Genesis 2:5 Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted; for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

◄ Genesis 2:5 ►

New International Version
Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground,

New Living Translation
neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the LORD God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil.

English Standard Version
When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,

Berean Standard Bible
Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted, for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground;

New American Standard Bible
Now no shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

NASB 1995
Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

NASB 1977
Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet grown, for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

Amplified Bible
no shrub or plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground,

Christian Standard Bible
no shrub of the field had yet grown on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
No shrub of the field had yet grown on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground.

American Standard Version
And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Jehovah God had not caused it to rain upon the earth: and there was not a man to till the ground;

Contemporary English Version
no grass or plants were growing anywhere. God had not yet sent any rain, and there was no one to work the land.

English Revised Version
And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wild bushes and plants were not on the earth yet because the LORD God hadn't sent rain on the earth. Also, there was no one to farm the land.

Good News Translation
there were no plants on the earth and no seeds had sprouted, because he had not sent any rain, and there was no one to cultivate the land;

International Standard Version
no shrubs had yet grown in the meadows of the earth and no vegetation had sprouted, because the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there were no human beings to work the ground.

Majority Standard Bible
Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted, for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

NET Bible
Now no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

New Heart English Bible
Now no bush of the field was yet in the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted; for God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there were no people to cultivate the ground,

Webster's Bible Translation
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 on the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

World English Bible
No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and no shrub of the field is yet in the earth, and no herb of the field yet sprouts, for YHWH God has not rained on the earth, and there is not a man to serve the ground,

Young's Literal Translation
and no shrub of the field is yet in the earth, and no herb of the field yet sprouteth, for Jehovah God hath not rained upon the earth, and a man there is not to serve the ground,

Smith's Literal Translation
And every green thing of the field before it shall be in the earth, and every green herb of the field before it will spring up: for Jehovah God rained not upon the earth and not a man to work the earth.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And every plant of the field before it spring up in the earth, and every herb of the ground before it grew: for the Lord God had not rained upon the earth; and there was not a man to till the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and every sapling of the field, before it would rise up in the land, and every wild plant, before it would germinate. For the Lord God had not brought rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the land.

New American Bible
there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted, for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the ground,

New Revised Standard Version
when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And all the trees of the field were not yet in the ground, and every herb of the field had not yet sprung up; for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And there were no trees of the field yet in the Earth, and no grass of the field had yet grown, because LORD JEHOVAH God had not sent down rain on the Earth, and there was no Adam to work in the soil.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
No shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and every herb of the field before it was on the earth, and all the grass of the field before it sprang up, for God had not rained on the earth, and there was not a man to cultivate it.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Man and Woman in the Garden
4This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made them. 5Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted; for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6But springs welled up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 55:10-11
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

Psalm 104:14
He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth:

Job 38:26-28
to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives, / to satisfy the parched wasteland and make it sprout with tender grass? / Does the rain have a father? Who has begotten the drops of dew?

Hebrews 6:7
For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.

James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.

Isaiah 30:23
Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures.

Jeremiah 14:22
Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.

Deuteronomy 11:14
then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil.

Acts 14:17
Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7
I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Zechariah 10:1
Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field.

Hosea 6:3
So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.

Joel 2:23
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

Ezekiel 34:26
I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season—showers of blessing.

Treasury of Scripture

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 on the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

plant.

Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Psalm 104:14
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

had not.

Job 5:10
Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:

Job 38:26-28
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; …

Psalm 65:9-11
Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it…

to till.

Genesis 3:23
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 4:2,12
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground…

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Genesis 2

1. The first Sabbath.
4. Further details concerning the manner of creation.
8. The planting of the garden of Eden, and its situation;
15. man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge forbidden.
18. The animals are named by Adam.
21. The making of woman, and the institution of marriage.

