Genesis 2:19 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Brought them unto Adam, either by winds, or angels, or by their own secret instinct, by which storks, and cranes, and swallows change their places with the season; partly to own their subjection to him; partly that man, being re-created with their prospect, might adore and praise the Maker of them, and withal be sensible of his want of a meet companion, and so the better prepared to receive God's mercy therein; and partly for the reason here following. To see, or, make a discovery; not to God, who knew it already, but to all future generations, who would hereby understand the deep wisdom and knowledge of their first parent. That was the name thereof, to wit, in the primitive or Hebrew language. And this was done for the manifestation both of man's dominion over the creatures, and of the largeness of his understanding; it being an act of authority to give names, and an effect of vast knowledge to give convenient names to all the creatures, which supposeth an exact acquaintance with their natures.

Genesis 2:19

19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adamg to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.