And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. — Genesis 2:15
Verse 15 gives us the plan for man in the garden. Adam was placed there “to dress it and to keep it.”
To dress the garden means to cultivate it, tend it, and care for it. To keep it carries the idea of guarding, protecting, and watching over it.
Adam was given stewardship. He had responsibility. He had a task.
This again reminds us that work was not part of the curse. Work was part of life in Eden. After the fall, work became more difficult. Genesis 3 uses the word “sweat” and shows the hardship of labour in a fallen world. But before sin entered, Adam still had work to do.
God did not create Adam to be idle. He placed him in the garden with purpose.
Verse 15 gives us the plan for man in the garden. Adam was placed there “to dress it and to keep it.”
To dress the garden means to cultivate it, tend it, and care for it. To keep it carries the idea of guarding, protecting, and watching over it.
Adam was given stewardship. He had responsibility. He had a task.
This again reminds us that work was not part of the curse. Work was part of life in Eden. After the fall, work became more difficult. Genesis 3 uses the word “sweat” and shows the hardship of labour in a fallen world. But before sin entered, Adam still had work to do.
God did not create Adam to be idle. He placed him in the garden with purpose.