Genesis 2:4–9, 15–18

Explore the Bible
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

MADE IN HIS IMAGE

Genesis 2:4–9, 15–18

God created man in His image. The “imago Dei” is God’s investment in humanity of God-like glory and moral capacity to reign and rule the earth as His representatives. Human beings created in the image of God have the ability and desire to seek God and understand Him. Humans have been granted dominion to reign and rule the earth. When we rule in ways that are pleasing to the Lord there is “shalom” (peace and harmony). Human beings created in God’s image are to be treated with dignity and respect. The implication of the imago Dei is that there is an intrinsic human dignity that places us above everything else in the created order.

Man Formed (4–7)

In Genesis 2, Moses is retelling the story of creation with an emphasis on day six and the creation of humanity. These verses highlight how the Lord God personally created the earth and the heavens. The word translated “Lord” is God’s personal name, “Yahweh.” Out of deep reverence for the name Yahweh, Jews substituted the Hebrew word for Lord. The precedent for translating this as “Lord” and not “Yahweh” is found in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament).

The primary action in these verses is God forming man. The verb “formed” conveys the picture of a potter fashioning clay into a particular shape. Human beings are not accidents. We are creatures made in the image of God as a part of God’s beautiful design. God creates human beings in His image for His glory (Ps. 139:13–16).

God formed man and then breathed life — physical, mental and spiritual — into the one created to bear His image. The man became a living creature. The same term is used in Genesis 1:20, 24 to denote sea and land creatures. Although human beings have much in common with other living beings, God gives them alone a royal and priestly status and declares them alone to be “in His own image.”

A Place to Call Home (8–9)

God provided a suitable environment for the man by planting a garden in Eden. The name Eden conveyed the sense of luxury, pleasure and delight. The land of Eden probably denotes a region much greater than the garden itself. The earliest translation into Greek used the word “paradise.” The abundance of the garden is described by the observation that it contained every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. Two trees are selected for special mention: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A Warning Issued (15–17)

God placed Adam in the garden to work it and keep it. This command came before Adam sinned; therefore, work did not come about as a result of sin. Productive work is part of God’s good plan for man in creation. 

God graciously permitted Adam to eat from every tree of the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Here we see God’s holiness, goodness, justice and grace on display. God has authority to define what is right and wrong, good and evil, based upon His pure and holy character. God makes it clear to man that he will be judged based upon his obedience to the command. God’s grace is evident for He does not hide His law. God tells the man the way to life and exhorts him to walk in it.

A Need Addressed (18)

God responded to Adam’s need for a life companion by making a helper fit for him. For God’s beautiful design to come to fruition Adam had to have a helper. Genesis 2:18–25 describes how God created woman and made marriage between one man and one woman.