1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
1 Thus the heavens H8064 and the earth H776 were finished, H3615 and all the host of them. H6635
2 And on the seventh H7637 day H3117 God H430 ended H3615 his work H4399 which he had made; H6213 and he rested H7673 on the seventh H7637 day H3117 from all his work H4399 which he had made. H6213
3 And God H430 blessed H1288 the seventh H7637 day, H3117 and sanctified H6942 it: because H3588 that in it he had rested H7673 from all his work H4399 which God H430 created H1254 and made. H6213
4 These H428 are the generations H8435 of the heavens H8064 and of the earth H776 when they were created, H1254 in the day H3117 that the LORD H3068 God H430 made H6213 the earth H776 and the heavens, H8064
5 And every plant H7880 of the field H7704 before H2962 it was in the earth, H776 and every herb H6212 of the field H7704 before H2962 it grew: H6779 for H3588 the LORD H3068 God H430 had not H3808 caused it to rain H4305 upon the earth, H776 and there was not H369 a man H120 to till H5647 the ground. H127
6 But there went up H5927 a mist H108 from H4480 the earth, H776 and watered H8248 the whole face H6440 of the ground. H127
7 And the LORD H3068 God H430 formed H3335 man H120 of the dust H6083 of H4480 the ground, H127 and breathed H5301 into his nostrils H639 the breath H5397 of life; H2416 and man H120 became a living H2416 soul. H5315
8 And the LORD H3068 God H430 planted H5193 a garden H1588 eastward H6924 in Eden; H5731 and there H8033 he put H7760 the man H120 whom H834 he had formed. H3335
9 And out H4480 of the ground H127 made H6779 the LORD H3068 God H430 to grow H6779 every tree H6086 that is pleasant H2530 to the sight, H4758 and good H2896 for food; H3978 the tree H6086 of life H2416 also in the midst H8432 of the garden, H1588 and the tree H6086 of knowledge H1847 of good H2896 and evil. H7451
10 And a river H5104 went out H3318 of Eden H5731 to water H8248 the garden; H1588 and from thence it was parted, H6504 and became into four H702 heads. H7218
11 The name H8034 of the first H259 is Pison: H6376 that H1931 is it which compasseth H5437 the whole land H776 of Havilah, H2341 where H834 there is gold; H2091
12 And the gold H2091 of that H1931 land H776 is good: H2896 there is bdellium H916 and the onyx H7718 stone. H68
13 And the name H8034 of the second H8145 river H5104 is Gihon: H1521 the same is it that compasseth H5437 the whole land H776 of Ethiopia. H3568
14 And the name H8034 of the third H7992 river H5104 is Hiddekel: H2313 that is it which goeth toward H1980 the east H6926 of Assyria. H804 And the fourth H7243 river H5104 is Euphrates. H6578
15 And the LORD H3068 God H430 took H3947 the man, H120 and put him H3240 into the garden H1588 of Eden H5731 to dress H5647 it and to keep H8104 it.
16 And the LORD H3068 God H430 commanded H6680 the man, H120 saying, H559 Of every tree H6086 of the garden H1588 thou mayest freely H398 eat: H398
17 But of the tree H6086 of the knowledge H1847 of good H2896 and evil, H7451 thou shalt not eat H398 of it: for in the day H3117 that thou eatest H398 thereof thou shalt surely H4191 die. H4191
18 And the LORD H3068 God H430 said, H559 It is not good H2896 that the man H120 should be H1961 alone; I will make H6213 him an help meet H5828 for him. H5048
19 And out of the ground H127 the LORD H3068 God H430 formed H3335 every beast H2416 of the field, H7704 and every fowl H5775 of the air; H8064 and brought H935 them unto Adam H120 to see H7200 what he would call H7121 them: and whatsoever Adam H120 called H7121 every living H2416 creature, H5315 that H1931 was the name thereof. H8034
20 And Adam H120 gave H7121 names H8034 to all cattle, H929 and to the fowl H5775 of the air, H8064 and to every beast H2416 of the field; H7704 but for Adam H120 there was not found H4672 an help meet H5828 for him.
