The Naming of the Animals by Adam
M. W. Jacobus. Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air… 1. The man was thus to be made conscious of his lordship over the animal tribes. 2. In token of his relations to them, respectively, he was to give them their respective names. 3. His knowledge of animal nature, (in which he had been created), is at once to be developed, under the special teaching of God. 4. His organs of speech are to be put in exercise. 5. His knowledge of language (Divinely imparted), is to be developed in the use of terms for naming the several classes — under the Divine instruction and guidance. 6. It would seem, from the connection, that the man was to be made sensible of his social need as he should see the animals passing before him in pairs. (M. W. Jacobus.) Parallel Verses KJV: And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. WEB: Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.