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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/2-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/01_Gen_02_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 2:7 - Man and Woman in the Garden" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/2-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/2-7.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/2-6.htm" title="Genesis 2:6">◄</a> Genesis 2:7 <a href="/genesis/2-8.htm" title="Genesis 2:8">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/genesis/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/genesis/2.htm">New International Version</a> Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. <a href="/nlt/genesis/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. <a href="/esv/genesis/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. <a href="/bsb/genesis/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. <a href="/kjv/genesis/2.htm">King James Bible</a> And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <a href="/nkjv/genesis/2.htm">New King James Version</a> And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. <a href="/nasb_/genesis/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person. <a href="/nasb/genesis/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. <a href="/nasb77/genesis/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. <a href="/lsb/genesis/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being. <a href="/amp/genesis/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> then the LORD God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]. <a href="/csb/genesis/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. <a href="/hcsb/genesis/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. <a href="/asv/genesis/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <a href="/cev/genesis/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The LORD God took some soil from the ground and made a man. God breathed life into the man, and the man started breathing. <a href="/erv/genesis/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <a href="/gwt/genesis/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being. <a href="/gnt/genesis/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> Then the LORD God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live. <a href="/isv/genesis/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> So the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into his lungs, and the man became a living being. <a href="/msb/genesis/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. <a href="/net/genesis/2.htm">NET Bible</a> The LORD God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. <a href="/nheb/genesis/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <a href="/wbt/genesis/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <a href="/web/genesis/2.htm">World English Bible</a> Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And YHWH God forms the man—dust from the ground, and breathes into his nostrils breath of life, and the man becomes a living creature. <a href="/ylt/genesis/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Jehovah God formeth the man -- dust from the ground, and breatheth into his nostrils breath of life, and the man becometh a living creature. <a href="/slt/genesis/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Jehovah God will form man of the dust from the earth, and will blow into his nostrils the breath of lives, and man shall be for a living soul.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul. <a href="/cpdv/genesis/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And then the Lord God formed man from the clay of the earth, and he breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul. <a href="/nabre/genesis/2.htm">New American Bible</a> then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the LORD God formed Adam out of the soil of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. <a href="/hpbt/genesis/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And LORD JEHOVAH God formed Adam of the dust from the soil, and breathed into his face the breath of life, and Adam was a living soul.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <a href="/sep/genesis/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And God formed the man of dust of the earth, and breathed upon his face the breath of life, and the man became a living soul. <a href="/parallel/genesis/2-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=349" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/genesis/2.htm">Man and Woman in the Garden</a> …6But springs welled up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7<a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">Then the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3335.htm" title="3335: way·yî·ṣer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- Probably identical with yatsar;); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. Form a resolution).">formed</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: hā·’ā·ḏām (Art:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">man</a> <a href="/hebrew/6083.htm" title="6083: ‘ā·p̄ār (N-ms) -- Dry earth, dust. From aphar; dust; hence, clay, earth, mud.">from the dust</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: min- (Prep) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">of</a> <a href="/hebrew/127.htm" title="127: hā·’ă·ḏā·māh (Art:: N-fs) -- Ground, land. From 'adam; soil.">the ground</a> <a href="/hebrew/5301.htm" title="5301: way·yip·paḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To breathe, blow. A primitive root; to puff, in various applications.">and breathed</a> <a href="/hebrew/5397.htm" title="5397: niš·maṯ (N-fsc) -- Breath. From nasham; a puff, i.e. Wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. Or an animal.">the breath</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: ḥay·yîm (N-mp) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively.">of life</a> <a href="/hebrew/639.htm" title="639: bə·’ap·pāw (Prep-b:: N-mdc:: 3ms) -- A nostril, nose, face, anger. From 'anaph; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also ire.">into his nostrils,</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: hā·’ā·ḏām (Art:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">and the man</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">became</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: ḥay·yāh (Adj-fs) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively.">a living</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: lə·ne·p̄eš (Prep-l:: N-fs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">being.