Berean Study Bible

Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth
The phrase "shrub of the field" refers to the early vegetation that had not yet emerged. In Hebrew, the word for "shrub" is "siah," which can denote a bush or small plant. This indicates a time before the earth was fully populated with plant life. Theologically, this underscores God's sovereignty and the intentionality of creation. The earth was in a state of preparation, awaiting the divine command to bring forth life. This reflects the order and purpose inherent in God's creation, emphasizing that nothing occurs by chance.

nor had any plant of the field sprouted
The term "plant of the field" in Hebrew is "eseb," which refers to herbs or grasses. The absence of these plants signifies a world not yet ready for human habitation. This phrase highlights the dependency of creation on God's provision and timing. It serves as a reminder that God is the ultimate provider, and His timing is perfect. The sprouting of plants is a metaphor for growth and potential, which is only realized through divine intervention.

for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth
The mention of "rain" introduces the concept of divine provision. In the ancient Near East, rain was crucial for agriculture and survival, symbolizing God's blessing and sustenance. The Hebrew word for "rain" is "matar," which is often associated with God's favor. This phrase indicates that the earth's readiness for life was contingent upon God's action. It reminds believers of their reliance on God's grace and provision in all aspects of life.

and there was no man to cultivate the ground
The absence of "man" or "adam" in Hebrew, highlights the role of humanity in God's creation. The word "cultivate" comes from the Hebrew "abad," meaning to serve or work. This implies that humanity was created with a purpose: to steward and care for the earth. It underscores the partnership between God and man in the ongoing act of creation. This phrase serves as a call to believers to fulfill their God-given responsibilities, emphasizing the dignity and purpose of work as a form of worship and service to God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5)And every plant . . . --The Authorised Version follows the LXX. in so translating this as to make it simply mean that God created vegetation. The more correct rendering is, "There was no shrub of the field (no wild shrub) as yet on the earth, and no herb of the field had as yet sprung up." The purpose of the writer is to prepare for the planting of the paradise, though geology teaches us the literal truth of his words. When the earth was so hot that water existed only in the form of vapour, there could be no vegetation. Rain began on the second day; on the third the vapours were so largely condensed as for the waters to form seas; and on the same day vegetation began to clothe the cool, dry surface of the ground. To understand these opening words, we must bear in mind that the object of the narrative is not now the formation of the world, but man's relation to Jehovah, and thus the long stages of creation appear but as one day's work.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - And every plant of the field before it was (literally, not yet) in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew (literally, had not yet sprouted). Following the LXX., the English Version suggests an intention on the writer's part to emphasize the fact that the vegetation of the globe - here comprehended under the general terms, shiah, shrub, and eseb, herb - was not a natural production, but, equally with the great earth and heavens, was the creation of Jehovah Elohim - a rendering which has the sanction of Taylor Lewis; whereas the writer's object clearly is to depict the appearance of the earth at the time when the man-ward development of the heavens and the earth began. Then not a single plant was in the ground, not a green blade was visible. The land, newly sprung from the waters, was one desolate region of bleak, bare lava-hills and extensive mud-fiats. Up to that point the absence of vegetation is accounted for by the circumstance that the presently existing atmospheric conditions of the globe had not then been established, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and the ordinary agricultural operations on which its production was afterwards to depend had not then been begun, and there was not a man to till the ground.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Now
וְכֹ֣ל ׀ (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

[no] shrub
שִׂ֣יחַ (śî·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7880: A bush, shrub, plant

of the field
הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

had yet
טֶ֚רֶם (ṭe·rem)
Adverb
Strong's 2962: Non-occurrence, not yet, before

appeared
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on the earth,
בָאָ֔רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

nor had any
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

plant
עֵ֥שֶׂב (‘ê·śeḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6212: Herb, herbage

of the field
הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

sprouted;
יִצְמָ֑ח (yiṣ·māḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6779: To sprout, spring up

for
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the LORD
יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

had not [yet]
לֹ֨א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

sent rain
הִמְטִ֜יר (him·ṭîr)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4305: To rain

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth,
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and [there was] no
אַ֔יִן (’a·yin)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

man
וְאָדָ֣ם (wə·’ā·ḏām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

to cultivate
לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד (la·‘ă·ḇōḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

the ground.
הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃ (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

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OT Law: Genesis 2:5 No plant of the field was yet (Gen. Ge Gn)