Genesis 2 Essay

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Writing 5 Rachna Shah
The Servant Leader:
An Analysis of Diction and Sentence Structure in Genesis 2:7
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“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” (Gen. 2:7 NIV).
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What does it mean to be a creation of God? What, if any, is the unique justification for human existence? The Book of Genesis provides multiple explanations to these questions in its narratives of divine providence and human origins. Within the scriptures, the authors convey man’s primeval history, focusing on how God created the world and man within it and suggesting why. Genesis 2 offers one narrative, in detailing the unique formation of man from earthly dust …show more content…

In the original Hebrew, the LORD God translates to YHWH Elohim. YHWH is God’s personal name and the proper name for God. As a holy name, it has been translated as Lord so as not to blaspheme the title, implying man’s fear of and respect for YHWH. In addition, Elohim, a common noun for a deity, signifies might and strength. In Hebrew, the suffix “im” makes a masculine singular noun plural; as God is a singular subject, Elohim connotes the multiplicity of God. Thus, the connotation of God’s name and its position within the verse establish God’s …show more content…

In light of this, man as a pot may be considered to be a receptacle, a container or holder for the breath of life. In conferring the breath of life, God establishes a unique connection between himself and man by intimately and spiritually enlivening him. God’s spirit and essence is now shared with man, making man more like God than any other being. It is assumed that God is the only being who can impart this breath that enables man to become a living being, as God is the only being in Genesis 2 that creates (life). Furthermore, only man - not animals - is given the gift of the breath of life, reinforcing man’s

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