Genesis 2:10

Genesis 2:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
• New International Version (NIV)A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.

Context of Genesis 2:10

8And the Lord God planted a garden (oasis) in the east, in Eden (delight, land of happiness); and He put the man whom He had formed (created) there. 9And [in that garden] the Lord God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil. Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four [branching] rivers. 11The first [river] is named Pishon; it flows around the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12The gold of that land is good; bdellium (a fragrant, valuable resin) and the onyx stone are found there.

Genesis 2:10 word by word

וְנָהָר֙ יֹצֵ֣א מֵעֵ֔דֶן לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת אֶת־הַגָּ֑ן וּמִשָּׁם֙ יִפָּרֵ֔ד וְהָיָ֖ה לְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה רָאשִֽׁים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And a riverנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
• went outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: issueH3318
• of Edenעֵ֫דֶן‛êden · EdenH5731
• to waterשָׁקָהshâqâh · to water: wateringH8248
• the gardenגַּןgan · gardenH1588
• and from thence it was partedפָּרַדpârad · to separateH6504
• and became into fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
• headsרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: firstH7218

Cross-references for Genesis 2:10

• Psalms 46:4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
• Revelation 22:1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ),

Commentaries on Genesis 2:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10A river went out of Eden, etc. - It would astonish an ordinary reader, who should be obliged to consult different commentators and critics on the situation of the terrestrial Paradise, to see the vast variety of opinions by which they are divided. Some place it in the third heaven, others in the fourth; some within the orbit of the moon, others in the moon itself; some in the middle regions of the air, or beyond the earth's attraction; some on the earth…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 - XI. The Garden 8. גן gan “garden, park,” ́ paradeisos “an enclosed piece of ground.” עדן ‛ēden “Eden, delight.” קדם qedem “fore-place, east; foretime.” 11. פישׁון pı̂yshôn Pishon; related: “flow over, spread, leap.” חוילה chăvı̂ylâh Chavilah. חול chôl “sand.” חבל chebel “region.” 12. בדלם bedolam ̓́ anthrax “carbuncle,” (Septuagint) ́ bdellion a gum of eastern countries, Arabia, India, Media (Josephus, etc.). The pearl (Kimchi). שׁהם…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 The place fixed upon for Adam to dwell in, was not a palace, but a garden. The better we take up with plain things, and the less we seek things to gratify pride and luxury, the nearer we approach to innocency. Nature is content with a little, and that which is most natural; grace with less; but lust craves every thing, and is content with nothing. No delights can be satisfying to the soul, but those which God himself has provided and appointed…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10The river that watered the garden was a physical blessing, bringing fertile land for farming. It also represented God's presence (compare Psalm 46:4; Ezekiel 47:1–12; Zechariah 14:8; Revelation 22:1–2). branched into four headwaters: The common understanding is that one river had its source in Eden, flowed down through the garden, and then split into the four rivers named.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 2:10

• Eden
• God

In the dictionaries

• Eden
• Eden, garden of Eden
• Adam
• Alone
• Bdellium
• Bless
• Breathe
• Cleave
• Close
• Deep

Commentaries on Genesis 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings