Genesis 2:5-9

5 When no ¹bush 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 ²to 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 ³dust from the ground and ⁴breathed into his ⁵nostrils the breath of life, and ⁶the man became a living creature.

8 And the Lord God planted a ⁷garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. ⁸The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, ⁹and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:5-9 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

• 1. 2:5 [ch. 1:11, 12]
• 2. 2:5 ch. 3:23
• 3. 2:7 ch. 3:19, 23; 18:27; Ps. 103:14; Eccles. 12:7; 1 Cor. 15:47
• 4. 2:7 ch. 7:22; Job 33:4; Isa. 2:22
• 5. 2:7 Job 27:3
• 6. 2:7 Cited 1 Cor. 15:45
• 7. 2:8 ver. 15; ch. 13:10; Isa. 51:3; Ezek. 28:13; 31:8; Joel 2:3
• 8. 2:9 ch. 3:22; Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14
• 9. 2:9 ver. 17

Footnotes

• [a] 2:5 Or 'open country'
• [b] 2:5 Or 'earth'; also verse 6
• [c] 2:6 Or 'spring'