God’s Word Translation
Genesis 2:4
4This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when the Lord God made earth and heaven.
Genesis 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,
- New International Version (NIV)This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
- English Standard Version (ESV)These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
- New King James Version (NKJV)This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,
Context of Genesis 2:4
2By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. On the seventh day he stopped the work he had been doing. 3Then God blessed the seventh day and set it apart as holy, because on that day he stopped all his work of creation. This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when the Lord God made earth and heaven. 5Wild bushes and plants were not on the earth yet because the Lord God hadn’t sent rain on the earth. Also, there was no one to farm the land. 6Instead, underground water would come up from the earth and water the entire surface of the ground.
Read all of Genesis 2Genesis 2:4 word by word
אֵ֣לֶּה תוֹלְד֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם בְּי֗וֹם עֲשׂ֛וֹת יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Theseאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428
- the generationsתּוֹלֵדוֹתtôledâh tôledâh · generationH8435
- of the heavensשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- and of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- when they were createdבָּרָאbârâ' · to createH1254
- in the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- that the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
Cross-references for Genesis 2:4
- Genesis 1:4God saw the light was good. So God separated the light from the darkness.
- Genesis 5:1This is the written account of Adam and his descendants. When God created humans, he made them in the likeness of God.
- Genesis 10:1This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their descendants. Shem, Ham and Japheth had children after the flood.
- Genesis 11:10This is the account of Shem and his descendants. Two years after the flood when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arpachshad.
- Genesis 25:12This is the account of the descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. He was the son of Sarah’s Egyptian slave Hagar and Abraham.
- Genesis 36:1This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom) and his descendants.
- Exodus 6:16These are the names of the sons of Levi listed in birth order: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
- Job 38:28Does the rain have a father? Who gave birth to the dewdrops?
- Psalms 90:1O Lord, you have been our refuge throughout every generation.
- Exodus 15:3The Lord is a warrior! The Lord is his name.
- 1 Kings 18:39All the people saw it and immediately bowed down to the ground. “The Lord is God!” they said. “The Lord is God!”
- 2 Chronicles 20:6He said, “Lord God of our ancestors, aren’t you the God in heaven? You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess power and might, and no one can oppose you.
- Psalms 18:31Who is God but the Lord? Who is a rock except our God?
- Psalms 86:10Indeed, you are great, a worker of miracles. You alone are God.
- Isaiah 44:6The Lord is Israel’s king and defender. He is the Lord of Armies. This is what the Lord says: I am the first and the last, and there is no God except me.
- Revelation 1:4From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Good will and peace to you from the one who is, the one who was, and the one who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne,
Commentaries on Genesis 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4In the day that the Lord God made, etc. - The word יהוה Yehovah is for the first time mentioned here. What it signifies see the note on Exodus 34:5, Exodus 34:6. Wherever this word occurs in the sacred writings we translate it Lord, which word is, through respect and reverence, always printed in capitals. Though our English term Lord does not give the particular meaning of the original word, yet it conveys a strong and noble sense. Lord is a contraction…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4-7Verses 4-7 - Part II. The development - Section II - The Man - X. The Field 4. תולדות tôledôt “generations, products, developments.” That which comes from any source, as the child from the parent, the record of which is history. יהוה yehovâh This word occurs about six thousand times in Scripture. It is obvious from its use that it is, so to speak, the proper name of God. It never has the article. It is never changed for construction with another noun…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-7Verses 4-7 Here is a name given to the Creator, "Jehovah." Where the word "LORD" is printed in capital letters in our English Bibles, in the original it is "Jehovah." Jehovah is that name of God, which denotes that he alone has his being of himself, and that he gives being to all creatures and things. Further notice is taken of plants and herbs, because they were made and appointed to be food for man. The earth did not bring forth its fruits of itself…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4This is the account (literally These are the generations; Hebrew toledoth): This phrase appears often in Genesis. It helps outline the book. It usually introduces the family line or story of an important person (5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1; 37:2). Some people think the first part of 2:4 belongs with 1:1–2:3, but it probably introduces the next story. LORD God (Hebrew Yahweh Elohim): This is the second name for God in Genesis. Elohim…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth--the history or account of their production. Whence did Moses obtain this account so different from the puerile and absurd fictions of the heathen? Not from any human source, for man was not in existence to witness it; not from the light of nature or reason, for though they proclaim the eternal power and Godhead by the things which are made, they cannot tell how they were made. None but the…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries