Genesis 2:2 kjv
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.
Genesis 2:2 nkjv
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Genesis 2:2 niv
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
Genesis 2:2 esv
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
Genesis 2:2 nlt
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.
Genesis 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:3 | Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested… | God sanctifies and blesses the day of rest. |
| Ex 20:8-11 | Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... for in six days the Lord made… and rested… | The Fourth Commandment explicitly ties Sabbath to God's creation rest. |
| Ex 31:17 | It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven... but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. | Sabbath as a perpetual sign, God's refreshing. |
| Deut 5:12-15 | Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... that your male and female slave may rest... | Reiteration of Sabbath, linking rest for all, adding the Exodus liberation. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it... For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day, "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works..." | Theological exposition of God's rest and the promise of a Sabbath rest for God's people. |
| Psa 95:11 | Therefore I swore in My wrath, "They certainly shall not enter My rest." | Warning against failing to enter God's rest. |
| Jn 5:17 | But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." | God rests from creation, but actively works providentially and redemptively. |
| Isa 40:28 | Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. | God's rest in Gen 2:2 is not from exhaustion, but completion. |
| Matt 11:28-30 | Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke... and you will find rest for your souls. | Jesus offers spiritual rest to humanity. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink... or a Sabbath day--things which are a mere shadow... | Sabbath observances as a shadow pointing to Christ. |
| Mk 2:27-28 | Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." | The purpose of Sabbath is for human benefit; Jesus is its true meaning. |
| Rev 14:13 | And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!' "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." | Eschatological rest for believers. |
| Neh 9:14 | So You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, And commanded them commandments, statutes, and law, Through Moses Your servant. | God gave Israel the Sabbath command as part of the Law. |
| Eze 20:12 | Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. | Sabbath as a sign of sanctification for Israel. |
| Gen 1:31 | God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. | Leads directly into God's finished work and rest. |
| Ex 16:23-30 | Moses said to them, "This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord... six days you shall gather it..." | Pre-Sinai demonstration of Sabbath principle with manna. |
| Lev 23:3 | For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings. | Sabbath as a commanded cessation of all work. |
| Num 10:33 | So they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, with the ark of the covenant... | Though not about Sabbath, highlights journeys often starting after days of rest/preparation in Israel's pattern. |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | ...who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. | Connects to the sanctifying work of God; Sabbath day was 'sanctified'. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation... | The ultimate 'rest' from the labor of sin for believers is found in the 'new creation' in Christ. |
| Gen 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. | The very first act of creation that leads to God's completion and rest. |
Genesis 2 verses
Genesis 2 2 Meaning
Genesis 2:2 declares the completion of God's creative work. After six days of bringing the cosmos and all life into being, the seventh day marks the cessation of this specific creative activity. It signifies a divine pattern of completion and the establishment of a hallowed time for rest and reflection, a principle foundational for humanity.
Genesis 2 2 Context
Genesis 2:2 follows the majestic account of creation in Genesis 1. While Genesis 1 concludes with the pronouncement that "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good," Genesis 2:1 further emphasizes the completeness: "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their host." This verse then logically follows as the climax of that first creative week, marking God's definitive cessation from direct, ex nihilo (from nothing) creation.
Historically and culturally, this narrative stands in stark contrast to the surrounding ancient Near Eastern creation myths. Unlike pagan deities who might battle primordial forces, become exhausted by their efforts, or remain in a state of continuous, chaotic struggle, the God of the Bible creates with order, ease, and purposeful design. His "rest" signifies His omnipotent control and the perfection of His completed work, rather than fatigue. This subtly but powerfully polemicizes against any notion of divine weakness or chaotic creation, affirming God's sovereignty, sufficiency, and the ordered nature of His cosmos.
Genesis 2 2 Word analysis
And on the seventh day (וַיְכַל בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, vayekal bayyom hashshvi'i):
- "seventh day" (yom hashshvi'i): The Hebrew word yom can mean a literal 24-hour day, a longer period, or an epoch. Here, within the structured "evening and morning" framework of Genesis 1, it implies a literal day concluding a literal week. The number "seven" (שֶׁבַע, sheva) frequently symbolizes completion, perfection, and sacredness in the Bible (e.g., seven days of creation, seven feasts). This indicates a divinely appointed period of culmination and finality for this specific creative work.
