1 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.
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.
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.
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.
Creation of Man and Woman
Genesis Chapter 2 provides a detailed account of the creation of humanity and the establishment of the first human relationships. This chapter serves as a continuation and elaboration of the creation narrative introduced in Genesis Chapter 1.
The Creation of Man
The chapter begins with a focus on the creation of man, emphasizing the unique role of humans in the created order.
- Formation from Dust: God forms man from the dust of the ground, highlighting the physical and humble beginnings of humanity.
- Breathed Life: God breathes the breath of life into man’s nostrils, signifying the divine spark that animates human beings and sets them apart from other creatures.
- Living Being: As a result of this act, man becomes a living being, indicating the dual nature of humanity—both physical and spiritual.
The Garden of Eden
Following the creation of man, God establishes the Garden of Eden, a paradise designed to provide for the needs of humanity.
- Location: The garden is described as being in Eden, with four rivers flowing out of it, suggesting abundance and fertility.
- Provision: God plants a variety of trees, including the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, indicating the importance of choice and moral responsibility.
- Human Responsibility: Adam is placed in the garden to cultivate and keep it, emphasizing the role of humans as caretakers of creation.
The Command of God
God gives Adam a specific command regarding the trees in the garden, which introduces the concept of obedience and free will.
- Prohibition: Adam is instructed not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
- Consequences: God warns that eating from this tree will lead to death, establishing the seriousness of disobedience.
The Creation of Woman
As the narrative progresses, God recognizes that it is not good for man to be alone, leading to the creation of woman.
- Search for a Companion: God brings all animals to Adam to name them, but none are found to be a suitable helper, highlighting the need for companionship.
- Creation from Man: God causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep and takes one of his ribs to create woman, symbolizing the intimate connection between man and woman.
- Recognition of Equality: Adam recognizes Eve as “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” affirming the equality and unity of the two sexes.
The Institution of Marriage
The chapter concludes with the establishment of the marital relationship, providing foundational principles for human relationships.
- Leaving and Cleaving: A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, indicating the importance of commitment and the formation of a new family unit.
- One Flesh: The union of husband and wife is described as becoming one flesh, symbolizing deep intimacy and unity.
- Innocence: The chapter ends with the statement that Adam and Eve were both naked and felt no shame, reflecting their innocence and the purity of their relationship before the fall.
Theological Implications
Genesis Chapter 2 offers profound theological insights into the nature of humanity, the significance of relationships, and the divine intention for creation.
- Human Dignity: The special creation of man in God’s image emphasizes human dignity and worth.
- Relational Nature: The creation of woman highlights the importance of relationships and community in human existence.
- Moral Responsibility: The command regarding the tree introduces the concept of moral choice and the consequences of disobedience.
Conclusion
Genesis Chapter 2 serves as a foundational text for understanding the nature of humanity, the significance of relationships, and God’s original design for human life. The themes of creation, companionship, and moral responsibility resonate throughout the biblical narrative, influencing subsequent theological discussions and human understanding of identity and purpose.
