Genesis 2:6-16

6 But a mist went up from the earth, and moistened the whole surface of the ground.
7 And Jehovah Elohim formed Man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living soul.
8 And Jehovah Elohim planted a garden in Eden eastward, and there put Man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; and the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the 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 four main streams.
11 The name of the one is Pison: that is it which surrounds the whole land of Havilah, where the gold is.
12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and the onyx stone are there.
13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: that is it which surrounds the whole land of Cush.
14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which flows forward toward Asshur. And the fourth river, that is Euphrates.
15 And Jehovah Elohim took Man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to till it and to guard it.
16 And Jehovah Elohim commanded Man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou shalt freely eat;

Genesis 2:6-16 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.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Pleasure.
  • [b]. Lit. 'heads.'
  • [c]. A fragrant resin: as generally understood.
  • [d]. Or 'beryl.'
  • [e]. i.e. Tigris.
  • [f]. Or 'flows before Assyria.'
  • [g]. Lit. 'eating thou shalt eat:' an idiom constantly occurring, as again in ver. 17, 'dying thou shalt die.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.