Genesis 2:8-25 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 2:8-15

Man consisting of body and soul, a body made out of the earth and a rational immortal soul the breath of heaven, we have, in these verses, the provision that was made for the happiness of both; he that made him took care to make him happy, if he could but have kept himself so and known when he was well off. That part of man by which he is allied to the world of sense was made happy; for he was put in the paradise of God: that part by which he is allied to the world of spirits was well provided... read more

Matthew Henry

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 2:8

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden ,.... Or "had planted" F13 ויטע "plantaverat", V. L. Vatablus, Piscator, Pareus, Drusius, Cartwright; "ornaverat plantis", Junius & Tremellius. , for this was not now done after the formation of man, but before; and so the word translated "eastward" may be rendered, as it is by some, "before" F14 מקדם "a principio", V. L. so Onkelos; "antes vel antequam", same in Fagius, Cartwright. : for the plain meaning is, that God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:9

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food ,.... That is, out of the ground of the garden of Eden; and this was done on the third day, when the whole earth brought forth grass, herbs, and trees: but a peculiar spot of ground was fixed on for man, and stocked with trees of all sorts for his use, not only to bear fruit, which would be suitable and agreeable food for him, but others also, which would yield him delight to look at;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:10

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden ,.... Before man was created, as Aben Ezra observes, this river went out of Eden and watered it on every side; but what river is here meant, is hard to say. It is more generally thought to be the river Euphrates, when that and the Tigris met, and became one stream or river, and as such entered and passed through Eden; and as it was parted into four rivers afterwards, in two of which they retained their names: the learned Reland F11 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:11

The name of the first is Pison ,.... Not the river Nile in Egypt, as Jarchi, who thinks it is derived from "Pashah", which signifies to increase, expand, and diffuse, as that does at certain times, and spreads itself over the land of Egypt, or from "Pishten", linen, which grows there, Isaiah 19:9 nor the river Ganges in India, as Josephus F13 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 1. sect. 3. , and others; for the country where it is afterwards said to run agrees with neither Egypt nor India: rather it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:12

And the gold of that land is good ,.... Arabia was famous for gold: Diodorus Siculus F24 Bibliothec. l. 2. p. 133. speaks of gold in Arabia, called "apyrus", which is not melted by fire out of small filings, as other; but as soon as dug is said to be pure gold, and that in the size of chestnuts, and of such a flaming colour, that the most precious stones are set in it by artificers for ornament: and in Colchis and Scythia, as Strabo F25 Geograph. l. 1. p. 31. & l. 11. p. 344. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:13

And the name of the second river is Gihon ,.... There was one of this name in the land of Israel, which, or a branch of it, flowed near Jerusalem, 1 Kings 1:33 this Aben Ezra suggests is here meant, and which favours the notion of the above learned man, that the garden of Eden was in the land of Israel. Josephus F8 Antiqu, l. 1. c. 1. sect. 3. Philostorg. Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 10. p. 482. takes it to be the river Nile, as do many others; it seems to have been a branch of the river... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 2:8-15

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 2:13

Group of Brands