Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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GENESIS (1-4)

CHAPTER TWO:
HUMANKIND IN EDEN

Genesis 2:1-4 – Days Six and Seven

GE2:1 It was in this manner that the Sky and the Earthen-land and all that is in them were finished. 49
49 Finished: Including the making of humankind as male and female.
GE2:2 And by the seventh day 50 it was that The God completed all of His work He had made, and thus He started to rest 51 on the seventh day from all His works.
50 The seventh day: The 7^th day does not begin until after the making of Eve.
51 Rest: The Hebrew is SHABATH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #773, cease, desist] from which the Hebrew/Jewish “Sabbath” is derived.
GE2:3 The God began to bless the seventh day and to sanctify 52 it, for on this seventh day He has continued to rest [Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 4:4] from all His creative works that The God purposed in making.
52 Sanctify: Or, make it holy [BAS]. The Hebrew is QADASH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #6942, hollow, dedicate, separate, consecrate]. A day was the first consecrated thing.
GE2:4 The above is the historical record of the formation of the things created in the Sky and upon the earthen-land during that period 53 when YHWH God 54 formed the Earthen-land and Sky.
53 Period: Or, day. The six creative days are also called a single “day.”
54 YHWH God: Or, the LORD God [TAN], Yahweh God [NJB], Jehovah God [NWT]. The Greek reading in the LXX is KYRIOS HO THEOS [Lord The God] and though the possibility this may be read the Lord God, it is also possible the construct suggests originally YHWH appeared here. Ancient copies of the LXX had the YHWH in Hebrew characters. The first of 6,000 occurrences of the Name of The God. The Hebrew Masoretic vowel pointing here of YHWH is “Yehwah” and not Yahweh or Yehowah [Jehovah]. Generally it is Yehowah [Jehovah], but also Yahweh and Yehowih. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on YHWH in Nazarene Principles and Biblical Articles. [Matthew 6:9] Since there are so many forms and opinions on YHWH the four letters are left as they were in the Hebrew and Jewish-Greek Bibles. Compare a modern example at Exodus 6:3 in the JPS Tanakh. Later the Greeks attempted several surrogates, the closest in pronunciation IOA. [Hee-Oh-(w)ah]

Genesis 2:5-9 – The Formation of Adam [Day Six]

GE2:5 Now during that time 55 there was as yet no wild shrubs in the earthern-land – and no green vegetation had yet sprouted – for YHWH God had not yet caused any rain upon the land as there was as yet no human to tend the soil –
55 Now during that time: The historical record now returns to the moment before the creation of humankind for more details.
GE2:6 and instead a fountain 56 would rise from the land and water the soil.
56 Fountain: Or, water flowed out of the ground [NJB], a vapour went up [RHM], a flow would well up [TAN]. The Greek [LXX] is PEGE.
GE2:7 And so Y^eH^oW^aH God began to mold 57 the human from the clay of the soil. Then He breathed 58 into his nostrils the breath 59 of life, and the human became a living-breathing person. 60 [1 Corinthians 15:45]
57 Mold: Or, formed [KJV], made [BAS], shaped [NJB]. The Hebrew is YATSAR [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3335, squeeze into shape, fashion, frame]. Rotherham footnote ‘a’ = cut… fashion.
58 Breathed: Or, blew [NJB]. Adam lay like molded clay, lifeless as a drowning victim when YHWH performed mouth to mouth resuscitation. The word “breathed” is related to NEPHEWS [wind, breath] – NAPHACH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5301]. Compare Ecclesiastes 3:19-21.
59 Breath: Or, spirit [RHM ftn] The Hebrew is neSHAMAH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5397, spirit]. The full phrase “breath of life” occurs only here and at Genesis 7:22. Compare Job 27:3; 3:4; 34:14.
60 Became a living-breathing person: Or, living being [TAN], living soul [KJV]. NEPHEWS means a creature that lives by breathing, whether human or animal. The Latin word in ANIMAS from which comes animal or animated. In 1 Corinthians 15:40-50 Paul equates the “soul” with that which is corruptible, earthly, physical, mortal, and patterned after Adam.
GE2:8 Also, Y^eH^oW^aH God planted a paradise garden in the eastern part of the land of Eden, 61 and it was there that He placed the human He had molded. 62
61 Eden: The word means “pleasure.” Near modern Aden. Some think the location – though the Flood of Noah could have greatly changed the topography – in the mountains north of Mesopotamia, or 140 miles SW of Mount Ararat in modern Turkey. Compare Isaiah 51:3 and Ezekiel 28:13.
62 Molded: Or, made, formed.
GE2:9 It was thus that Y^eH^oW^aH God caused to grow from the soil every type of tree pleasing to the eye and sufficient as food. Also, the middle of the paradise garden He planted the Tree of 63 Life as well as the Tree of Good and Bad.
63 The Tree of: Two trees are specifically identified in the middle of the paradise. One is associated with Life – ageless or ongoing life within the paradise; and, the second with a moral determination of what is good and bad – something belong only to God – and which may lead to death. See Genesis 3:22, 24. The “tree of life” is used as a figure of speech in Proverbs 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4. It is also used as a metaphor for a celestial source of Life. [Revelation 2:7] The Hebrew for “good” is the same as the words occurring early [TOWB] and has wide range of meaning just as the English word “good” does. It may also mean what is morally correct. The word “bad” or “evil” is from the Hebrew RA’ with a range of meaning [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #7451, disagreeable, unpleasant, evil or hurtful, wicked ethically. The Greek is PONEROU.