</a> 8And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/job/33-4.htm">Job 33:4</a> The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. <a href="/1_corinthians/15-45.htm">1 Corinthians 15:45</a> So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam a life-giving spirit. <a href="/isaiah/64-8.htm">Isaiah 64:8</a> But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand. <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-7.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:7</a> before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. <a href="/1_corinthians/15-47.htm">1 Corinthians 15:47</a> The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. <a href="/job/27-3.htm">Job 27:3</a> as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils, <a href="/acts/17-25.htm">Acts 17:25</a> Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. <a href="/psalms/103-14.htm">Psalm 103:14</a> For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust. <a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Romans 5:12</a> Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. <a href="/zechariah/12-1.htm">Zechariah 12:1</a> This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him: <a href="/1_corinthians/15-22.htm">1 Corinthians 15:22</a> For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. <a href="/isaiah/42-5.htm">Isaiah 42:5</a> This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it: <a href="/romans/9-21.htm">Romans 9:21</a> Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use? <a href="/2_corinthians/4-7.htm">2 Corinthians 4:7</a> Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. <a href="/psalms/139-14.htm">Psalm 139:14</a> I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.formed man.<a href="/psalms/100-3.htm">Psalm 100:3</a> Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.<a href="/psalms/139-14.htm">Psalm 139:14,15</a> I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well… <a href="/isaiah/64-8.htm">Isaiah 64:8</a> But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.of the dust.<a href="/genesis/3-19.htm">Genesis 3:19,23</a> In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return… <a href="/job/4-19.htm">Job 4:19</a> How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?<a href="/job/33-6.htm">Job 33:6</a> Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.and breathed.<a href="/job/27-3.htm">Job 27:3</a> All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;<a href="/job/33-4.htm">Job 33:4</a> The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.<a href="/john/20-22.htm">John 20:22</a> And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:nostrils.<a href="/genesis/7-22.htm">Genesis 7:22</a> All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.<a href="/ecclesiastes/3-21.htm">Ecclesiastes 3:21</a> Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?<a href="/isaiah/2-22.htm">Isaiah 2:22</a> Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?a living.<a href="/numbers/16-22.htm">Numbers 16:22</a> And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?<a href="/numbers/27-16.htm">Numbers 27:16</a> Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,<a href="/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27</a> The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/1-30.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/acts/5-10.htm">Breathed</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-9.htm">Breatheth</a> <a href="/acts/9-1.htm">Breathing</a> <a href="/genesis/1-24.htm">Creature</a> <a href="/revelation/18-19.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/genesis/2-6.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/2-4.htm">Elohim</a> <a href="/revelation/5-10.htm">Formed</a> <a href="/zechariah/12-1.htm">Formeth</a> <a href="/genesis/2-6.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/genesis/1-30.htm">Life</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/12-17.htm">Nostrils</a> <a href="/genesis/1-30.htm">Soul</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/6-17.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/genesis/25-8.htm">Breathed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Breatheth</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Breathing</a> <a href="/genesis/2-19.htm">Creature</a> <a href="/genesis/3-14.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/genesis/3-19.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/2-8.htm">Elohim</a> <a href="/genesis/2-8.htm">Formed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-18.htm">Formeth</a> <a href="/genesis/2-9.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/genesis/2-9.htm">Life</a> <a href="/genesis/7-22.htm">Nostrils</a> <a href="/genesis/9-10.htm">Soul</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 2</div>1. <a href="/genesis/2-1.htm">The first Sabbath.</a> 4. <a href="/genesis/2-4.htm">Further details concerning the manner of creation.</a> 8. <a href="/genesis/2-8.htm">The planting of the garden of Eden, and its situation;</a> 15. <a href="/genesis/2-15.htm">man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge forbidden.