Genesis 2:4-25

4 This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the eretz when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made eretz and the heavens.

5 No plant of the field was yet in the eretz, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the eretz. There was not a man to till the ground,

6 but a mist went up from the eretz, and watered the whole surface of the ground.

7 The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward, in `Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9 Out of the ground the LORD God made every tree to grow 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 the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river went out of `Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became four heads.

11 The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

12 and the gold of that land is good. There is aromatic resin and the shoham stone.

13 The name of the second river is Gichon: the same river that flows through the whole land of Kush.

14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel: this is the one which flows in front of Ashshur. The fourth river is the Perat.

15 The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of `Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat:

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die."

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."

19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.

20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him.

21 The LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.

22 He made the rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man, into a woman, and brought her to the man.

23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

24 Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

25 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:4-25 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.