The Meaning of Genesis 2:15 Explained

Genesis 2:15

KJV: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

YLT: And Jehovah God taketh the man, and causeth him to rest in the garden of Eden, to serve it, and to keep it.

Darby: And Jehovah Elohim took Man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to till it and to guard it.

ASV: And Jehovah God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  God  took  the man,  and put him  into the garden  of Eden  to dress  it and to keep  it. 

What does Genesis 2:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 2:1-17 - Man In Eden, Innocence
The first paragraph belongs to the previous chapter, as is clear from the use of the same term for God-Elohim. God's Rest was not from weariness, or exhaustion, but because His work of Creation was finished. He is ever at work, remember John 5:17. We enter into His rest, when we cease to worry, and trust Him in all and for all. In Genesis 2:4, Moses incorporates another of those wonderful God-given narratives, which had been handed down from the lips of the patriarchs. It is marked by the use of another term for God-Jehovah Elohim. Every man is entrusted with a garden, that he may keep it. God's goodness is no excuse for idleness. Whether your heart and life shall produce weeds, or flowers and fruits, depends on yourself. Ponder Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 24:30-31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 2

1  The first Sabbath
4  Further details concerning the manner of creation
8  The planting of the garden of Eden, and its situation;
15  man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge forbidden
18  The animals are named by Adam
21  The making of woman, and the institution of marriage

What do the individual words in Genesis 2:15 mean?

And took Yahweh God - the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it
וַיִּקַּ֛ח יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־ הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ בְגַן־ עֵ֔דֶן לְעָבְדָ֖הּ וּלְשָׁמְרָֽהּ

וַיִּקַּ֛ח  And  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָֽאָדָ֑ם  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ  and  put  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: מֻנָּח  
Sense: to rest.
בְגַן־  in  the  garden 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: גַּן 
Sense: garden, enclosure.
עֵ֔דֶן  of  Eden 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדֶן 
Sense: the first habitat of man after the creation; site unknown.
לְעָבְדָ֖הּ  to  tend 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
וּלְשָׁמְרָֽהּ  and  keep  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 2:15?

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