Devine Scripture

Genesis 2:20

What does Genesis 2:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 2:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 2:20 means

As Adam meticulously named all the animals, he observed and categorized them, yet for all his efforts, he still "found not a help meet for him." This confirms God's earlier assessment that man's solitude was not ideal. The process of naming reinforced the distinctiveness of man from the animal kingdom, underscoring that no creature shared his intellect, spiritual capacity, or relational needs. This deliberate revelation prepares Adam, and the reader, for the unique and special creation of woman, who would truly be his

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found a help meet for him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found a help meet for him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the air and to every beast of the field; but Adam had no one like himself as a help.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the man calleth names to all the cattle, and to fowl of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; and to man hath not been found an helper--as his counterpart.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but as for Adam, he found no helpmate, his like.

Context

This verse concludes the process of animal naming initiated in verse 19, confirming that none of the animals satisfied man's need for a suitable helper. It directly leads to God's next action, which is the creation of woman. This conclusion is vital for emphasizing the profound uniqueness of woman's creation, highlighting that she alone was designed to be man's perfect complement, unlike any other created being.

v.19And 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.

v.20This passage

v.21And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 2:18

    And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.

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