Why did God make man out of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7)?

Response

Genesis 2:7 teaches, “The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” While God spoke the rest of creation into existence (e.g., Genesis 1:3, 14, 20, 24), He chose a different approach for man.

Three significant observations can be noted. Firstly, the creation of man from dust sets him apart from all other creations of God. God brought forth the sun, mountains, and animal life by mere speech. In Genesis 1, we repeatedly encounter the phrase “Then God said.” However, human life involved the combination of “dust of the earth” and the life-giving breath of God. Man embodies a unique blend of earthly elements and divine vitality, emphasizing the significance and worth of human life.

Secondly, the use of dust implies a sense of humility. God did not utilize gold, granite, or gemstones to form man; instead, He employed dust, a modest material. What truly magnifies man? Is it the dust or the divine breath infused within it? Genesis 3:19 underscores man’s reliance on God and the transient nature of human existence: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Thirdly, the structural arrangement of the passage elevates man’s creation from the dust of the earth to a position of significance. The composition of Genesis 2:5–9 can be delineated as follows:

A Absence of plant life (verse 5a)

  B Lack of divine intervention (verse 5b)

   C Absence of man to cultivate the ground (verse 5c)

    D Mist from God (verse 6)

     E God forms man (verse 7a)

      X God bestows life (verse 7a)

     E Man becomes a living being (verse 7b)

    D

Garden from God (verse 8a)

   C Man works the ground (verse 8b; cf. verse 15)

  B God intervenes (verse 9)

A Plant life exists (verse 9)

God could have chosen to create humans in any way He desired. However, Scripture records the specific way He did create—utilizing both natural material (dust) and supernatural power to grant humans a distinct place in the cosmos. The combination of dust of the earth + God’s breath highlights the supernatural power of God and the delicate nature of humanity. Human life is entirely reliant on God, and consequently, humans are summoned to worship the Lord and to serve Him exclusively.