Before it was in the earth, i.e. when as yet there were no plants, nor so much as seeds of them, there. Before it grew, to wit, out of the earth, as afterwards they did by God's appointment. The two great means of the growth of plants and herbs, viz. rain from heaven, and the labour of man, were both lacking, to show that they were now brought forth by God's almighty power and word.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 2:5
Genesis 2:5
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.