Genesis 2:8

Genesis 2:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
• New International Version (NIV)Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.

Context of Genesis 2:8

6but a mist (fog, dew, vapor) used to rise from the land and water the entire surface of the ground— 7then the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]. And 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. 10Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four [branching] rivers.

Genesis 2:8 word by word

וַיִּטַּ֞ע יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים גַּן־בְעֵ֖דֶן מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיָּ֣שֶׂם שָׁ֔ם אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָצָֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• plantedנָטַעnâţa‛ · to plantH5193
• a gardenגַּןgan · gardenH1588
• eastwardקֶ֫דֶםqedem qêdmâh · front: eastH6924
• in Edenעֵ֫דֶן‛êden · EdenH5731
• and thereשָׁםshâm · thereH8033
• he putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• the manאָדָם'âdâm · the man (Adam)H120
• whomאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• he had formedיָצַרyâtsar · to form: formedH3335

Cross-references for Genesis 2:8

• Genesis 13:10So Lot looked and saw that the valley of the Jordan was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; [it was all] like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar [at the south end of the Dead Sea].
• Ezekiel 28:13You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and your sockets, Was in you. They were prepared On the day that you were created.
• Ezekiel 31:8The cedars in the garden of God could not hide or rival it; The cypress trees did not have boughs like it, And the plane trees did not have branches like it. No tree in the garden of God was like it in its beauty.
• Joel 2:3Before them a fire devours, And behind them a flame burns; Before them the land is like the Garden of Eden, But behind them a desolate wilderness; And nothing at all escapes them.
• Genesis 3:24So God drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He [permanently] stationed the cherubim and the sword with the flashing blade which turned round and round [in every direction] to protect and guard the way (entrance, access) to the tree of life.
• Genesis 4:16So Cain went away from the [manifested] presence of the Lord, and lived in the land of Nod [wandering in exile], east of Eden.
• 2 Kings 19:12Did the gods of the nations whom my forefathers destroyed rescue them—Gozan and Haran [of Mesopotamia] and Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?
• Ezekiel 27:23Haran and Canneh and Eden [in Mesopotamia], the merchants of Sheba [on the Euphrates], Asshur and Chilmad traded with you.
• Ezekiel 31:16I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, will be comforted in the earth beneath [at Assyria’s downfall].
• Genesis 2:15So the Lord God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.

Commentaries on Genesis 2:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8A garden eastward in Eden - Though the word עדן Eden signifies pleasure or delight, it is certainly the name of a place. See Genesis 4:16; 2 Kings 19:12; Isaiah 37:12; Ezekiel 27:23; Amos 1:5. And such places probably received their name from their fertility, pleasant situation, etc. In this light the Septuagint have viewed it, as they render the passage thus: ̔ , God planted a paradise in Eden. Hence the word paradise has been introduced into the New…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. 8Eden was the general location in which the garden was placed, not the garden itself. The term could mean "plain," "delight," or "fertility." The description that follows suggests the idea of fertility. in the east: The exact location of Eden is unknown. But it was east of Canaan, which later became Israel's home. God placed the man in the garden to have a relationship with him and to receive his physical blessings (see also 2:15 and study note there).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Eden--was probably a very extensive region in Mesopotamia, distinguished for its natural beauty and the richness and variety of its produce. Hence its name, signifying "pleasantness." God planted a garden eastward, an extensive park, a paradise, in which the man was put to be trained under the paternal care of his Maker to piety and usefulness.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 2:8

• Eden
• God

In the dictionaries

• Eden
• God
• Eden, garden of Eden
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Adam
• Alone
• Bdellium
• Bless
• Breathe
• Cleave

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