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sefer bereshit
book of genesis

genesis - chapter 2

5778 - 2017 -

2:1	Heaven and earth, and all their components, were [thus] completed. Vayechulu hashamayim veha'arets vechol-tseva'am.	וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכָל־צְבָאָֽם׃
2:2	With the seventh day, God finished all the work that He had done. He [thus] ceased on the seventh day from all the work that He had been doing. Vayechal Elohim bayom hashvi'i melachto asher asah vayishbot bayom hashvi'i mikol-melachto asher asah.	וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
2:3	God blessed the seventh day, and He declared it to be holy, for it was on this day that God ceased from all the work that He had been creating [so that it would continue] to function. Vayevarech Elohim et-yom hashvi'i vayekadesh oto ki vo shavat mikol-melachto asher-bara Elohim la'asot.	וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ (פ)
2:4	These are the chronicles of heaven and earth when they were created, on the day God completed earth and heaven. Eleh toledot hashamayim veha'arets behibare'am beyom asot Adonay Elohim erets veshamayim.	אֵ֣לֶּה תוֹלְד֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם בְּי֗וֹם עֲשׂ֛וֹת יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃
2:5	All the wild shrubs did not yet exist on the earth, and all the wild plants had not yet sprouted. This was because God had not brought rain on the earth, and there was no man to work the ground. Vechol siach hasadeh terem yihyeh va'arets vechol-esev hasadeh terem yitsmach ki lo himetir Adonay Elohim al-ha'arets ve'adam ayin la'avod et-ha'adamah.	וְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׂ֣יחַ הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה טֶ֚רֶם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ וְכָל־עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה טֶ֣רֶם יִצְמָ֑ח כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הִמְטִ֜יר יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאָדָ֣ם אַ֔יִן לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
2:6	A mist rose up from the earth, and it watered the entire surface of the ground. Ve'ed ya'aleh min-ha'arets vehishkah et-kol-peney ha'adamah.	וְאֵ֖ד יַֽעֲלֶ֣ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁקָ֖ה אֶֽת־כָּל־פְּנֵֽי־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
2:7	God formed man out of dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils a breath of life. Man [thus] became a living creature. Vayitser Adonay Elohim et-ha'adam afar min-ha'adamah vayipach pe'apav nishmat chayim vayehi ha'adam lenefesh chayah.	וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃
2:8	God planted a garden in Eden to the east. There He placed the man that He had formed. Vayita Adonay Elohim gan-be'Eden mikedem vayasem sham et-ha'adam asher yatsar.	וַיִּטַּ֞ע יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים גַּן־בְעֵ֖דֶן מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיָּ֣שֶׂם שָׁ֔ם אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָצָֽר׃
2:9	God made grow out of the ground every tree that is pleasant to look at and good to eat, [including] the Tree of Life in the middle of the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Vayatsmach Adonay Elohim min-ha'adamah kol-ets nechmad lemar'eh vetov lema'achal ve'Ets haChayim betoch hagan ve'Ets haDa'at tov vara.	וַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃
2:10	A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became four major rivers. Venahar yotse me'Eden lehashkot et-hagan umisham yipared vehayah le-arba'ah rashim.	וְנָהָרּ֙ יֹצֵ֣א מֵעֵ֔דֶן לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת אֶת־הַגָּ֑ן וּמִשָּׁם֙ יִפָּרֵ֔ד וְהָיָ֖ה לְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה רָאשִֽׁים׃
2:11	The name of the first is Pishon. It surrounds the entire land of Havilah where gold is found. Shem ha'echad Pishon hu hasovev et kol-erets haChavilah asher-sham hazahav.	שֵׁ֥ם הָֽאֶחָ֖ד פִּישׁ֑וֹן ה֣וּא הַסֹּבֵ֗ב אֵ֚ת כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחֲוִילָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם הַזָּהָֽב׃
2:12	The gold of that land is [especially] good. Also found there are pearls and precious stones. Uzahav ha'arets hahi tov sham habedolach ve'even hashoham.	וּֽזֲהַ֛ב הָאָ֥רֶץ הַהִ֖וא ט֑וֹב שָׁ֥ם הַבְּדֹ֖לַח וְאֶ֥בֶן הַשֹּֽׁהַם׃
2:13	The name of the second river is Gihon. It surrounds the land of Cush. Veshem hanahar hasheni Gichon hu hasovev et kol-erets Kush.	וְשֵֽׁם־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַשֵּׁנִ֖י גִּיח֑וֹן ה֣וּא הַסּוֹבֵ֔ב אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ כּֽוּשׁ׃
