Genesis 2:20

Genesis 2:20

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.

a. NLT: He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.

b. NIV: So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

c. YLT: 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.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And Adam gave names to all the livestock and to the birds of the air and to every [wild] beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him.

e. Septuagint: And Adam gave names to all the cattle and to all the birds of the sky, and to all the wild beasts of the field, but for Adam there was not found a help like to himself.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: And the man assigned names to all the cattle and to the birds of the sky and to every beast of the field; but as for man, he did not find a helper corresponding to him.

1. “And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field…”

a. [And] Adam [Strong: 120 'adam aw-dawm' from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

b. gave [Strong: 7121 qara' kaw-raw' a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.]

c. names [Strong: 8034 shem shame a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

d. to all [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

e. cattle [Strong: 929 bhemah be-hay-maw' from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective):--beast, cattle.]

f. to all the fowl [Strong: 5775 `owph ofe from 5774; a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively:--bird, that flieth, flying, fowl.]

g. of the air [Strong: 8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).]

h. and to every [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

i. beast [Strong: 2416 chay khah'-ee from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.]

j. of the field [Strong: 7704 sadeh saw-deh’ or saday {saw-dah’-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil, X wild.]

1). Reflecting on the intellect that Adam had, here is a segment of Jewish Rabbinic thought.

a). Chumash, Note for Genesis 2:20. “In the Torah’s concept, a name is not simply convenient convention, but it reflects the nature of each creature and its role in the total scheme of the universe. Thus, we find over and over in the Torah, the names of people had a profound significance that expressed their mission. Adam had the power to recognize the essence of every animal and name it accordingly (Radak). Having this insight into every creature, he realized that none of them corresponded to his essence, socially and intellectually.”

2. “…but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.”

a. [but for] Adam [Strong: 120 'adam aw-dawm' from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

b. [there was] not [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

c. found [Strong: 4672 matsa' maw-tsaw' a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able, befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.]

d. an help meet [Strong: 5828 `ezer ay'-zer from 5826; aid:--help.]

1). Because Adam was the ruler of the earth, it would be necessary for the LORD God to instruct Adam on how things operate. For instance, no doubt God instructed Adam on the principles of herb yielding seed and fruit tree yielding seed, in order for Adam to properly dress and keep the garden. He would also need to know the method of propagating all of the species of the animal kingdom, sexual intercourse between the male and female, the pregnancy and birth processes. Perhaps it was during this moment that Adam realized he did not have a help meet and that he needed one.