21 And the LORD H3068 God H430 caused H5307 a deep sleep H8639 to fall H5307 upon Adam, H121 and he slept: H3462 and he took H3947 one H259 of his ribs, H6763 and closed up H5462 the flesh H1320 instead thereof;
22 And the rib, H6763 which the LORD H3068 God H430 had taken H3947 from man, H120 made H1129 he a woman, H802 and brought H935 her unto the man. H120
23 And Adam H120 said, H559 This H2063 is now H6471 bone H6106 of my bones, H6106 and flesh H1320 of my flesh: H1320 she H2063 shall be called H7121 Woman, H802 because she H2063 was taken H3947 out of Man. H376
24 Therefore H3651 shall a man H376 leave H5800 his father H1 and his mother, H517 and shall cleave H1692 unto his wife: H802 and they shall be one H259 flesh. H1320
25 And they were both H8147 naked, H6174 the man H120 and his wife, H802 and were not ashamed. H954
1 And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.
5 And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Jehovah God had not caused it to rain upon the earth: and there was not a man to till the ground;
6 but there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8 And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads.
11 The name of the first is Pishon: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12 and the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Cush.
14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth in front of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 And Jehovah God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found a help meet for him.
21 And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:
22 and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
1 And the heavens and the earth are completed, and all their host;
2 and God completeth by the seventh day His work which He hath made, and ceaseth by the seventh day from all His work which He hath made.
3 And God blesseth the seventh day, and sanctifieth it, for in it He hath ceased from all His work which God had prepared for making.
4 These `are' births of the heavens and of the earth in their being prepared, in the day of Jehovah God's making earth and heavens;
5 and no shrub of the field is yet in the earth, and no herb of the field yet sprouteth, for Jehovah God hath not rained upon the earth, and a man there is not to serve the ground,
6 and a mist goeth up from the earth, and hath watered the whole face of the ground.
7 And Jehovah God formeth the man -- dust from the ground, and breatheth into his nostrils breath of life, and the man becometh a living creature.
8 And Jehovah God planteth a garden in Eden, at the east, and He setteth there the man whom He hath formed;
9 and Jehovah God causeth to sprout from the ground every tree desirable for appearance, and good for food, and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river is going out from Eden to water the garden, and from thence it is parted, and hath become four chief `rivers';
11 the name of the one `is' Pison, it `is' that which is surrounding the whole land of the Havilah where the gold `is',
12 and the gold of that land `is' good, there `is' the bdolach and the shoham stone;
13 and the name of the second river `is' Gibon, it `is' that which is surrounding the whole land of Cush;
14 and the name of the third river `is' Hiddekel, it `is' that which is going east of Asshur; and the fourth river is Phrat.
15 And Jehovah God taketh the man, and causeth him to rest in the garden of Eden, to serve it, and to keep it.
16 And Jehovah God layeth a charge on the man, saying, `Of every tree of the garden eating thou dost eat;
17 and of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou dost not eat of it, for in the day of thine eating of it -- dying thou dost die.'
18 And Jehovah God saith, `Not good for the man to be alone, I do make to him an helper -- as his counterpart.'
19 And Jehovah God formeth from the ground every beast of the field, and every fowl of the heavens, and bringeth in unto the man, to see what he doth call it; and whatever the man calleth a living creature, that `is' its name.
20 And the man calleth names to all the cattle, and to fowl of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; and to man hath not been found an helper -- as his counterpart.
21 And Jehovah God causeth a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he sleepeth, and He taketh one of his ribs, and closeth up flesh in its stead.
22 And Jehovah God buildeth up the rib which He hath taken out of the man into a woman, and bringeth her in unto the man;
23 and the man saith, `This `is' the `proper' step! bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh!' for this it is called Woman, for from a man hath this been taken;
24 therefore doth a man leave his father and his mother, and hath cleaved unto his wife, and they have become one flesh.
25 And they are both of them naked, the man and his wife, and they are not ashamed of themselves.
1 And the heavens and the earth and all their host were finished.
2 And God had finished on the seventh day his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it, because that on it he rested from all his work which God had created in making it.
4 These are the histories of the heavens and the earth, when they were created, in the day that Jehovah Elohim made earth and heavens,
5 and every shrub of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for Jehovah Elohim had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.
6 But a mist went up from the earth, and moistened the whole surface of the ground.
7 And Jehovah Elohim formed Man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living soul.
8 And Jehovah Elohim planted a garden in Eden eastward, and there put Man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; and the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river went out of Eden, to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four main streams.
