Genesis 2:5 kjv

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

Genesis 2:5 nkjv

before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground;

Genesis 2:5 niv

Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground,

Genesis 2:5 esv

When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up ? for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,

Genesis 2:5 nlt

neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the LORD God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil.

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 5 Meaning

Genesis 2:5 describes the initial state of the earth's vegetation, specifically stating that certain types of plants and herbs did not yet exist. It provides two interconnected reasons for this: the LORD God had not yet caused rain to fall, and there was no human being to cultivate the ground. This verse sets the stage for the creation of man and the establishment of the Garden of Eden, highlighting God's ordered and purposeful creation where divine provision and human stewardship are intrinsically linked.

Genesis 2 5 Context

Genesis 2:5 provides a specific perspective on creation that complements the broader account in Genesis 1. While Genesis 1 details the cosmic order of creation over six days, culminating in humanity as God's image-bearers, Genesis 2 zooms in on the creation of man and his dwelling place, the Garden of Eden. This verse functions as an essential prelude to the subsequent actions of God in creating Adam and forming the Garden. It explains why the conditions needed to change, presenting an initial state of the earth as "uncultivated wilderness" or "barren steppe," devoid of cultivated crops and managed plants due to the lack of both adequate water (rain) and human stewardship (tilling). This sets the stage for the creation of man from the dust of the ground (ʾăḏāmâ) and his appointed role in cultivating it (ʿāḇaḏ). Culturally, ancient peoples, particularly in the ANE, understood agriculture as fundamental to life, deeply dependent on both water and human labor. This verse indirectly highlights God's sovereign control over natural processes (rain) and establishes the integral role of humanity within His creation design, contrasting with contemporary polytheistic myths where land fertility was often chaotic or unpredictable.

Genesis 2 5 Word analysis

• and every plant of the field (וְכָל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה, wəḵol siah haśśāḏeh):

  • Siah (שִׂיחַ): Refers to wild shrubs or uncultivated growth, not necessarily domesticated or desired crops. It signifies vegetation typical of a desolate or untended area.
  • Haśśāḏeh (הַשָּׂדֶה): "Of the field," often implying uncultivated, open land, as opposed to a garden or cultivated plot.

• before it was in the earth (טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ, ṭerem yihyeh bāʾāreṣ):

  • Ṭerem (טֶרֶם): "Before," "not yet." This precise temporal marker emphasizes a preceding state of non-existence or immaturity.
  • Bāʾāreṣ (בָאָרֶץ): "In the earth," referring to its presence rooted in the soil.

• and every herb of the field (וְכָל־עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה, wəḵol ʿeśeḇ haśśāḏeh):

  • ʿEśeḇ (עֵשֶׂב): General term for herbaceous plants, grass, green plants, often used for food or forage (Gen 1:11-12). Similar to siah but may include smaller, annual vegetation.

• before it grew (טֶרֶם יִצְמָח, ṭerem yiṣmāḥ):

  • Yiṣmāḥ (יִצְמָח): "It grew," from ṣmḥ (צמח), "to sprout," "to spring up," "to germinate." Reiteration of the "not yet existing/developing" condition for these plants.

• for the LORD God (כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, kî Yahweh Elohim):

  • Kî (כִּי): "For," "because," indicating the reason for the previously stated conditions.
  • Yahweh Elohim: This is the first appearance of this compound divine name ("LORD God" in English translations, Yahweh being the covenant name of God, and Elohim being the general term for God or deity). It signifies God's personal, sovereign involvement in creation and relationship with humanity. It underscores His agency.

• had not caused it to rain upon the earth (לֹא הִמְטִיר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים עַל־הָאָרֶץ, loʾ himṭîr ʿal hāʾāreṣ):

  • Lōʾ himṭîr (לֹא הִמְטִיר): "Had not caused it to rain." The Hebrew hifil stem of māṭar (מָטַר) implies active causation. It wasn't merely a natural absence of rain but God's intentional withholding of it. This highlights God's absolute control over natural phenomena.
  • ʿAl hāʾāreṣ (עַל־הָאָרֶץ): "Upon the earth," specifically referring to the dry, uncultivated ground.

• and there was not a man (וְאָדָם אָיִן, wĕʾāḏām ʾayin):

  • Wĕʾāḏām (וְאָדָם): "And man" or "and humanity." The term ʾāḏām (אָדָם) emphasizes human beings as a species.
  • ʾAyin (אָיִן): "Nothing," "not existing," signifying absolute absence.

• to till the ground (לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה, laʿăḇoḏ ʾeṯ hāʾăḏāmâ):

  • Laʿăḇoḏ (לַעֲבֹד): "To work," "to serve," "to cultivate," "to till." From ʿāḇaḏ (עָבַד), indicating purposeful labor and stewardship. This points to humanity's appointed role.
  • Hāʾăḏāmâ (הָאֲדָמָה): "The ground" or "the soil." There is a strong Hebrew wordplay between ʾāḏām (man) and ʾăḏāmâ (ground), implying man's origin from and connection to the earth, a theme that will be central to Adam's creation (Gen 2:7).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "every plant of the field... every herb of the field": These phrases refer to plants that depend on either rainfall or cultivation to flourish. They distinguish from the spontaneous, God-watered vegetation described in Genesis 1.
  • "before it was in the earth... before it grew": Emphasizes the pre-existing state of undeveloped or unmanifested growth for specific agricultural or field-dependent flora.
  • "for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground": These two clauses provide the divinely appointed reasons for the barren state, establishing a clear cause-and-effect. They highlight God's sovereign control over nature and His intentional design for human partnership in tending the earth.

Genesis 2 5 Bonus section

• Complementary Account: Genesis 2:5-7 does not present a different creation order from Genesis 1 but offers a focused narrative. Genesis 1 is a universal, chronological, and cosmological account, while Genesis 2:4ff narrows the focus to the creation of humankind, the setting of the Garden of Eden, and humanity's purpose. The "plant of the field" and "herb of the field" in Gen 2:5 often refer to specific types of flora (like cultivated grains) that require active human husbandry, unlike the general "vegetation" and "trees" of Gen 1 which God commanded to grow from the ground directly.
• God's Sovereignty and Order: The precise wording "had not caused it to rain" (Hebrew Hifil) strongly implies God's deliberate withholding, rather than a mere natural absence of rain. This further accentuates His sovereignty and the pre-planned nature of His creation. Everything happens according to His precise timing and purpose.
• The Anthropocentric Focus: This verse shifts the narrative's attention more distinctly towards humankind's place within creation. The need for "a man to till the ground" directly precedes the account of Adam's creation, tying his very existence to the responsibility of cultivating the earth. This foreshadows humanity's sacred task as custodians of God's good creation (Gen 2:15).
• The ʾĀḏām/ʾĂḏāmâ Wordplay: The Hebrew words for "man" (ʾāḏām) and "ground" (ʾăḏāmâ) share the same root letters. This linguistic connection highlights the deep, organic link between humanity and the earth from which Adam was formed, emphasizing his dependency on and responsibility towards the ground.

Genesis 2 5 Commentary

Genesis 2:5 serves as a crucial bridge, setting the scene for God's more specific creation actions concerning humanity and the Garden of Eden. It doesn't contradict Genesis 1 (where vegetation was created on Day Three) but clarifies that the specific type of plants that depend on either general rainfall or human cultivation had not yet come into being or fully developed. This verse asserts two foundational conditions necessary for terrestrial flourishing: divine provision (rain) and human cooperation (tilling). By stating "the LORD God had not caused it to rain," the text emphasizes God's direct, purposeful control over the natural world, rather than rain being a random phenomenon. Simultaneously, the absence of "a man to till the ground" underscores humanity's vital, appointed role as God's co-laborers or stewards of His creation. Thus, the verse paints a picture of a deliberately ordered creation, where God, in His infinite wisdom, provides the necessary elements in a specific sequence, culminating in man's essential involvement for the earth's fruitfulness. This structure underscores that humanity is not an afterthought but integral to God's plan for His created order to reach its full potential.