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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 2:18

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:19

Out of the ground, etc. - Concerning the formation of the different kinds of animals, see the preceding chapter, Genesis 1 (note). 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:19

Verse 19 19.And out of the ground the Lord God formed, etc (144) This is a more ample exposition of the preceding sentence, for he says that, of all the animals, when they had been placed in order, not one was found which might be conferred upon and adapted to Adam; nor was there such affinity of nature, that Adam could choose for himself a companion for life out of any one species. Nor did this occur through ignorance, for each species had passed in review before Adam, and he had imposed names... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 2:18

In anticipation of the ensuing narrative of the temptation and the fall, the historian, having depicted man's settlement in Eden, advances to complete his dramatis personae by the introduction upon the scene of the animals and woman. In the preliminary creation record ( Genesis 1:7-27 ) it is simply stated that God created man, male and female; there is a complete absence of details as to the Divine modus operandi in the execution of these, his last and greatest works. It is one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 2:18-25

The true life of man. The commencement of human society. First we see man surrounded by cattle, fowl, and beast of the field, which were brought to him by God as to their lord and ruler, that he might name them as from himself. "What he called every living creature was the name thereof." Nothing could better represent the organization of the earthly life upon the basis of man's supremacy. But there is no helpmeet for man ("as before him ," the reflection of himself) in all the lower... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 2:19

And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air. To allege that the Creator's purpose to provide a helpmeet for Adam seeks realization through the production of the animals (Kalisch, Alford) proceeds upon a misapprehension of the proper nexus which binds the thoughts of the historian, and a want of attention to the peculiar structure of Hebrew composition, besides exhibiting Jehovah Elohim in the character of an empiric who only tentatively... read more

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