Genesis 2:10-15 – The Location of Eden

GE2:10 Now from Eden there was a fountain 64 to water the paradise garden. From there its river forked into four head-waters.
64 Fountain: Or, river, stream, brook, creek. The Hebrew is NAHAR [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5104, stream]. The Greek LXX is “fountain” or “spring.”
GE2:11 The first is called Pishon 65 and it encircles all the land of Havilah 66 where gold may be found.
65 Pishon: Meaning: “wide-spread” or “scattered.”
66 Havilah: Meaning “sand.” Compare Genesis 10:7, 29; 25:18; 1 Samuel 15:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9, 23.
GE2:12 Now this gold in the land is excellent. The land also has bdellium gum and onyx. GE2:13 The second river is called Gihon 67 and it encircles all the land of Ethiopia.
67 Gihon: Meaning cascade, gushing.
GE2:14 The third river is called Tigris and flows into eastern Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. GE2:15 Now YHWH God took the human and placed him in the paradise 68 garden in Eden to cultivate and care 69 for it.
68 Paradise: The Greek [LXX] is PARADEISO.
69 Cultivate and care: The first human was not a “hunter/gatherer” but a farmer.

Genesis 2:16, 17 – The First Commandment

GE2:16 Then YHWH God commanded the human: “You may eat and satisfy yourself from every tree 70 in the paradise garden.
70 Every tree: Adam was a vegetarian who existed off fresh fruit and plants. There are 30 types of trees identified in the Bible alone. We may imagine that all the types of fruits and plants humankind needed to sustain themselves forever were found in the Edenic paradise.
GE2:17 However, you must never eat 71 from the Tree of Knowing Good and Bad, because on the very day 72 you eat from it you will absolutely 73 die.”
71 You must never eat: The first command has to do with eating and diet. Yehowah will later give scores of commandments through Moses regarding eating and diet. We may assume that not all flora was safe to eat.
72 Day: The first use of the word since creation. It seems clear that the word “day” [Hebrew YOWM from a root meaning warm or hot] can be a period of undetermined length. It actually took Adam almost 1,000 years to die.
73 Absolutely die: Or, positively, surely, certainly. The Hebrew is closer to “dying you shall die.” [JPS], as soon as you eat of it, you shall die [TAN], die by death [BAG ftn]. In other words, “you will begin to die that very day.” The first mention of the word group die/death is associated with disobedience. The word groups will occur in the Bible – die [346], death [663], dead [361], died [266], and dying [37]. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on the subject of death in Where Are the Dead? The English word “die” comes from a root meaning “senseless.” The Greek in this phrase is THANATO APOTHANEISTHE [= die by death].

Genesis 2:18-22 – The Need for a Helper

GE2:18 Then YHWH God continued to speak: “It is not good for this human to remain alone. I will make him a helper 74 [1 Corinthians 11:9] as his counterpart.” 75
74 Helper: The first designation describing the woman. The Hebrew is ‘EZER [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5828, succour, helper]. Paul echoes these phrases in 1 Corinthians 11:9]
75 Counterpart: Or, fitting [TAN], suitable [BAG], like himself [BAS]. The second designation.
GE2:19 At that time YHWH God continued to form 76 from the soil all [genetic] types of wild animals of the grassland as well as every [genetic] type flying animal. And He started bringing them to the human to note what he would name 77 them, and just as the human named them that is was they were called.
76 Continued to form: There is an overlap between the formation of animals and humankind.
77 Name: The fact Adam could “name” animals indicates a degree of hard-wired vocabulary. Many of the Syro-phoenecian [primitive Hebrew] alphabet characters are traceable to animals. The first animal precisely so designated is the “serpent” or snake to occur in the next chapter.
GE2:20 And so the human continued to name all the tame animals, the flying animals of the Sky, and every [genetic] type of wild animal of the grassland. However, among all these not a single helper was found as a counterpart for him. GE2:21 Therefore, YHWH God caused the human to fall into a deep sleep, 78 and while he slept, He removed one of his ribs 79 and closed the flesh 80 over the spot.
78 Sleep: Or, trance [BAG]. The Greek is HYPNOSE from which hypnoses comes. A surgical anesthesia during which part of the rib could be removed.
79 Ribs: A logical one might be one of the lower “floating” ribs.
80 Closed the flesh: Or, filled up [BAG]. Divine sutures or something more sophisticated. If part of the rib is left it will regrow.
GE2:22 YHWH God started to construct 81 the rib removed from the human into a woman and then He brought her to 82 the man.
81 Construct: Or, made [WEB], buildeth [YLT], formed [BAG], fashioned [TAN], builded [RHM]. The Hebrew is BANAH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1129, build]. The idea of creating another human being from a body part would have been thought impossible until the end of the 2^nd millennium AD. Know an understanding of DNA and the human genome would make the procedure highly probably by human doctors.
82 Brought her to: Or, book her to [BAS]. Clearly Adam was now awake from his anesthesia as this first woman was introduced to him. We wonder at this thoughts and emotions, as we do those of the Woman.

Genesis 2:23-25 – Man and Woman United

GE2:23 It was then that the man said: “Finally, 83 bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. 84 This person 85 will be called ‘Woman’ 86 for she was taken from man.” 87 [1 Corinthians 11:8]
83 Finally: Or, now [BAG], at last [TAN]. The first human speech is Adam’s response to this Woman. The Hebrew PA’AM [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #6471] suggests the tapping of the finger impatiently.
84 Flesh: For reasons not stated Adam is aware of the source of the Woman. She is not created from the clay of Eden as Adam was, and thus she is not a separate species or type. Unlike all the animals and birds Adam had named and observed, only this being was “bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh.” Eve was not the result of evolution, no more than her future husband.
85 Person: Or, this [YLT], she [KJV].
86 Woman: The Hebrew is ISH’SHAH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #802, female] and literally means a female-man, or a “man with a womb.” Rotherham footnote: manward. The word group woman/women occurs about 1,000 times in the Bible. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© in the Biblical Article, The Biblical Woman.
87 Taken from man: Paul alludes to this phrase. [1 Corinthians 11:8]
GE2:24 This is the reason a man will depart 88 from father and mother and adhere 89 to his wife 90 so that they become one flesh. 91 [Matthew 19:5]
88 Man will depart: Or, leave. It is the husband who leaves or departs from his father and mother.
89 Adhere: Or, cleave [KJV], joined [BAS], cling to [TAN]. The Hebrew is DABAQ [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1692, cling, stick, keep close, stay with], and the Greek is “glue.”
90 Wife: Literally “his female” or woman. Both Hebrew and Greek – as do many other languages – use only the word “woman” and the context determines whether this means a wife or married woman. Nowhere is marriage between males and males or women and women ever suggested in the Bible.
91 One flesh: Jesus quotes this verse. [Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7] The phrase “one phrase” does not occur again until Jesus [Matthew 19:5, 6; Mark 10:8]. It is quoted by Paul twice at 1 Corinthians 6:16 and Ephesians 5:31, both in the context of marriage. Though Jesus and Paul both use the term in relation to marriage, husband and wife truly become “one flesh” in their children. Thus, all humankind is of “one flesh” – Adam and Eve. Compare Acts 17:26.
GE2:25 Now both the man and woman remained naked 92 – the man and his wife – but nothing caused them embarrassment. 93
92 Naked: Or, without clothing [BAS]. Their nakedness also suggests a very mild climate without severe temperature changes between day and night.
93 Embarrassment: Or, ashamed [WEB], no sense of shame [BAS]. The Hebrew is BUWSH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #954, [also] no disconcerted, or disappointed]. The reason is that they have no conscientious problem with nudity, as they do later when their conscience is wounded.

Mark Heber Miller