Genesis 2:1-8

The Seventh Day, God Rests

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and 1all the host of them.
2 And 2on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

The Creation of Man and Woman

4 3These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
5 When no 4bush of the field[a] was yet in the land[b] and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up--for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man 5to work the ground,
6 and a mist[c] was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground--
7 then the LORD God formed the man of 6dust from the ground and 7breathed into his 8nostrils the breath of life, and 9the man became a living creature.
8 And the LORD God planted a 10garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 2

In this chapter are contained a summary of the works of creation on the six days, and God's resting from his works on the seventh day, and the sanctification of that, Ge 2:1-4 and an account of various things relating to several parts of the creation enlarged on and explained, and of various circumstances omitted in the preceding chapter, which could not so well be taken notice of there; as of a mist arising out of the earth, which watered the herbs and plants before there was any rain to fall upon them, or a man to cultivate them, Ge 2:5,6 and of the matter and manner of man's formation, Ge 2:7 and of the planting of the garden of Eden, and the trees that were in it, and the rivers that watered it, and sprung from it, and the course they steered, the countries they washed, and what those countries abounded with, Ge 2:8-14 of man's being put into it to dress it, and keep it, and of the grant he had to eat of the fruit of any of the trees in it, excepting one, which was forbidden under a penalty of death, Ge 2:15-17 and of all the creatures, beasts and fowls, being brought to him, to give them names, Ge 2:18-20 and of God's providing an help meet for him, and forming Eve out of one of his ribs, and of their marriage together, and the institution of marriage, Ge 2:21-24 and the chapter is concluded with observing the present state and circumstances of our first parents before they fell, Ge 2:25.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Deuteronomy 4:19; Psalms 33:6
  • 2. Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:17; Deuteronomy 5:12-14; Hebrews 4:4
  • 3. Genesis 1:1
  • 4. [Genesis 1:11, 12]
  • 5. Genesis 3:23
  • 6. Genesis 3:19, 23; Genesis 18:27; Psalms 103:14; Ecclesiastes 12:7; 1 Corinthians 15:47
  • 7. Genesis 7:22; Job 33:4; Isaiah 2:22
  • 8. Job 27:3
  • 9. Cited 1 Corinthians 15:45
  • 10. ver. 15; Genesis 13:10; Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:8; Joel 2:3

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.