dress and keep

[tekton]

In Genesis 2:15 man is placed in the garden to " dress it and to keep it". What does this mean?.

[jelaine]

Well I used to think that 'work' was a part of the curse, but on the contrary ..... The words in Hebrew for Dress and Keep are key to understanding this verse.

the word Dress is Hebrew is Abad and it means this

1) to work, serve

a) (Qal)

1) to labour, work, do work

2) to work for another, serve another by labour

3) to serve as subjects

4) to serve (God)

5) to serve (with Levitical service)

b) (Niphal)

1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

2) to make oneself a servant

c) (Pual) to be worked

d) (Hiphil)

1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve

2) to cause to serve as subjects

e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve


and the hebrew word shamar that is translated "And to keep it" is all one word and it means

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

a) (Qal)

1) to keep, have charge of

2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

a) watch, watchman (participle)

3) to watch for, wait for

4) to watch, observe

5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)

6) to keep (within bounds), restrain

7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)

8) to keep, preserve, protect

9) to keep, reserve

b) (Niphal)

1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware

2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain

3) to be kept, be guarded

c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed

d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
We tend to have this pitiful picture of adam and eve chillin with tha animals not doin jack squat but eatin fruit and chillin, but my friend did an extensive research on this word "Subdue it" in Gen 1:28 and it means

1) to subject, subdue, force, keep under, bring into bondage

a) (Qal)

1) to bring into bondage, make subservient

2) to subdue, force, violate

3) to subdue, dominate, tread down

b) (Niphal) to be subdued

c) (Piel) to subdue

d) (Hiphil) to bring into bondage


and it really paints a picture of pre fallen Adam having to work mentally, physically, athletically to subdue the garden as in before the flood there was a that water canopy thingy (let there be a firmament) that caused the greenage to grow at an extraordinary rate .... hope this helps ....

[matheteou]

In Genesis 2:15 man is placed in the garden to " dress it and to keep it". What does this mean?.From Websters 1913Dress - 4. To adjust; to put in good order; to arrange; specifically:
(a) To prepare for use; to fit for any use; to render
suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready; as, to
dress a slain animal; to dress meat; to dress leather
or cloth; to dress or trim a lamp; to dress a garden;
to dress a horse, by currying and rubbing; to dress
grain, by cleansing it; in mining and metallurgy, to
dress ores, by sorting and separating them.
[1913 Webster]

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into
the garden of Eden to dress it. --Gen. ii. 15.
[1913 Webster]

Keep - 4. To have in custody; to have in some place for
preservation; to take charge of.
[1913 Webster]

7. To attend upon; to have the care of; to tend.
[1913 Webster]

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the
garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it. --Gen.
ii. 15.