John Gill Commentary Genesis 2:16

"And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:" — Genesis 2:16 (ASV)

And the Lord God commanded the man Over whom he had power and authority; and he had a right to command him what he pleased, being his Creator, benefactor, and preserver; and this is to be understood not of man only, but of the woman also, whose creation, though related afterwards, yet was before this grant to eat of all the trees of the garden but one, and the prohibition of the fruit of that; for that she was in being, and present at this time, seems manifest from (Genesis 3:2Genesis 3:3).

saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat : a very generous, large, and liberal allowance this: or "in eating you may eat" ^F25 ; which was giving full power, and leaving them without any doubt and uncertainty about their food; which they might freely take, and freely eat of, wherever they found it, or were inclined to, even of any, and every tree in the garden, excepting one, next forbidden.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F25: (lkat lka) "comedendo comedas", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius.