Scholars have long noted an intriguing grammatical detail in this verse. In Hebrew, the verbs “to dress” (ʿāvad) and “to keep” (šāmar) both take a pronominal suffix that is feminine, even though the noun for “garden” (gān) is grammatically masculine. This apparent mismatch has puzzled interpreters and led to several proposed solutions.
Walton points out that the feminine suffix is striking and may reflect a non-standard grammatical usage or a variant form in the ancient language (2001, p. 172). Mathews offers a more direct resolution, arguing that the gender should be taken not from the construct noun “garden” but from the absolute place name “Eden,” which is best understood as feminine in Hebrew syntax (1996, p. 209). Thus, the verbs convey that Adam was placed to serve and guard Eden itself, the broader sacred territory encompassing the garden.
Similar to Mathews, some scholars have proposed that the suffix may refer more generally to the “ground” (ʾădāmāh), which is grammatically feminine and prominent in the immediate context of Genesis 2. This reading broadens Adam’s commission from the cultivated garden to stewardship of the fertile land as a whole, highlighting the universal dimension of humanity’s responsibility for the earth.
Some exegetes also note that occasional gender mismatches appear elsewhere in biblical Hebrew, especially in poetic or symbolic contexts. In such cases, the focus may shift from a literal noun to an abstract or metaphorical idea, such as a fertile domain or sacred dwelling, concepts often represented with feminine forms (Quick, 2020).
Additionally, certain Jewish traditions view this feminine form symbolically, comparing Eden to Israel, a sanctified space meant to be faithfully tended and guarded according to God’s covenant (Levenson, 2013).
This grammatical feature does not challenge the reliability or inspiration of Scripture. Rather, it reflects the richness and nuance of the Hebrew text. Mathews’ explanation remains the most linguistically and contextually sound: the suffix draws its gender from “Eden,” the sanctified place where God dwelt with humanity. This understanding reinforces the spiritual dimension of Adam’s commission: to cultivate and protect not merely soil but a sacred sanctuary, foreshadowing humanity’s enduring calling to steward God’s creation and guard holiness.
In the end, this minor grammatical puzzle serves to deepen our appreciation of the text’s layered meaning and supports the broader biblical theme of humanity’s priestly vocation within creation, a vocation perfectly fulfilled in Christ, the true keeper of God’s holy dwelling.