Genesis 2:19-20

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 2:19

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 2:20

And Adam gave names to all cattle - Two things God appears to have had in view by causing man to name all the cattle, etc. 1. To show him with what comprehensive powers of mind his Maker had endued him; and 2. To show him that no creature yet formed could make him a suitable companion. And that this twofold purpose was answered we shall shortly see; for, Adam gave names; but how? From an intimate knowledge of the nature and properties of each creature. Here we see the perfection of his... 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 2:18-25

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 2:20

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field. The portrait here delineated of the first man is something widely different from that of an infantile savage slowly groping his way towards the possession of articulate speech and intelligible language by imitation of the sounds of animals. Speech and language both spring full-formed, though not completely matured, from the primus homo of the Bible. As to the names that Adam gave the animals,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 2:19

Here, as in several previous instances Genesis 1:5; Genesis 2:4, Genesis 2:8-9, the narrative reverts to the earlier part of the sixth day. This is, therefore, another example of the connection according to thought overruling that according to time. The order of time, however, is restored, when we take in a sufficient portion of the narrative. We refer, therefore, to the fifth verse, which is the regulative sentence of the present passage. The second clause in the verse, however, which in the... read more

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