Genesis 2:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

NIV: Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

NASB: The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

CSB: The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he placed the man he had formed.

NLT: Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.

KJV: And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

NKJV: The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.

After forming the first human being, God planted a garden in a region called Eden. English translations of this verse all include some concept of "east" in describing the location of this garden. The original Hebrew says gan b ē'den mi qe'dem, which most literally means "a garden towards the east, in Eden." It should be pointed out that "Eden," literally speaking, is the territory where the garden is located, not the actual garden itself. From the geography given in the following verses, it seems logical to conclude that Eden was in the region of Mesopotamia. By implication, Genesis' original audience would have been to the west of that area.

The first chapter of Genesis shows God as a provider. In each of the first three days, He fashions an environment suitable for a later creation. On days four, five, and six of the creation week, God places a new creation into each of those prepared places. Here, we see God making provisions for man, planting a garden of trees, and placing the man there. This garden would be man's first home.

Genesis 2:4–9 begins to describe additional details about the creation of human beings, starting with the creation of the first man. Man is ''formed'' out of existing matter—the dust or debris of the earth—into which God breathes life. God plants the garden in Eden, and places the newly-created man there. Among the many trees in the garden are two of special significance: the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Genesis 2 begins with a description of the seventh day of creation, in which God rested from His work. Then it returns to the sixth day and describes in more detail the creation of man, the garden God placed him into, and the work God gave him to do. God recognizes that it is not good for man to be alone and makes a helper for him out of his own rib. This woman becomes Adam's companion and wife, setting the original example of God's design for marriage. The two exist in pure innocence, naked yet unashamed before sin enters into the world.

Genesis 2 concludes the description of God's week of creation and then zooms in on the creation of man, his work, his perfect environment, and the creation of woman as his helper and wife. It is our last glimpse of the world before it is ravaged by human sin and death with the disobedience of Adam and Eve in chapter 3. Where chapter 1 gave a full overview of creation, this chapter focuses more on a few specific events. These are crucial to understanding the fall of man.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/3/2024 4:10:00 AM