GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:1 God has now completed the process of putting his creation in order (see note on 1:1–2:3). That God RESTED does not imply he was weary from labor. Rather, God’s resting hints at the purpose of creation. God’s purpose for the earth is that it should become his dwelling plac... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:4 Earth’s First People. Centered initially on the garden of Eden, the episodes in this part of Genesis 1:1 recount how God’s ordered creation is thrown into chaos by the human couple’s disobedience. The subsequent story of Cain and Abel and then Lamech (ch. Genesis 4:1) sho... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:7 THEN THE LORD GOD FORMED THE MAN OF DUST FROM THE GROUND. The verb “formed” describes a potter fashioning clay into a particular shape. The close relationship between the man and the ground is reflected in the Hebrew words _’adam_ for man and _’adamah_ for the ground. LIV... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:8 God provides a suitable environment for the man by planting a GARDEN IN EDEN, IN THE EAST. The name “Eden” suggests luxury and pleasure. It probably refers to a region much greater than the garden itself. God formed the man in the “land” (see vv. Genesis 2:5), and then PU... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:10 The description of the RIVER that FLOWED OUT OF EDEN dividing into FOUR RIVERS implies that Eden occupied a central location in the ancient world. In spite of the very specific details provided, however, Eden’s location remains a mystery. While the names TIGRIS and EUPHR... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:15 The overall picture of Eden suggests that the park-like garden is part of a divine sanctuary. THE MAN is PUT in the garden TO WORK IT AND KEEP IT. Since God commanded Adam to work before Adam had committed any sin, work did not come as a result of sin. Productive work is... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:17 The fruit of THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL has been variously understood as giving (1) sexual awareness, (2) moral discrimination, (3) moral responsibility, and (4) moral experience. Of these possibilities, the last is the most likely. If Adam disobeys God a... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:18 NOT GOOD is a jarring contrast to Genesis 1:31. HELPER is one who supplies strength in an area that is lacking in the one who is helped. FIT FOR HIM or “matching him” (see esv footnote) is not the same as “like him.” A wife is not to be just like her husband but is to co... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:20 THE MAN GAVE NAMES. By naming the animals, the man demonstrates his authority over all the other creatures. ADAM. See note on 5:1–2. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:23 THIS AT LAST IS BONE OF MY BONES AND FLESH OF MY FLESH. Compare Genesis 29:14. Marriage creates the closest of all human relationships. Heterosexual monogamy is the divine pattern for marriage that God established at creation. THEREFORE A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND H... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 2:25 NAKED AND... NOT ASHAMED. The man and woman are living in a state of innocent delight. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]