1 The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished. 2 On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.
4 This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens. 5 No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground, 6 but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground.
7 Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon: it flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon. It is the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; this is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. 16 Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
18 Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 Yahweh God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. As the man slept, he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Yahweh God made a woman from the rib which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones,
and flesh of my flesh.
She will be called ‘woman,’
because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
Commentary
Overview
Genesis 2 shifts the focus from the cosmic scope of creation to an intimate and relational portrait of God’s work. While Genesis 1 presents creation from a wide, ordered, and structured perspective, Genesis 2 narrows the lens, drawing attention to humanity’s place within God’s world. This chapter does not contradict the first but deepens it, showing that the God who orders galaxies also stoops to form a man from the dust and breathe life into him.
The opening emphasis on rest highlights completion rather than exhaustion. God’s rest signals that creation has reached its intended state of harmony and function. By resting, God establishes a rhythm woven into the fabric of creation itself. Rest is not an afterthought but a sacred pattern, revealing that life is meant to be lived in balance, not endless productivity. Humanity is invited into this rhythm, learning that meaning flows not only from work but from communion with God.
Genesis 2 presents God in deeply personal terms. Rather than speaking creation into existence at a distance, God forms the man with intention and care. Humanity is shaped from the ground, underscoring both humility and dignity. Humans are earthly, dependent creatures, yet they become fully alive only when God breathes life into them. Life is portrayed not as a mechanical process but as a gift directly imparted by God.
The garden setting reveals that creation is not merely functional but generous. God plants a garden and places humanity within it, providing beauty, nourishment, and abundance. Work is introduced here, but it is purposeful and meaningful rather than burdensome. Humanity is given responsibility to cultivate and guard the garden, establishing stewardship as a core aspect of human identity. Work is presented as a blessing, not a curse.
The presence of the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil introduces moral reality into the world. Humanity is given genuine freedom, but that freedom exists within boundaries set by God. The command concerning the forbidden tree is not arbitrary. It establishes that life and wisdom ultimately come from trusting God rather than defining good and evil independently. Obedience is framed as a relationship of trust rather than blind submission.
Genesis 2 also addresses human relational needs. God declares that it is not good for man to be alone, marking the first instance in Scripture where something is described as not good. This statement does not imply flaw but incompleteness. Humanity is created for relationship, reflecting the relational nature of God himself. The creation of woman affirms equality, unity, and complementarity. She is not formed from the ground like the animals, nor from man’s head or feet, but from his side, emphasizing shared dignity and partnership.
The union between man and woman establishes the foundation for human community. Marriage is portrayed as a covenantal bond characterized by unity, intimacy, and mutual belonging. The description of the couple as naked and unashamed highlights innocence, trust, and transparency. There is no fear, manipulation, or division. Relationships are fully aligned with God’s design.
Genesis 2 ultimately reveals a God who is both sovereign and personal. He creates with power, yet relates with care. He establishes order, yet desires relationship. Humanity is not merely a creature among creatures but a participant in God’s purposes. The chapter presents a vision of life as it was meant to be lived, rooted in trust, responsibility, relationship, and rest. This vision makes the tragedy of what follows more profound, because it shows clearly what is lost when harmony with God is broken.
Key Themes
Notable Verses
Reflection