Genesis 2:16-18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 2:16-17

Observe here, I. God's authority over man, as a creature that had reason and freedom of will. The Lord God commanded the man, who stood now as a public person, the father and representative of all mankind, to receive law, as he had lately received a nature, for himself and all his. God commanded all the creatures, according to their capacity; the settled course of nature is a law, Ps. 148:6; Ps. 104:9. The brute-creatures have their respective instincts; but man was made capable of performing... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 2:18-20

Here we have, I. An instance of the Creator's care of man and his fatherly concern for his comfort, Gen. 2:18. Though God had let him know that he was a subject, by giving him a command, (Gen. 2:16, 17), yet here he lets him know also, for his encouragement in his obedience, that he was a friend, and a favourite, and one whose satisfaction he was tender of. Observe, 1. How God graciously pitied his solitude: It is not good that man, this man, should be alone. Though there was an upper world of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:16

And the Lord God commanded the man ,.... Over whom he had power and authority; and he had a right to command him what he pleased, being his Creator, benefactor, and preserver; and this is to be understood not of man only, but of the woman also, whose creation, though related afterwards, yet was before this grant to eat of all the trees of the garden but one, and the prohibition of the fruit of that; for that she was in being, and present at this time, seems manifest from Genesis 3:2 . ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:17

But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil ,.... Of the name of this tree, and the reasons of it; see Gill on Genesis 2:9 . thou shalt not eat of it ; not that this tree had any efficacy in it to increase knowledge, and improve in science and understanding, as Satan suggested God knew; and therefore forbid the eating of it out of envy to man, which the divine Being is capable of; or that there was anything hurtful in it to the bodies of men, if they had eaten of it; or that it was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:18

And the Lord God said ,.... Not at the same time he gave the above direction and instruction to man, how to behave according to his will, but before that, even at the time of the formation of Adam and which he said either to him, or with himself: it was a purpose or determination in his own mind, and may be rendered, as it is by many, he "had said" F2 ויאמר "dixerat", Vatablus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. , on the sixth day, on which man was created: it is not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:17

Of the tree of the knowledge - thou shalt not eat - This is the first positive precept God gave to man; and it was given as a test of obedience, and a proof of his being in a dependent, probationary state. It was necessary that, while constituted lord of this lower world, he should know that he was only God's vicegerent, and must be accountable to him for the use of his mental and corporeal powers, and for the use he made of the different creatures put under his care. The man from whose mind... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:18

It is not good that the man should be alone - לבדו lebaddo ; only himself. I will make him a help meet for him; כנגדו עזר ezer kenegdo , a help, a counterpart of himself, one formed from him, and a perfect resemblance of his person. If the word be rendered scrupulously literally, it signifies one like, or as himself, standing opposite to or before him. And this implies that the woman was to be a perfect resemblance of the man, possessing neither inferiority nor superiority, but being... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:16

Verse 16 16.And the Lord God commanded Moses now teaches, that man was the governor of the world, with this exception, that he should, nevertheless, be subject to God. A law is imposed upon him in token of his subjection; for it would have made no difference to God, if he had eaten indiscriminately of any fruit he pleased. Therefore the prohibition of one tree was a test of obedience. And in this mode, God designed that the whole human race should be accustomed from the beginning to reverence... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:18

Verse 18 18.It is not good that the man should be alone (136) Moses now explains the design of God in creating the woman; namely, that there should be human beings on the earth who might cultivate mutual society between themselves. Yet a doubt may arise whether this design ought to be extended to progeny, for the words simply mean that since it was not expedient for man to be alone, a wife must be created, who might be his helper. I, however, take the meaning to be this, that God begins,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 2:8-17

Man's first dwelling-place. The description of Eden commences an entirely new stage in the record. We are now entering upon the history of humanity as such. I. The first fact in that history is a state of " PLEASANTNESS ." The garden is planted by God. The trees are adapted to human life, to support it, to gratify it; and in the midst of the garden the two trees which represent the two most important facts with which revelation is about to deal, viz; immortality and sin. II. ... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 2:16-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 2:18-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 2:8-17

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