Gen 2:18-25 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 2:18-23: 2:18-23 As human creation was the climax of ch 1 , so human intimacy is the high point of ch 2 . God’s concern for mutual human support and companionship finds no parallel in ancient Near Eastern literature. 2:18 It is not good: This is God’s first negative assessment of an otherwise excellent creation (1:31 ). The Lord God is portrayed as a father who obtains a bride for his son (cp. ch 24 ). • The answer to the man’s need is a helper who is just right for him ; she is his perfect complement, made in the same image of God (1:26-27 ), given the same commission (1:28 ; 2:15 ), and obligated by the same prohibition (2:17 ). The man cannot fulfill his created purpose alone.

Summary for Gen 2:18-23: 2:18-23 ^a As human creation was the climax of ch 1 ^b, so human intimacy is the high point of ch 2 ^c. God’s concern for mutual human support and companionship finds no parallel in ancient Near Eastern literature. 2:18 ^d It is not good: This is God’s first negative assessment of an otherwise excellent creation (1:31 ^e). The Lord God is portrayed as a father who obtains a bride for his son (cp. ch 24 ^f).

• The answer to the man’s need is a helper who is just right for him; she is his perfect complement, made in the same image of God (1:26-27 ^g), given the same commission (1:28 ^h; 2:15 ⁱ), and obligated by the same prohibition (2:17 ^j). The man cannot fulfill his created purpose alone.
Summary for Gen 2:19-20: 2:19-20 ^k to see what he would call them: Following God’s example (1:5 ^l, 8 ^m, 10 ⁿ), the man chose a name for each of the creatures. In so doing, he was exercising his reign over creation (1:26 ^o, 28 ^p).
2:23 ^q Adam recognized the woman as a “helper just right for him” (2:20 ^r). His celebration of her in poetry and song observed his unity with her, not their distinctions (cp. 29:14 ^s).

• Adam declares that “She will be called ‘woman’ (Hebrew ’ishah) because she was taken from ‘man’ (Hebrew ’ish).” He understood the nature of their connection (see Eph 5:28-29 ^t). Adam had earlier assessed the animals without finding the characteristics he needed in a partner. How different this evaluation is!
2:24 ^u Marriage between a man and a woman is not just a human social construct but is rooted in the created order.

• a man leaves ... and is joined: Marriage entails a shift of loyalty from parents to spouse.

• the two are united into one: Marriage and its commitments make it the most fundamental covenant relationship observed among humans. Marriage is a powerful image of Israel’s covenant with God (Hos 2:14-23 ^v) and of Christ’s relationship to the church (Eph 5:22-32 ^w). Marriage is designed as an inseparable, exclusive relationship between a man and a woman. The family unit it creates is the basic building block of human society.
2:25 ^x both naked: Prior to the Fall (ch 3 ^y), nakedness reflected innocence and trust. After the Fall, it denoted vulnerability and shame (see 9:22-23 ^z; Lev 18:1-23 ^aa; Isa 47:3 ^ab). Shame is more than embarrassment; it connotes exploitation and humiliation (see Deut 28:48 ^ac; Isa 58:7 ^ad; Jas 2:15-16 ^ae).