2:14	The name of the third river is the Tigris which flows to the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. Veshem hanahar hashlishi Chidekel hu haholech kidemat Ashur vehanahar ha revi'i hu Ferat.	וְשֵׁ֨ם הַנָּהָ֤ר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ חִדֶּ֔קֶל ה֥וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ קִדְמַ֣ת אַשּׁ֑וּר וְהַנָּהָ֥ר הָֽרְבִיעִ֖י ה֥וּא פְרָֽת׃
2:15	God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and watch it. Vayikach Adonay Elohim et-ha'adam vayanichehu vegan-Eden le'ovdah uleshomrah.	וַיִּקַּ֛ח יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ בְגַן־עֵ֔דֶן לְעָבְדָ֖הּ וּלְשָׁמְרָֽהּ׃
2:16	God gave the man a commandment, saying, 'You may definitely eat from every tree of the garden. Vayetsav Adonay Elohim al-ha'adam lemor mikol ets-hagan achol tochel.	וַיְצַו֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃
2:17	But from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, do not eat, for on the day you eat from it, you will definitely die.' Ume'ets hada'at tov vara lo tochal mimenu ki beyom acholcha mimenu mot tamut.	וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת׃
2:18	God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a compatible helper for him.' Vayomer Adonay Elohim lo-tov heyot ha'adam levado e'eseh-lo ezer kenegdo.	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂהּ־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
2:19	God had formed every wild beast and every bird of heaven out of the ground. He [now] brought [them] to the man to see what he would name each one. Whatever the man called each living thing [would] remain its name. Vayitser Adonay Elohim min-ha'adamah kol-chayat hasadeh ve'et kol-of hashamayim vayave el-ha'adam lir'ot mah-yikra-lo vechol asher yikra-lo ha'adam nefesh chayah hu shemo.	וַיִּצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה כָּל־חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיָּבֵא֙ אֶל־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם לִרְא֖וֹת מַה־יִּקְרָא־ל֑וֹ וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִקְרָא־ל֧וֹ הָֽאָדָ֛ם נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּ֖ה ה֥וּא שְׁמֽוֹ׃
2:20	The man named every livestock animal and bird of the sky, as well as all the wild beasts. But the man did not find a helper who was compatible for him. Vayikra ha'adam shemot lechol-habehemah ule'of hashamayim ulechol chayat hasadeh ule-Adam lo-matsa ezer kenegdo.	וַיִּקְרָ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם שֵׁמ֗וֹת לְכָל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּלְאָדָ֕ם לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
2:21	God then made the man fall into a deep state of unconsciousness, and he slept. He took one of his ribs and closed the flesh in its place. Vayapel Adonay Elohim tardemah al-ha'adam vayishan vayikach achat mitsal'otav vayisgor basar tachtenah.	וַיַּפֵּל֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ תַּרְדֵּמָ֛ה עַל־הָאָדָ֖ם וַיִּישָׁ֑ן וַיִּקַּ֗ח אַחַת֙ מִצַּלְעֹתָ֔יו וַיִּסְגֹּ֥ר בָּשָׂ֖ר תַּחְתֶּֽנָּה׃
2:22	God built the rib that he took from the man into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Vayiven Adonay Elohim et-hatsela asher-lakach min-ha'adam le'ishah vayevi'eha el-ha'adam.	וַיִּבֶן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ אֶֽת־הַצֵּלָ֛ע אֲשֶׁר־לָקַ֥ח מִן־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־הָֽאָדָֽם׃
2:23	The man said, 'Now this is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She shall be called Woman (Ishah) because she was taken from man (ish).' Vayomer ha'adam zot hapa'am etsem me'atsamay uvasar mibesari lezot yikare ishah ki me'ish lukacha-zot.	וַיֹּאמֶר֮ הָֽאָדָם֒ זֹ֣את הַפַּ֗עַם עֶ֚צֶם מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י וּבָשָׂ֖ר מִבְּשָׂרִ֑י לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ לֻֽקֳחָה־זֹּֽאת׃
2:24	A man shall therefore leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Al-ken ya'azov-ish et-aviv ve'et imo vedavak be'ishto vehayu levasar echad.	עַל־כֵּן֙ יַֽעֲזָב־אִ֔ישׁ אֶת־אָבִ֖יו וְאֶת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְדָבַ֣ק בְּאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וְהָי֖וּ לְבָשָׂ֥ר אֶחָֽד׃
2:25	The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not embarrassed by one another. Vayihyu shneyhem arumim ha'adam ve'ishto velo yitboshashu.	וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ עֲרוּמִּ֔ים הָֽאָדָ֖ם וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֖א יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ׃

