thinking bible.

You asked

what did 'cultivate' and 'keep' mean for ancient people in an agricultural society?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Genesis 2:15

Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to keep it.

This verse describes God placing humanity in the Garden of Eden shortly after creation, establishing an initial purpose for the first human. It sets the scene before the introduction of Eve or the events of the fall.

What responsibility does this passage suggest humanity has towards the natural world?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Deuteronomy 20:19-20

    This passage offers specific laws for wartime, including instructions not to destroy fruit trees, suggesting a broader principle of preserving natural resources.

  • Psalm 8:5-8

    This psalm speaks of humanity being crowned with glory and honor, given dominion over creation, echoing the theme of stewardship from Genesis.

  • Colossians 1:15-17

    This New Testament passage describes Christ as the one through whom and for whom all things were created, offering a theological framework for the purpose of creation.

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