Genesis 2:16-25

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 2:21-25

Here we have, I. The making of the woman, to be a help-meet for Adam. This was done upon the sixth day, as was also the placing of Adam in paradise, though it is here mentioned after an account of the seventh day's rest; but what was said in general (Gen. 1:27), that God made man male and female, is more distinctly related here. Observe, 1. That Adam was first formed, then Eve (1 Tim. 2:13), and she was made of the man, and for the man (1 Cor. 11:8, 9), all which are urged there as reasons for... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:19

And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air ,.... Or "had formed them" F5 ויצר "finxerat", Drusius. on the fifth and sixth days; and these were formed two and two, male and female, in order to continue their species; whereas man was made single, and had no companion of the same nature with him: and while in these circumstances, God brought them unto Adam ; or "to the man" F6 אל האדם "ad ipsum hominem", Pagninus, Montanus. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:20

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowls of the air, and to every beast of the field ,.... As they came before him, and passed by him, paying as it were their homage to him, their lord and owner: but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him ; and perhaps this might be one reason of their being brought unto him, that he might become sensible that there was none among all the creatures of his nature, and that was fit to be a companion of his; and to him must this be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:21

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept ,.... This was not a common and natural sleep that Adam fell into, occasioned by any weariness of the animal spirits, in viewing the creatures as they passed by him, and in examining them, and giving them suitable and proper names; but it was supernatural, and from the Lord, his power and providence, who caused it to fall upon him: it was not a drowsiness, nor a slumber, but a sound sleep: his senses were so locked up by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:22

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he woman ,.... It is commonly observed, and pertinently enough, that the woman was not made from the superior part of man, that she might not be thought to be above him, and have power over him; nor from any inferior part, as being below him, and to be trampled on by him; but out of his side, and from one of his ribs, that she might appear to be equal to him; and from a part near his heart, and under his arms, to show that she should... read more

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