And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
What does Genesis 2:10 mean?
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.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Genesis 2:8-10 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 2:10
Here is a river the source of which is in Eden. It passes into the garden and waters it. "And thence it was parted and became four heads." This statement means either that the single stream was divided into four branches, or that there was a division of the river system of the district into four principal streams, whose sources were all to be found in it, though one only passed through the garden. In the latter case the word nahar may be understood in its primary sense of a flowing of water in general. This flowing in all the parts of Eden resulted in four particular flowings or streams, which do not require to have been ever united.
Key words
- river
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And a river went out of Eden to water the garden,.
- water
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And a river went out of Eden to water the garden,.
- garden
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And a river went out of Eden to water the garden,.
Context in Genesis 2
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Genesis 2 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as primeval history from creation to Babel. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.
Passages on lowliness, modesty, the contrast between pride and humility, and the way God exalts those who humble themselves.
Glossary
- Eden Place
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Biblical garden. Modern identification: Armenia.