Genesis 2:6 kjv

But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

Genesis 2:6 nkjv

but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

Genesis 2:6 niv

but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.

Genesis 2:6 esv

and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground ?

Genesis 2:6 nlt

Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land.

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 6 Meaning

Genesis 2:6 describes the pre-Edenic, early terrestrial hydrological system established by God. It states that before any rain had fallen and before man was created to cultivate the ground, a pervasive vapor or mist would rise from the earth, gently hydrating and preparing the entire surface of the ground. This verse highlights God's continuous and thorough provision, setting the necessary environmental conditions for vegetation and for the eventual formation of man from the dust of the ādāmâ. It emphasizes an orderly, self-sufficient, and divinely maintained system of watering that ensured the earth was adequately moistened for life to flourish.

Genesis 2 6 Context

Genesis 2:6 is part of the second account of creation, specifically focusing on the environment prepared for humanity. It follows verse 5, which states two key conditions before human creation and the establishment of the Garden of Eden: there was no wild shrub or plant yet growing on the earth (no vegetation requiring human cultivation) because "the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to work the ground." Verse 6 directly addresses the absence of rain mentioned in verse 5, explaining how the ground was nevertheless watered. It details a specific pre-rainfall hydrological system—a mist rising from the earth—that thoroughly saturated the land. This meticulous provision underscores God's intentional preparation of the ādāmâ (ground), making it ready for vegetation and crucially, for the formation of hāʾāḏām (man) in the very next verse (Gen 2:7) from this moistened ground. The cultural context contrasts with ancient Near Eastern creation myths where deities often battled primeval watery chaos. Here, God is shown as sovereignly establishing and sustaining the water cycle in an orderly, benevolent manner from the very beginning.

Genesis 2 6 Word analysis

• But: The Hebrew conjunction waw (וְ) often translated 'but' (vaw disjunctive) signals a contrast or a transition. Here, it introduces the positive explanation for how the ground was watered, countering the previous statement about the absence of rain (v. 5).
• a mist: The Hebrew word is ēḏ (אֵד). This term signifies a vapor, mist, or fog. It suggests water ascending from the ground in a diffuse, gentle manner. Some scholarly discussions acknowledge ancient Mesopotamian cognates that can relate to "spring" or "flood," leading to debates on whether it implies a subterranean spring or a widespread ground-level evaporation. However, in the context of Job 36:27 ("For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist into rain..."), ēḏ points to an atmospheric vapor originating from the earth, which fits the narrative's distinction from descending rain.
• used to rise: The Hebrew verb is yaʿaleh (יַעֲלֶה), from the root ʿālâ (עָלָה), meaning 'to go up', 'ascend'. The imperfect tense in Hebrew conveys continuous, habitual, or customary action in the past, indicating that this mist regularly and reliably ascended. This denotes an established, ongoing process, not a singular event.
• from the earth: min-hāʾāreṣ (מִן-הָאָרֶץ). Min (מִן) indicates source ('from'). Hāʾāreṣ (הָאָרֶץ) refers to the 'land' or 'earth' in general, the solid ground as distinct from the atmosphere or seas. This emphasizes the subterranean or ground-level origin of the moisture.
• and water: The Hebrew vᵉhišqâ (וְהִשְׁקָה), from the root šāqâ (שָׁקָה), means 'to give to drink', 'to irrigate'. It is in the Hiphil (causative) stem, meaning it caused the ground to drink or be watered. This highlights an active and effective process of irrigation.
• the whole surface: kāl-pəné (כָּל-פְּנֵי). Kāl (כָּל) means 'all', 'every', 'whole'. Pəné (פְּנֵי) literally means 'face' but in context refers to the 'surface' or 'whole expanse' of something. This indicates that the watering was not localized but comprehensively covered the ground.
• of the ground: hāʾădāmâ (הָאֲדָמָה). This term specifically refers to the 'arable ground', 'cultivable soil', or 'humus' – the reddish-brown earth from which ādām (man) is later formed. It highlights the preparation of the very medium from which life, and humanity, would emerge.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "but a mist used to rise from the earth": This phrase describes God's chosen hydrological mechanism during a specific phase of creation. It details an ascending form of moisture, implying a natural and gentle evaporation or exuding from the earth itself, as opposed to water descending from above. This distinguishes the early terrestrial environment from the later system of rainfall and emphasizes an inherent moisture-generating capacity of the earth, divinely ordained.
• "and water the whole surface of the ground": This describes the immediate and comprehensive effect of the rising mist. The perfect saturation of kāl-pəné hāʾădāmâ indicates a perfectly conditioned environment. It was sufficiently prepared for plants to grow naturally (as opposed to being 'tillable' for human hands yet) and, most significantly, moist enough for the formation of man from its dust, highlighting God's meticulous care in setting conditions for life.

Genesis 2 6 Bonus section

• The particular hydrological system described in Gen 2:6, where mist rises to water the ground, may indicate an initial period in earth's history with unique climatic or atmospheric conditions before the establishment of regular rainfall cycles as we know them today.
• This verse contributes to understanding the orderly, progressive, and divinely administered nature of creation. It's not chaos but controlled preparation for specific outcomes.
• The connection between ādāmâ (ground) and ādām (man) becomes profound here: the very substance from which man is made (dust of the ādāmâ) is meticulously prepared and watered by God's provision before man's formation, symbolizing God's deep care for humanity's origins and environment.
• The lack of rain also subtly implies that human agricultural intervention (which would be the focus of rain later) was not yet needed; the ground was passively sustained by God's direct means.

Genesis 2 6 Commentary

Genesis 2:6 serves as a crucial interlude, bridging the broad creation outline of chapter 1 with the detailed account of human creation and the Garden of Eden in chapter 2. Its placement directly addresses the previous verse's declaration of no rain, illustrating God's initial, distinct method for moistening the earth. The "mist" (אֵד) represents a pervasive, natural system of irrigation originating from below, ensuring a continuous supply of moisture. This setup showcases God's intricate design, where the environment was not left dry and barren, but rather gently and effectively prepared for the development of vegetation and the future human habitation. This verse highlights divine self-sufficiency and meticulous forethought, where every condition needed for flourishing life—particularly for the coming of humanity and agriculture—was sovereignly and gracefully established before the specific act of creating man. It speaks to God's careful nurturing of the pre-creation-of-man world, establishing an ideal setting for what He would subsequently create and place within it.