Genesis 2:19
What does Genesis 2:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 2:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 2:19 means
In response to recognizing man's solitude, God brought all the newly formed animals to Adam, allowing him to name them. This act served multiple purposes: it demonstrated Adam's dominion over creation, reflecting his role as God's steward; it engaged his intellect and creative capacity; and, crucially, it highlighted the absence of a suitable companion among the animal kingdom. The naming process was a test, revealing that no creature shared his nature or could fulfill his need for an equal partner.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And from the earth the Lord God made every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and took them to the man to see what names he would give them: and whatever name he gave to any living thing, that was its name.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jehovah God formeth from the ground every beast of the field, and every fowl of the heavens, and bringeth in unto the man, to see what he doth call it; and whatever the man calleth a living creature, that <FI>is<Fi> its name.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature the same is its name.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim had formed every animal of the field and all fowl of the heavens, and brought [them] to Man, to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called each living soul, that was its name.
Context
This verse directly follows God's declaration that man's solitude was "not good" (verse 18). It describes God's initial attempt to address this isolation by bringing the animals to Adam for naming. This serves as a significant preparatory step before the creation of woman, emphasizing that none of the animal kingdom could provide the unique companionship man needed. It sets the stage for the ultimate solution: the creation of woman.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 8:4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?
- Genesis 6:20
Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
- Genesis 2:22
and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
- Genesis 9:2
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens; with all wherewith the ground teemeth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered.
- Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
- Genesis 1:20
And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
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