{"id":4351,"date":"2016-07-30T13:31:39","date_gmt":"2016-07-30T19:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/?p=4351"},"modified":"2023-07-01T16:27:22","modified_gmt":"2023-07-01T22:27:22","slug":"genesis-215-part-six","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/?p=4351","title":{"rendered":"Genesis 2:15 \u2014 Part Six"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Meanwhile, I sent my lessons to another reviewer. He is a \u201ctheologian\u201d with an M.Div. from Trinity and a good grasp of the original languages and all the tools to consult. Here is his reply.<\/h3>\n

On \u201cput\u201d meaning \u201ccaused to rest\u201d: Checking my Hebrew-English reference works I find that \u201crest\u201d is one of the meanings of this word, but the particular form of the Hebrew verb in this verse and the fact that it is used in association with a person (him) and a location (in the garden) strongly points to the meaning \u201cput\u201d, as all the translations (including the Septuagint) render it in this verse and the two standard Hebrew reference works I checked confirm (with examples of verses with similar grammatical construction).\u00a0 The solution to the problem posed is not to get work removed from Gen 2 (and thereby make it a consequence of the fall and a part of the curse \u2014 which I think biblically is a false idea, for work is an inherently good thing, for God himself worked in creation).\u00a0 But the work before the fall was not burdensome and sweaty.\u00a0 After the fall it was so, because of hindrances to productive work (in the sinful nature of man, and in the cursed creation).\u00a0 When we finish the verse the way they have rendered it, it makes no sense.\u00a0 He \u201cmade him rest in the garden to till it and keep it\u201d (the Hebrew construction here clearly means that \u201cto\u201d means \u201cfor the purpose of\u201d) So, He made Adam rest to work?\u00a0 That is not what God is saying here.\u00a0 And we certainly don\u2019t want children to get the idea that work is a result of the curse!<\/span><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m no scholar, but this seems to be largely circular reasoning again. There are also other issues:<\/h3>\n