</a> 18. <a href="/genesis/2-18.htm">The animals are named by Adam.</a> 21. <a href="/genesis/2-21.htm">The making of woman, and the institution of marriage.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/genesis/2.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>Then the LORD God The phrase "LORD God" in Hebrew is "Yahweh Elohim." "Yahweh" is the personal name of God, emphasizing His covenant relationship with humanity. "Elohim" is a plural form, often used to denote majesty and power. This combination underscores both the personal and powerful nature of God, highlighting His intimate involvement in creation and His sovereign authority over it.formed The Hebrew word for "formed" is "yatsar," which conveys the image of a potter shaping clay. This suggests intentionality and care in the creation of man, emphasizing that humanity is not a product of chance but of divine craftsmanship. It reflects the personal touch of God in the creation process, indicating that humans are uniquely designed with purpose.man The word "man" is translated from the Hebrew "adam," which is closely related to "adamah," meaning "ground" or "earth." This connection highlights humanity's origin from the earth and our role as stewards of creation. It also serves as a reminder of our humble beginnings and our dependence on God for life and sustenance.from the dust of the ground The phrase "dust of the ground" emphasizes the humble and earthly origin of humanity. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this imagery would resonate with the understanding of human mortality and frailty. It serves as a reminder of our physical nature and the transient nature of life, pointing to the need for divine intervention to transcend our earthly limitations.breathed the breath of life The Hebrew word for "breathed" is "naphach," which implies a personal and intimate act. The "breath of life" is "neshamah," indicating the life-giving spirit from God. This act of breathing life into man signifies the impartation of a divine spark, setting humans apart from the rest of creation with a unique capacity for relationship with God and spiritual awareness.into his nostrils The specificity of "into his nostrils" suggests a direct and personal act of giving life. It emphasizes the closeness of God to humanity and the personal nature of His creative work. This intimate act signifies the direct connection between God and man, highlighting the personal relationship intended between Creator and creation.and the man became a living being The phrase "living being" is translated from the Hebrew "nephesh chayah," which can also mean "living soul." This indicates that man is not merely a physical entity but possesses a soul, capable of thought, emotion, and will. It underscores the holistic nature of human life, integrating body, soul, and spirit, and reflects the image of God in humanity, capable of moral and spiritual reflection.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.--Literally, formed the man (adam) dust from the ground. In this section the prominent idea is not that of producing out of nothing, but of forming, that is, shaping and moulding. So in <a href="/genesis/2-19.htm" title="And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.">Genesis 2:19</a> Jehovah forms the animals, and in <a href="/genesis/2-8.htm" title="And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.">Genesis 2:8</a> He plants a garden. As Elohim is almighty power, so Jehovah is wisdom and skill, and His works are full of contrivance and design. As regards man's body, Jehovah forms it dust from the ground: the adamah, or fruitful arable soil, so called from Adam, for whose use it was specially fitted, and by whom it was first tilled. But the main intention of the words is to point out man's feebleness. He is made not from the rocks, nor from ores of metal, but from the light, shifting particles of the surface, blown about by every wind. Yet, frail as is man's body, God--. . . breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.--The life came not as the result of man's bodily organisation, nor as derived by evolution from any other animal, but as a gift direct from God.And man became a living soul.--The word translated "soul" contains no idea of a spiritual existence. For in <a href="/genesis/1-20.htm" title="And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.">Genesis 1:20</a>, "creature that hath life," and in <a href="/genesis/1-24.htm" title="And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.">Genesis 1:24</a>, "the living creature," are literally, living soul. Really the word refers to the natural life of animals and men, maintained by breathing, or in some way extracting oxygen from the atmospheric air. And whatever superiority over other animals may be possessed by man comes from the manner in which this living breath was bestowed upon him, and not from his being "a living soul;" for that is common to all alike.The whole of this second narrative is pre-eminently anthropomorphic. In the previous history Elohim commands, and it is done. Here He forms, and builds, and plants, and breathes into His work, and is the companion and friend of the creature He has made. It thus sets before us the love and tenderness of Jehovah, who provides for man a home, fashions for him a wife to be his partner and helpmate, rejoices in his intellect, and brings the lower world to him to see what he will call them, and even after the fall provides the poor outcasts with clothing. It is a picture fitted for the infancy of mankind, and speaking the language of primaeval simplicity. But its lesson is for all times. For it proclaims the love of God to man, his special pre-eminence in the scale of being, and that Elohim, the Almighty Creator, is Jehovah-Elohim, the friend and counsellor of the creature whom He has endowed with reason and free-will. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 7. - And the Lord God (Jehovah Elohim) formed man of the dust of the ground. Literally, dust from the ground. Here, again, Bleek, Kalisch, and the theologians of their school discover contrariety between this account of man's creation and that which has been given in the preceding chapter. In that man is represented as having been created by the Divine word, in the Divine image, and male and female simultaneously; whereas in this his creation is exhibited as a painful process of elaboration from the clay by the hand of God, who works it like a potter (asah; LXX., πλάσσω), and, after having first constructed man, by a subsequent operation forms woman. But the first account does not assert that Adam and Eve were created together, and gives no details of the formation of either. These are supplied by the present narrative, which, beginning with the construction of his body from the fine dust of the ground, designedly represents it as an evolution or development of the material universe, and ends by setting it before us as animated by the breath of God, reserving for later treatment the mode of Eve's production, when the circumstances that led to it have been described. And (the Lord God) breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Literally, the breath of lives. "The formation of man from the dust and the breathing of the breath of life must not be understood in a mechanical sense, as if God first of all constructed a human figure from the dust" (still less does it admit of the idea that man's physical nature was evolved from the lower animals), "and then, by breathing his breath of life into the clod of earth which he had shaped into the form of a man, made it into a living being. The words are to be understood θεοπρεπῶς. By an act of Divine omnipotence man arose from the dust; and in the same moment in which the dust, by virtue of creative omnipotence, shaped itself into a human form, it was pervaded by the Divine breath of life, and created a living being, so that we cannot say the body was earlier than the soul" (Delitzsch). And man became a living soul. Nephesh chayyah, in <a href="/genesis/1-21.htm">Genesis 1:21</a>, 80, is employed to designate the lower animals. Describing a being animated by a ψυχή or life principle, it does not necessarily imply that the basis of the life principle in man and the inferior animals is the same. The distinction between the two appears from the difference in the mode of their creations. The beasts arose at the almighty fiat completed beings, every one a nephesh chayyah. "The origin of their soul was coincident with that of their corporeality, and their life was merely the individualization of the universal life with which all matter was filled at the beginning by the Spirit of God" (Delitzsch). Man received his life from a distinct act of Divine inbreathing; certainly not an in-breathing of atmospheric air, but an inflatus from the Ruach Elohim, or Spirit of God, a communication from the whole personality of the Godhead. In effect man was thereby constituted a nephesh chayyah, like the lower animals; but in him the life principle conferred a personality which was wanting in them. Thus there is no real contradiction, scarcely even an "apparent dissonance," between the two accounts of man's creation. The second exhibits the foundation of that likeness to God and world-dominion ascribed to him in the first. <a href="/commentaries/genesis/2-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Then the LORD יְהוָ֨ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel God אֱלֹהִ֜ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative formed וַיִּיצֶר֩ (way·yî·ṣer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3335.htm">Strong's 3335: </a> To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine man הָֽאָדָ֗ם (hā·’ā·ḏām) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> Ruddy, a human being [from] the dust עָפָר֙ (‘ā·p̄ār) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6083.htm">Strong's 6083: </a> Dust, clay, earth, mud of מִן־ (min-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> A part of, from, out of the ground הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_127.htm">Strong's 127: </a> Ground, land and breathed וַיִּפַּ֥ח (way·yip·paḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5301.htm">Strong's 5301: </a> To breathe, blow the breath נִשְׁמַ֣ת (niš·maṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5397.htm">Strong's 5397: </a> A puff, wind, angry, vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, an animal of life חַיִּ֑ים (ḥay·yîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2416.htm">Strong's 2416: </a> Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life into his nostrils, בְּאַפָּ֖יו (bə·’ap·pāw) Preposition-b | Noun - mdc | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_639.htm">Strong's 639: </a> The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire and the man הָֽאָדָ֖ם (hā·’ā·ḏām) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> Ruddy, a human being became וַֽיְהִ֥י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be a living חַיָּֽה׃ (ḥay·yāh) Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2416.htm">Strong's 2416: </a> Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life being. לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ (lə·ne·p̄eš) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">OT Law: Genesis 2:7 Yahweh God formed man from the dust (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/2-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 2:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 2:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/2-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 2:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 2:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>