Genesis 2:16 kjv

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Genesis 2:16 nkjv

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;

Genesis 2:16 niv

And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

Genesis 2:16 esv

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,

Genesis 2:16 nlt

But the LORD God warned him, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden ?

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 16 Meaning

Genesis 2:16 introduces the first direct divine command given to humanity, immediately following the placement of the man in the Garden of Eden. It highlights God's abundant provision and gracious permission to freely partake of nearly all the garden's bounty, emphasizing His generosity and establishing a framework of order and trust within His creation. This verse sets the stage for humanity's relationship with the Creator, founded on divine authority, clear instruction, and generous provision.

Genesis 2 16 Context

Genesis 2:16 is situated immediately after God places the man in the Garden of Eden and details his responsibility to "work it and keep it" (Gen 2:15). It provides the foundational verbal instruction to the man, laying out the parameters of his freedom and his relationship with God. This verse sets the stage for the specific prohibition that follows in Genesis 2:17, making clear that humanity was given abundant provision before any restriction. The wider context of Genesis chapters 1-2 emphasizes God as the sovereign Creator, providing a perfect environment and a purposeful existence for humanity, culminating in a direct communication establishing order and boundaries. Historically, it defines the original pristine state of creation and the direct, unmediated communion between God and humanity before the fall.

Genesis 2 16 Word analysis

• And the LORD God (וַיְצַו יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים - wa-y'tsav YHWH Elohim):

  • And: Connects the action to the preceding verse, emphasizing sequence and continuous divine engagement.
  • LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God, indicating His intimate relationship and faithfulness to His creation. It speaks of His unchanging, eternal nature.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): The general name for God, emphasizing His power, creativity, and ultimate sovereignty over all creation. The combination "LORD God" (YHWH Elohim) stresses both His covenant fidelity and His sovereign power, showing that the command comes from a trustworthy yet authoritative Creator. This specific combination is often used when God is interacting personally and relationally with humanity in the garden narrative.

• commanded (צִוָּה - tsivvah):

  • Indicates a divine, authoritative pronouncement, a binding instruction or decree, not merely a suggestion. This is the first recorded explicit command to humanity. It implies an expectation of obedience and forms the basis of the relationship and subsequent moral order.

• the man (הָאָדָם - ha-Adam):

  • Literally "the human" or "the Adam." It refers to the individual Adam (first human) but also carries collective implications for all humanity. This command is foundational for the entire human race. It underscores humanity's unique position as recipient of direct divine communication and instruction.

• saying (לֵאמֹר - le'mor):

  • Introduces the direct speech of God, signaling that the exact words of the command are about to follow.

• You may surely eat (אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל - akhol tokhel):

  • This is a Hebrew infinitive absolute construction (infinitive + finite verb of the same root), which expresses emphasis, certainty, and often permission. It is a strong affirmation: "Eating you shall eat," or "You are absolutely permitted to eat."
  • This emphasizes the immense freedom and generosity given by God, setting the background of benevolence against which the singular prohibition stands out even more starkly. God's provision is not scarce but abundant.

• of every tree (מִכֹּל עֵץ - mikol 'ets):

  • Every (כֹּל - kol): Denotes totality and universality, indicating that almost all options are available. This stresses the incredible generosity and provision of the Creator.
  • tree (עֵץ - 'ets): Refers to the various sources of food in the garden.
  • This highlights the breadth of God's grace and provision, before any limitation is imposed.

• of the garden (הַגָּן - ha-gan):

  • Refers to the Garden of Eden, a place of unique privilege, perfect conditions, and direct communion with God. This emphasizes that the provision and command are given within a divine, consecrated space. The abundance is found within God's own cultivated sanctuary.

Genesis 2 16 Bonus section

• The structure of "permission before prohibition" in Gen 2:16-17 contrasts sharply with many ancient Near Eastern myths where gods were often capricious, withheld bounty, or required severe offerings. The God of Genesis is revealed as generous and clear in His instructions, establishing a loving covenant relationship from the outset.
• This verse can be seen as an early model for God's divine law (Torah) in subsequent Israelite history. Like the Law given at Sinai, God's first command to Adam includes both expansive blessing and specific boundary, intended for humanity's good and flourishing. It represents the foundation for human moral accountability before God.

Genesis 2 16 Commentary

Genesis 2:16 is a pivotal verse establishing the benevolent character of God's initial engagement with humanity. Far from being a stern prohibition, this command first emphasizes God's abundant grace and permission. The strong Hebrew construction "You may surely eat" underlines God's enthusiastic generosity, allowing access to the vast majority of the garden's resources. This permission underscores a key theological point: God's commands are not primarily restrictive but rather a framework for flourishing within the abundance He provides. It frames the relationship as one of privilege and provision, where man is free to enjoy nearly everything within the divine arrangement. The subsequent prohibition (in Gen 2:17) thus becomes an act of explicit instruction within an established context of widespread permission, rather than arbitrary restriction. It is an exercise of God's benevolent authority to establish parameters for true life, responsibility, and the nature of sin, highlighting the immense goodness from which humanity chose to depart.