appear, as throughout history, animals have played a vital “helper” role. Horses as just one example have been a form of transportation for thousands of years, and most certainly helpers to us. Yet God intended our “suitable helper” to be something else, something equal.
GENESIS 2:21
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh
- God could have created woman out of earth, as he did with man, but chose not to. The exchange of wedding rings, circumcision, communion, and other rituals are real-world actions with symbolic importance. In the same way, God's creation of woman from the rib of Adam meant to be seen as both literal and figurative.
GENESIS 2:22
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
- God's creation of Adam used the Hebrew word yi'ser, which represents taking some existing substance and molding it into shape. In the case of “woman”, however, the Hebrew root word is banah, meaning "to build." God "built up" the woman from the foundation of Adam's rib. It is interesting to note that whereas it took one verse to create man, it takes 6 verses (2:18-2:23) to create woman. Does this in itself demonstrate that God took more time, care, and effort in bringing her into existence. This verse also brings much of the controversy we debate in our current society over all the LGBTQ views, and contradicts their stance. While man and woman are intimately linked, and literally made for each other, they are also created as unique and separate genders, and it appears to be clear each is made for each other.
GENESIS 2:23
The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man.
- The first question in this verse is that he says "bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman”, which then brings into question the equality of women. As with the “living creatures” God gave man the task of naming them, and now it appears that man has the authority to name “woman” as well. Does this suggest ‘woman’ is to serve ‘man’? God "built up" the woman from Adam's rib, instead of "forming" her so what we do know is God intended them to be intimately connected.
GENESIS 2:24
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
- This verse implies significant ideas about how cultures should function. The Bible makes clear that a man's duty is to forsake his parents in the sense that he transfers his loyalty from them to his wife. The two will become one flesh, and as one flesh, the husband and wife will become family to each other. Unfortunately, in our current society, more and more young men are not leaving the home of their parents. They do not transition into a Godly unity of man and woman. These men are in a continued adolescent stage, and as adults, are not growing past this adolescent stage in life. Is this partly to blame for all the “cupcakes” roaming our society, as well as the continued destruction of our family values.
GENESIS 2:25
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Adam and Eve existed without any experience of evil, jealousy, deception, or insecurity. They were literally made for each other as husband and wife. All they needed had been fully provided by God. They had no need of clothing or any other restraints. They lived in freedom from any impulse to hide any part of themselves from God or each other.
Crucial Words
Lord - Hebrew translation is YHVH, often pronounced “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”
My Lord - Hebrew translation is Adonai
God - Hebrew translation is Elohim
Man - Ben ad-am” is made of two words: “ben” means “son” and “a-dam” means “man.” Together, they mean “son of man” which is the Hebrew way to say “a human being.”
Cross Reference
Questions:
- Genesis 2:2 What does it mean for God to rest?
- Genesis 2:2 Why is the 7th day of rest important to God, and why does the Torah observe it on a different day than we do?
- Genesis 2:3 Why does God make the 7th day both blessed, and Holy?
- Genesis 2:4 What is the significance with the combination of both names “Lord God”?
- Genesis 2:7 What is the difference between “man”, and a “living being”, as God Breathed “life: into man to become a “living being”, Could “man” refer to a caveman?
- Genesis 2:8 Where could Eden, and the Garden of Eden be located?
- Genesis 2:12 Is gold, aromatic resin and onyx important to God, and if so why?
- Genesis 2:16 Why does God first tell us we can eat from any tree in the garden, and then next tell us we “must not” eat from the one of Knowledge of good and evil?
- Genesis 2:17 Why did God plant both the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? More importantly, the one of evil?
- Genesis 2:17 What exactly does God mean when he warns us what will happen if we eat from the tree of knowledge and states “you will certainly die”?
- Answer - The word “when” implies God knows we will eat from the tree at some point, and He has accounted for this in his plan.
- Genesis 2:18 What exactly was God’s intentions for women in his plan when he calls them a “helper suitable”? Are they meant to be subservient to man, or an equal?
- Genesis 2:19 Why does God have man name all the living creatures?
- Genesis 2:22 Why did God not create woman out of earth, as he did with man, but chose not to?
- Genesis 2:22 Why did God make woman from Adam's rib, and not from the ground as he had done with man?
- Genesis 2:21 Is there any significance that God took “man’s” rib, and not “Adam’s”
- Genesis 2:23 Why does God give Adam the task of naming “woman”
- Genesis 2:25 Why were Adam and Eve “both naked, and without shame”?
- How do we rebuild family values as God intended?
- Is the story of the Garden of Eden a literal history, or more of a divine parable, and about what we learn from the story?
Christ seen (or mentioned)?
No
CENTRAL LESSONS(S), AND TIMELESS TRUTH(S):
- Chapter 2 focuses more details on the creation of the first man, the garden God placed him in, and the work God gave him to do. Adam and Eve's relationship was unique in all of history. When they met, no sin yet existed in the world or between them.