Explore the Bible: December 10
The First Couple • Genesis 2:7-9,15-25
By Laura Lee Leathers
The first chapter in Genesis gives a broad overview of the seven days of creation. The process regarding day six is detailed in Genesis 2.
If you mark the “firsts” in your Bible, add the following: the first man, woman, communication, command, and marriage. What a wonderful experience it is to be first, but it often comes with a tremendous responsibility.
Placed (Gen. 2:7-9 CSB) – “The Lord formed the man of the dust from the ground” (v.7). God (Yahweh) shaped and molded man in the image of God. He is the Master Artisan, the potter, and we are the clay (Isa. 64:8; 2 Cor. 4:7).
Adam came from the earth. The Hebrew word for “ground” is adaham, and the name “adam” can refer to both genders or man (Gen. 1:27).
Then, God breathed the breath of life into his nostrils. Man became a living being. The animals, created before man, were created as living creatures (see 1 Cor. 15:47).
The Lord God planted a garden in Eden (v.8, first mention). The name means ‘abundant water.’ We know it represents a place in a particular region and the garden itself. God placed the man He had formed (see Ezekiel 28:13).
The Lord God made every tree mature, beautiful, and good for food. Within the garden, two significant trees are mentioned: the “tree of life” (see Prov. 3:18; 11:30; 13:12, also Rev. 2:7; 22:2,14,19). The “tree of life” provided sustenance, but God provided life.
“The tree of the knowledge of good and evil” was in the middle of the garden. The full name of the tree is given only in verses 9 and 17.
Employed (Gen. 2:15-17) – God put the man in the garden of Eden and gave him an assignment, “tend and keep it.” In partnership with God, Adam was to work and guard the garden — his first job. It was established as a good thing and created before the fall.
God’s first words to man were, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Adam was made the steward of what God provided.
“God commanded” is the next phrase. It’s used twenty-five times in Genesis. “It carries the idea of a superior delegating orders to a subordinate. Verse 16 is the only place where it’s used with this particular phrasing” (Lifeway).
The command, “You shall not eat” of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Here, we see God gave a choice and the ability to obey or not obey God. Would the first man and woman pass the test of their faithfulness? Would they obey God? If they didn’t, they would know good from evil. And the consequences for their actions would be death — physical and spiritual.
Alone (Gen. 2:18-20) – Verse 18 gives us the first, “it is not good.” The reason is that man should not be alone. God’s gift, “I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
The Hebrew word for helper is ‘ezer, and it carries the thought of “one standing face-to-face as an equal. The picture is that a woman corresponds perfectly to the man and completes that which is lacking in him. It is a word that pictures quality between the genders” (Lifeway).
Verses 19 and 20 are not contradictory to chapter 1. Instead, they set the stage for the creation of Eve. God brought the animals to Adam to be named, to call each kind. As the male and female of each species were brought before him, he realized he was alone.
United (Gen. 2:21-25) – In the final passage of Scripture, note where you see: God caused, took, and made.
God uniquely created or fashioned woman. The woman was taken from Adam’s side, equal. Adam said (first spoken words), “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” He called her Woman.
“This is why” a man and his wife are to leave their father and mother. “While this language alludes to physical intimacy, don’t overlook the impact of emotional and spiritual intimacy” (Lifeway).
They were united, naked, and unashamed. Everything was perfect as this first couple spent their days in the Garden, that is until …
“It’s God who defines marriage, and He explains it very clearly as between one man and one woman. God’s Word — not feelings or ever-changing cultural standards—defines truth.” (Ken Ham, Creation to Babel, A Commentary for Families)
Leathers is a member of First Church, Lexington. She may be contacted at laura.l.leathers@gmail.com.