King James Version

What Does Genesis 2:3 Mean?

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. created: Heb. created to make”

Context

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. created: Heb. created to make

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,

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(3) **Sanctified it.**—That is, separated it from ordinary uses, and hallowed it. Legal observance of the Sabbath did not begin till the days of Moses (Exodus 31:13; Exodus 35:2); but this blessing and sanctification were given prior to any covenant with man, and by Elohim, the God of nature, and not Jehovah, the God of grace. The weekly rest, therefore, is universal, permanent, and independent of the Mosaic law. **Which God created and made.**—Literally, *created to make. *God created the world in order to make and form and fashion it. There is a work of completion which follows upon creation, and this may still be going on, and be perfected only when there is a new heaven and a new earth. **THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND OF THE EARTH** (Genesis 2:4 to Genesis 4:26). After the hymn of creation the rest of the Book of Genesis is divided into ten sections of very unequal length, called *tôldôth, *translated by the LXX. *the Book of Genesis, *or generation, whence the title given by St. Matthew to his Gospel. (See note on Genesis 5:1.) This title, however, does not mean a genealogical list of a person’s ancestors, but the register of his posterity. As applied to the *heavens and the earth, *it signifies the history of what followed upon their creation.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 2:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.