11 The name of the one is Pison: that is it which surrounds the whole land of Havilah, where the gold is.
12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and the onyx stone are there.
13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: that is it which surrounds the whole land of Cush.
14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which flows forward toward Asshur. And the fourth river, that is Euphrates.
15 And Jehovah Elohim took Man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to till it and to guard it.
16 And Jehovah Elohim commanded Man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou shalt freely eat;
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt certainly die.
18 And Jehovah Elohim said, It is not good that Man should be alone; I will make him a helpmate, his like.
19 And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim had formed every animal of the field and all fowl of the heavens, and brought [them] to Man, to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called each living soul, that was its name.
20 And Man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but as for Adam, he found no helpmate, his like.
21 And Jehovah Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall upon Man; and he slept. And he took one of his ribs and closed up flesh in its stead.
22 And Jehovah Elohim built the rib that he had taken from Man into a woman; and brought her to Man.
23 And Man said, This time it is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: this shall be called Woman, because this was taken out of a man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, Man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
1 The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made.
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 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 midst 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: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12 and the gold of that land is good. There is aromatic resin and the onyx stone.
13 The name of the second river is Gihon: 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 dress it and to keep it.
16 Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat:
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die."
18 Yahweh God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for 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 cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him.
21 Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
22 He made the rib, which Yahweh God had taken from the man, into a woman, 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 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
1 And the heaven and the earth and all things in them were complete.
2 And on the seventh day God came to the end of all his work; and on the seventh day he took his rest from all the work which he had done.
3 And God gave his blessing to the seventh day and made it holy: because on that day he took his rest from all the work which he had made and done.
4 These are the generations of the heaven and the earth when they were made.
5 In the day when the Lord God made earth and heaven there were no plants of the field on the earth, and no grass had come up: for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to do work on the land.
6 But a mist went up from the earth, watering all the face of the land.
7 And the Lord God made man from the dust of the earth, breathing into him the breath of life: and man became a living soul.
8 And the Lord God made a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had made.
9 And out of the earth the Lord made every tree to come, delighting the eye and good for food; and in the middle of the garden, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river went out of Eden giving water to the garden; and from there it was parted and became four streams.
11 The name of the first is Pishon, which goes round about all the land of Havilah where there is gold.
12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: this river goes round all the land of Cush.
14 And the name of the third river is Tigris, which goes to the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to do work in it and take care of it.
16 And the Lord God gave the man orders, saying, You may freely take of the fruit of every tree of the garden:
17 But of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not take; for on the day when you take of it, death will certainly come to you.
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be by himself: I will make one like himself as a help to him
19 And from the earth the Lord God made every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and took them to the man to see what names he would give them: and whatever name he gave to any living thing, that was its name.
20 And the man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the air and to every beast of the field; but Adam had no one like himself as a help.
21 And the Lord God sent a deep sleep on the man, and took one of the bones from his side while he was sleeping, joining up the flesh again in its place:
22 And the bone which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman, and took her to the man.
23 And the man said, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh: let her name be Woman because she was taken out of Man.
24 For this cause will a man go away from his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they will be one flesh.
25 And the man and his wife were without clothing, and they had no sense of shame.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 2
Commentary on Genesis 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Ge 2:1. The Narrative of the Six Days' Creation Continued. The course of the narrative is improperly broken by the division of the chapter.
1. the heavens—the firmament or atmosphere.
host—a multitude, a numerous array, usually connected in Scripture with heaven only, but here with the earth also, meaning all that they contain.
were finished—brought to completion. No permanent change has ever since been made in the course of the world, no new species of animals been formed, no law of nature repealed or added to. They could have been finished in a moment as well as in six days, but the work of creation was gradual for the instruction of man, as well, perhaps, as of higher creatures (Job 38:7).
Ge 2:2-7. The First Sabbath.
2. and he rested on the seventh day—not to repose from exhaustion with labor (see Isa 40:28), but ceased from working, an example equivalent to a command that we also should cease from labor of every kind.
