Genesis 2:18-23

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 2:18

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:23

And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh ,.... Of "his bones", because made out of a pair of his ribs, as some think, one on each side, and therefore expressed in the plural number, "and of his flesh", a part of which was taken with the rib; this Adam knew, either being awake while she was made, though asleep when the rib was taken out; or by divine revelation, by an impress of it on his mind; or it might have been declared to him in a dream, while asleep, when,... 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

Group of Brands