Genesis 2:4-6
4 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,
5 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.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
Wherefore, it is not a superfluous repetition which inculcates the necessary fact, that the world existed only from the time when it was created, since such knowledge directs us to its Architect and Author.
“These are the generations.” The design of Moses was deeply to impress upon our minds the origin of the heaven and the earth, which he designates by the word generation. For there have always been ungrateful and malignant men, who, either by feigning that the world was eternal, or by obliterating the memory of the creation, would attempt to obscure the glory of God. Thus the devil, by his guile, turns those away from God who are more ingenious and skilful than others, in order that each may become a god unto himself. Wherefore, it is not a superfluous repetition which inculcates the necessary fact, that the world existed only from the time when it was created, since such knowledge directs us to its Architect and Author. Under the names of heaven and earth, the whole is, by the figure synecdoche, included. Some of the Hebrews think, that the essential name of God is here at length expressed by Moses, because his majesty shines forth more clearly in the completed world.
But, at that time, the method was different: God clothed the earth, not in the same manner as now, (for there was no seed, no root, no plant, which might germinate,) but each suddenly sprung into existence at the command of God, and by the power of his word.
“And every plant.” This verse is connected with the preceding, and must be read in continuation with it; for he annexes the plants and herbs to the earth, as the garment with which the Lord has adorned it, lest its nakedness should appear as a deformity. The noun “sicah,” which we translate plant, sometimes signifies trees, as below. (Gen. 21:15) Therefore, some in this place translate it “shrub,” to which I have no objection. Yet the word “plant” is not unsuitable; because, in the former place, Moses seems to refer to the genus, and here to the species. But although he has before related that the herbs were created on the third day, yet it is not without reason that there again mention is made of them, in order that we may know that they were then produced, preserved, and propogated, in a manner different from that which we perceive at the present day. For herbs and trees are produced from seed; or grafts are taken from another root, or they grow by putting forth shoots: in all this the industry and the hand of man are engaged. But, at that time, the method was different: God clothed the earth, not in the same manner as now, (for there was no seed, no root, no plant, which might germinate,) but each suddenly sprung into existence at the command of God, and by the power of his word. They possessed durable vigour, so that they might stand by the force of their own nature, and not by that quickening influence which is now perceived, not by the help of rain, not by the irrigation or culture of man; but by the vapour with which god watered the earth. For he excludes these two things, the rain whence the earth derives moisture, that it may retain its native sap; and human culture, which is the assistant of nature. When he says, that God had “not yet caused it to rain,” he at the same time intimates that it is God who opens and shuts the cataracts of heaven, and that rain and drought are in his hand.
— John Calvin (1509-1564)