3. blessed and sanctified the seventh day—a peculiar distinction put upon it above the other six days, and showing it was devoted to sacred purposes. The institution of the Sabbath is as old as creation, giving rise to that weekly division of time which prevailed in the earliest ages. It is a wise and beneficent law, affording that regular interval of rest which the physical nature of man and the animals employed in his service requires, and the neglect of which brings both to premature decay. Moreover, it secures an appointed season for religious worship, and if it was necessary in a state of primeval innocence, how much more so now, when mankind has a strong tendency to forget God and His claims?
4. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth—the history or account of their production. Whence did Moses obtain this account so different from the puerile and absurd fictions of the heathen? Not from any human source, for man was not in existence to witness it; not from the light of nature or reason, for though they proclaim the eternal power and Godhead by the things which are made, they cannot tell how they were made. None but the Creator Himself could give this information, and therefore it is through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God (Heb 11:3).
5, 6. rain, mist—(See on Ge 1:11).
7. Here the sacred writer supplies a few more particulars about the first pair.
formed—had FORMED MAN OUT OF THE DUST OF THE GROUND. Science has proved that the substance of his flesh, sinews, and bones, consists of the very same elements as the soil which forms the crust of the earth and the limestone that lies embedded in its bowels. But from that mean material what an admirable structure has been reared in the human body (Ps 139:14).
the breath of life—literally, of lives, not only animal but spiritual life. If the body is so admirable, how much more the soul with all its varied faculties.
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life—not that the Creator literally performed this act, but respiration being the medium and sign of life, this phrase is used to show that man's life originated in a different way from his body—being implanted directly by God (Ec 12:7), and hence in the new creation of the soul Christ breathed on His disciples (Joh 20:22).
Ge 8-17. The Garden of Eden.
8. Eden—was probably a very extensive region in Mesopotamia, distinguished for its natural beauty and the richness and variety of its produce. Hence its name, signifying "pleasantness." God planted a garden eastward, an extensive park, a paradise, in which the man was put to be trained under the paternal care of his Maker to piety and usefulness.
9. tree of life—so called from its symbolic character as a sign and seal of immortal life. Its prominent position where it must have been an object of daily observation and interest, was admirably fitted to keep man habitually in mind of God and futurity.
tree of the knowledge of good and evil—so called because it was a test of obedience by which our first parents were to be tried, whether they would be good or bad, obey God or break His commands.
15. put the man into the garden of Eden to dress it—not only to give him a pleasant employment, but to place him on his probation, and as the title of this garden, the garden of the Lord (Ge 13:10; Eze 28:13), indicates, it was in fact a temple in which he worshipped God, and was daily employed in offering the sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise.
17. thou shalt not eat of it … thou shalt surely die—no reason assigned for the prohibition, but death was to be the punishment of disobedience. A positive command like this was not only the simplest and easiest, but the only trial to which their fidelity could be exposed.
Ge 2:18-25. The Making of Woman, and Institution of Marriage.
18. it is not good for the man to be alone—In the midst of plenty and delights, he was conscious of feelings he could not gratify. To make him sensible of his wants,
19. God brought unto Adam—not all the animals in existence, but those chiefly in his immediate neighborhood to be subservient to his use.
whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof—His powers of perception and intelligence were supernaturally enlarged to know the characters, habits, and uses of each species that was brought to him.
20. but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him—The design of this singular scene was to show him that none of the living creatures he saw were on an equal footing with himself, and that while each class came with its mate of the same nature, form, and habits, he alone had no companion. Besides, in giving names to them he was led to exercise his powers of speech and to prepare for social intercourse with his partner, a creature yet to be formed.
21. deep sleep—probably an ecstasy or trance like that of the prophets, when they had visions and revelations of the Lord, for the whole scene was probably visible to the mental eye of Adam, and hence his rapturous exclamation.
took one of his ribs—"She was not made out of his head to surpass him, nor from his feet to be trampled on, but from his side to be equal to him, and near his heart to be dear to him."
23. Woman—in Hebrew, "man-ess."
24. one flesh—The human pair differed from all other pairs, that by peculiar formation of Eve, they were one. And this passage is appealed to by our Lord as the divine institution of marriage (Mt 19:4, 5; Eph 5:28). Thus Adam appears as a creature formed after the image of God—showing his knowledge by giving names to the animals, his righteousness by his approval of the marriage relation, and his holiness by his principles and feelings, and finding gratification in the service and enjoyment of God.