God finished (וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים, vayekal Elohim):
- "finished" (vayekal from כָּלָה, kalah): This verb means "to bring to an end," "to complete," or "to accomplish." It does not imply exhaustion or depletion on God's part. Rather, it emphasizes the successful and total completion of His planned work. The creative acts described in Genesis 1 have reached their designed culmination.
- "God" (Elohim): The generic but plural form for God, often used in connection with creation, expressing His might and majesty.
His work which He had done (מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, mela'kh'to asher asah):
- "His work" (mela'kh'to from מְלָאכָה, mela’khah): This term refers to "activity," "labor," "craft," or "business." In this context, it specifically refers to the unique, direct, and creative acts that brought the universe and all living things into existence. It differentiates from God's ongoing providential work (Jn 5:17).
- "which He had done" (asher asah from עָשָׂה, asah): The repetition of this phrase, emphasizing what God "did," reinforces the idea of accomplished action and finality. It asserts that the creation was real, complete, and exactly as He intended it.
and He rested on the seventh day (וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, vayyishbot bayyom hashshvi'i):
- "rested" (vayyishbot from שָׁבַת, shabat): This is the root of the word "Sabbath." It means "to cease," "to stop," "to desist from labor." As with kalah, it does not imply fatigue or need for recuperation (Isa 40:28), but rather the voluntary cessation of a particular activity. God "rested" because the work was done and perfectly accomplished. He established a rhythm and pattern of activity followed by cessation, setting a divine precedent for humanity.
from all His work which He had done (מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, mikkol mela'kh'to asher asah):
- "from all His work": Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the completed work. No aspect of creation was left unfinished or incomplete.
- "which He had done": Again, the reinforcing phrase, underlining that the specific act of creating everything was complete and definitive.
Genesis 2 2 Bonus section
The repeated emphasis on "which He had done" in Genesis 2:2 signifies a distinct and conclusive phase of God's activity, establishing that creation was an orderly, deliberate, and final act in its original formation. This theological precision separates it from any idea of a god who continuously creates or struggles with an unformed cosmos. The number seven is paramount here; it points to the divine sealing of creation as complete and very good, and it undergirds the biblical numerology often associated with divine perfection and covenantal relationships. This act of "resting" positions God as transcendent above His creation, distinct from it, yet intimately involved in blessing and hallowing aspects within it. The Sabbath thus becomes not just a day, but a perpetual reminder of God's perfect work and humanity's invitation into His peace.
Genesis 2 2 Commentary
Genesis 2:2 is a profound theological statement marking the crescendo of creation. It demonstrates God's perfect sovereignty and the effectiveness of His creative word; His work is not provisional but absolutely complete and good (Gen 1:31). God's "rest" (Hebrew shabat) is not a sign of exhaustion, for the Almighty neither tires nor slumbers (Psa 121:4; Isa 40:28), but a declaration of the finished nature of His creative acts. It underscores that creation, in its primordial state, required no further divine additions.
This verse serves as the foundational precedent for the Sabbath, later commanded in the Decalogue (Ex 20:8-11). By resting, God hallowed the seventh day (Gen 2:3), establishing a divine pattern for humanity—a weekly rhythm of six days of labor followed by one day of rest. This is a model for work and worship, inviting humans to reflect God’s pattern of activity and cessation, to acknowledge Him as the Creator, and to trust in His provision rather than solely their own unending labor. It's a divine gift that liberates from incessant toil and directs focus to the Giver of life and provision. It's an anticipation of the ultimate rest in Christ, the one who brings true spiritual cessation from striving (Matt 11:28-30).
Examples:
- Observing a day of rest to honor God’s example and refocus on spiritual things.
- Understanding that God finishes what He starts, offering confidence in His plan.
- Trusting that the work of redemption is also complete through Christ.