20 And Adam gave [1] names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

Other Translations of Genesis 2:20

New International Version

20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for AdamOr "the man" no suitable helper was found.

English Standard Version

20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for AdamOr the man there was not found a helper fit for him.

The Message

20 The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion.

New King James Version

20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

New Living Translation

20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 2:20

Commentary on Genesis 2:18-25

(Read Genesis 2:18-25)

Power over the creatures was given to man, and as a proof of this he named them all. It also shows his insight into the works of God. But though he was lord of the creatures, yet nothing in this world was a help meet for man. From God are all our helpers. If we rest in God, he will work all for good. God caused deep sleep to fall on Adam; while he knows no sin, God will take care that he shall feel no pain. God, as her Father, brought the woman to the man, as his second self, and a help meet for him. That wife, who is of God's making by special grace, and of God's bringing by special providence, is likely to prove a help meet for a man. See what need there is, both of prudence and prayer in the choice of this relation, which is so near and so lasting. That had need to be well done, which is to be done for life. Our first parents needed no clothes for covering against cold or heat, for neither could hurt them: they needed none for ornament. Thus easy, thus happy, was man in his state of innocency. How good was God to him! How many favours did he load him with! How easy were the laws given to him! Yet man, being in honour, understood not his own interest, but soon became as the beasts that perish.