God’s Word Translation
Genesis 2:9
9The Lord God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.
Genesis 2:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Context of Genesis 2:9
7Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being. 8The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. That’s where he put the man whom he had formed. The Lord God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden. 10A river flowed from Eden to water the garden. Outside the garden it divided into four rivers. 11The name of the first river is Pishon. This is the one that winds throughout Havilah, where there is gold.
Read all of Genesis 2Genesis 2:9 word by word
וַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And outמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
- of the groundאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
- madeצָמַחtsâmach · to springH6779
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- every treeעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
- that is pleasantחָמַדchâmad · to desireH2530
- to the sightמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
- and goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- for foodמַאֲכָלma'ăkâl · foodH3978
- of lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
- also in the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- of the gardenגַּןgan · gardenH1588
- of knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
- of goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
- and evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
Cross-references for Genesis 2:9
- Ezekiel 31:8The cedar trees in God’s garden couldn’t compare to it. The pine trees couldn’t equal its branches. The plane trees couldn’t measure up to its branches. All the trees in God’s garden couldn’t match its beauty.
- Genesis 3:22Then the Lord God said, “The man has become like one of us, since he knows good and evil. He must not reach out and take the fruit from the tree of life and eat. Then he would live forever.”
- Proverbs 3:18⌞Wisdom⌟ is a tree of life for those who take firm hold of it. Those who cling to it are blessed.
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise.
- Ezekiel 47:12All kinds of fruit trees will grow on both sides of the river. Their leaves won’t wither, and they won’t fail to produce fruit. Each month they will produce fresh fruit because this water flows from the holy place. The fruit will be good food, and the leaves will be used for healing.”
- John 6:48“I am the bread of life.
- Revelation 2:7“Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the paradise of God, to everyone who wins the victory.
- Revelation 22:2Between the street of the city and the river there was a tree of life visible from both sides. It produced 12 kinds of fruit. Each month had its own fruit. The leaves of the tree will heal the nations.
- Genesis 2:17But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
- Genesis 3:3except the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You must never eat it or touch it. If you do, you will die!’ ”
- Deuteronomy 6:25This is how we’ll have the Lord’s approval: If we faithfully obey all these laws in the presence of the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.”
- Isaiah 44:25I cause the signs of false prophets to fail and make fools of fortunetellers. I make wise men retreat and turn their knowledge into foolishness.
- Isaiah 47:10You feel safe in your wickedness and say, “No one can see me.” Your wisdom and knowledge have led you astray, so you say to yourself, “I’m the only one, and there’s no one else.”
- 1 Corinthians 8:1Now, concerning food offered to false gods: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up.
Commentaries on Genesis 2:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Every tree that is pleasant to the sight, etc. - If we take up these expressions literally, they may bear the following interpretation: the tree pleasant to the sight may mean every beautiful tree or plant which for shape, color, or fragrance, delights the senses, such as flowering shrubs, etc. And good for food - All fruit-bearing trees, whether of the pulpy fruits, as apples, etc., or of the kernel or nut kind, such as dates, and nuts of different…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. 9Beauty and abundance characterized humanity's original environment (see 13:10). the tree of life: This represented God's presence and care. Eating from it would give everlasting life (3:22), making it a powerful image for later Israelite and Christian thought (Proverbs 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; Revelation 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19). The candlestick in Israel’s tabernacle may have been a stylized representation of the tree of life (Exodus 25:31–35). Eating the fruit…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. tree of life--so called from its symbolic character as a sign and seal of immortal life. Its prominent position where it must have been an object of daily observation and interest, was admirably fitted to keep man habitually in mind of God and futurity. tree of the knowledge of good and evil--so called because it was a test of obedience by which our first parents were to be tried, whether they would be good or bad, obey God or break His commands.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 2:9
In the dictionaries
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
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