Some people believe the Bible contradicts itself in Genesis because Chapter 2 appears to suggest that Adam was already created when God formed the birds and animals, despite the declaration in Chapter 1 that God created Adam after the birds and animals. Therefore, a careful examination of the text and a basic understanding of Hebrew verb tenses are required.
According to Genesis 1:20-31, God made birds and sea life on the fifth day of Creation and land-dwelling animals on the sixth day. Then God created Adam on the same day as the animals, after they were formed.
However, according to Genesis 2:18-19, after God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, He said, “‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’ Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.”
At first glance, it appears as though Adam was already created when God formed the beasts and birds, based on the content of Genesis 2:18-19. However, that conclusion assumes that the Hebrew verb translated as “formed” (in Genesis 2:19) is in the present tense — meaning that God formed the beasts and birds at that very moment. But that is not the case.
In the Hebrew language, verbs do not have progressive or perfect tenses for the past, present, or future like in the English language. Their correct tense is determined by and expressed through their context. Therefore, considering the contextual framework of Genesis chapter one that outlines God’s order of Creation (birds, then animals, then Adam, followed by Eve), the Hebrew verb for “formed” (in Genesis 2:19) conveys past tense, as in, God brought the birds and animals to Adam that He had (previously) formed on days five and six to see what he would call them. Genesis 2:19 also provided a detail about birds that Chapter 1 did not disclose, namely that God created them from the ground, just as He did the animals.
This interpretation and conclusion are in perfect harmony with the Bible’s overall account of Creation, with Genesis 1 providing an overview of each Creation Day, and Genesis 2 detailing certain elements of it.
I hope this information helps you understand how the Creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 are not contradictory, but provide a complete picture of Creation in all its splendid detail.