Comments

ceased
(Hirsch). Shavath in Hebrew. Usually translated as 'rested.'

God
For the rest of this chapter, the Torah uses two names, Adonoy Elohim, usually translated as 'the Lord God.' In the earlier chapters, only the name Elohim(usually translated 'God') was used. According to tradition, Elohim denoted a creation with unmitigated justice, whereas the name Adonoy denotes an admixture of mercy. Since there is no simple, contemporary way to translate Adonoy Elohim, we translate it as 'God'.

completed
Literally 'made,' Assah in Hebrew. This word, however, is often seen denoting completion.

wild shrubs
Literally 'shrubs of the field.' In Hebrew, the association with field denotes wildness in contrast to domesticity.

ground
Adamah in Hebrew, related to Adam, the Hebrew word for man. Both words are also cognate to adom, meaning red, and dam meaning blood.

breath
(Septuagint). Or, 'soul' (cf. Targum).

Eden
Delight in Hebrew.

Pishon
Some identify the Pishon with the Nile (Rashi). Others say that it is the Ganges or the Indus (Josephus, Abarbanel), see next note, 'Havilah'. Rabbi Aaron Marcus identifies it with the Karun, which flows through Iran into the Persian Gulf (Keseth HaSofer 121a). He also notes that the flow of these rivers could have been changed drastically by the Great Flood.

Havilah
Some identify this with India (Josephus, Antiquities 1:1:3; Targum Yonathan). Marcus, however, identifies it with an area on the Persian Gulf. See Genesis 10:7, 10:29, 25:18, 1 Samuel 15:7. See note on Genesis 10:7. Significantly, there is a city Havelian on the upper Indus river, between Kashmir and Pakistan.

pearls
(Saadia Gaon, Ibn Janach, Ibn Ezra, Radak). Bedolach in Hebrew. See Targum on 1 Chronicles 1:23. Others translate it as crystal (Rashi on Numbers 11:7). Most translations follow Aquila's Greek translation, and render it 'bdellium.' This is a gum resin, very much like myrrh, obtained from various trees of the genus Commiphora of the Burseraceae family. The Midrash, however, states explicitly that it is not this herbal material (Bereshith Rabbah). In the Septuagint, it is translated as anthrax (literally, 'burning coal'), most probably a red mineral such as the carbuncle, ruby, garnet or red sapphire.

precious stones
Shoham stones in Hebrew. Translated as beryl (Targum), onyx, lapis lazuli, or sardonex. See Exodus 25:7, Ezekiel 28:13, Job 28:16.

Gihon
Josephus identifies it with the Nile (Antiquities 1:1:3). Rabbi Aaron Marcus says that some identify it with the Amu-dar'ya, which flows from Afghanistan into the Aral Sea in Russia, and once flowed into the Caspian Sea (Keseth HaSofer 61a, 62a). He says that it also might be the Qezal Owzan River, which flows northward through Iran into the Caspian Sea, or the Khabur, a tributary of the Euphrates flowing through Syria.

Cush
Usually translated as Ethiopia. Marcus identifies it with the land of Kassites, in the near east. The Kassites were an ancient dynastic family who lived in Babylonia, and are known to have ruled between 1761 and 1185 b.c.e. See note on Genesis 10:6.

Tigris
Hiddekel in Hebrew. In Arabic, the Tigris is the Dicle or Dijla (cf. Targum). See Daniel 10:4.

Euphrates
P'rath in Hebrew. In Arabic, the Euphrates is currently known as the Firat, al Farat, and al Furat.

ribs
Or 'sides' (Rashi).

bone from my bones...
An expression meaning 'my flesh and blood,' see Genesis 29:14.