Genesis 2:10 kjv

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

Genesis 2:10 nkjv

Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.

Genesis 2:10 niv

A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.

Genesis 2:10 esv

A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.

Genesis 2:10 nlt

A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches.

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 10 Meaning

Genesis 2:10 describes the life-sustaining hydrological system within the Garden of Eden. It specifies that a single river originated from Eden, serving the vital purpose of watering the entire garden. Furthermore, it details how this singular river then divided into four distinct "heads" or main streams upon leaving the garden, suggesting its expansion beyond Eden to nourish a wider geographical area. This verse portrays Eden as the primeval source of life and fertility for the early creation, reflecting God's abundant provision and the inherent order within His design.

Genesis 2 10 Context

Genesis 2:10 is embedded within the second account of creation, specifically focusing on the establishment of the Garden of Eden and the early environment for humanity. Following the creation of Adam and the Lord God planting the garden (Gen 2:8), this verse elaborates on the meticulous divine provision for the garden's sustenance. It underscores God's active involvement in establishing an ideal, life-supporting habitat for His newly created human beings. This pre-Fall context describes a world of perfect harmony and abundant resources, where a single, vital river serves as the hydrological heart, flowing from the very place of delight—Eden—and subsequently branching out to encompass a broader world. The description of this river system serves as a foundational image of blessing, order, and life-giving provision emanating from God's presence.

Genesis 2 10 Word analysis

• וְנָהָר (v'nahar): "And a river." The Hebrew word nahar (נָהָר) signifies a large flowing body of water, akin to a stream or river. The conjunction "and" (וְ) links this detail directly to the preceding narrative of God planting the garden, emphasizing the river as an integral part of God's design and provision for Eden. Its singular form highlights the unique origin.
• יֹצֵא (yotze): "Going out" or "issuing forth." From the verb יָצָא (yatsa), meaning "to go out," "to come forth." This active participle conveys a continuous, dynamic movement. It establishes the direction of flow: from inside Eden outwards. This implies an active source of life.
• מֵעֵדֶן (me'eden): "From Eden." The prefix מֵ (me-) denotes "from" or "out of." "Eden" (עֵדֶן), beyond being a geographical place, carries the connotation of "delight," "pleasure," or "luxury." Thus, the river originates from a place of divine pleasure and perfection, signifying that life and blessing flow directly from God's delightful presence. This term also counters any ancient Near Eastern myths where cosmic rivers arise from primordial chaos, asserting a divinely ordered source.
• לְהַשְׁקוֹת (l'hashkot): "To water" or "for watering." This infinitive verb (from שָׁקָה, shaqah, "to water") expresses the purpose of the river. It's not merely there; its function is clearly defined by God as life-sustaining irrigation for the garden. This highlights God's purposeful creation and provision.
• אֶת־הַגָּן (et-ha'gan): "The garden." "Gan" (גַּן) refers to an enclosed area, often a cultivated garden or park. The definite article "the" (הַ) points to the specific garden mentioned previously (Gen 2:8). The river's primary, immediate purpose is for this sacred space.
• וּמִשָּׁם (u'misham): "And from there." The conjunction "and" connects this new stage. "Misham" (מִשָּׁם) refers back to the "garden," indicating a branching point after fulfilling its initial purpose within Eden. This signals the expansion of life-giving waters beyond the garden's immediate boundaries.
• יִפָּרֵד (yipared): "It parted" or "it divided itself." From the verb פָּרַד (parad), meaning "to separate" or "to divide." This reflexive form emphasizes the river's self-division or internal branching. It's a natural, yet divinely ordained, outcome of its flow. This detail suggests order and design, not haphazard branching.
• וְהָיָה (v'hayah): "And it became" or "and it was." This verb indicates the resultant state or outcome of the division.
• לְאַרְבָּעָה (l'arba'ah): "Into four." "Arba'ah" (אַרְבָּעָה) means "four." The number four can symbolize completion or universality in biblical thought (e.g., four corners of the earth). Here, it denotes a structured, comprehensive distribution.
• רָאשִׁים (ra'shim): "Heads." The literal meaning of ro'sh (רֹאשׁ) is "head," but in this context, it refers to the beginning point or source of a stream, or the main channels/branches into which the river divides. It portrays the divided streams as major, distinct tributaries or feeder rivers, not merely small streams.

Word Group Analysis:

• "A river going out from Eden to water the garden": This phrase highlights Eden as the definitive source of life-giving water for the pristine world. It underscores God's design for abundance and direct provision within creation, emphasizing the Garden as the vital center of this flow. It refutes notions of self-sustaining chaos; instead, order and a clear source are established.
• "And from there it parted and became four heads": This second phrase signifies the spreading of the life and fertility beyond Eden's immediate boundaries. The single source diversifies into multiple streams, implying that God's blessing and provision are not confined to a single spot but are designed to extend widely, impacting the surrounding creation. The precise number "four" further conveys order and completeness in this expansion.

Genesis 2 10 Bonus section

The detailed description of Eden's river system in Genesis 2 stands as an ancient Near Eastern ideal for paradise—a lush, well-watered garden, unlike the often arid lands of the region. This imagery powerfully conveyed God's profound care and generosity. The river and its four branches also anticipate eschatological visions, particularly the "river of the water of life" in Revelation 22, flowing from God's throne in the new Jerusalem, which explicitly mirrors the life-giving essence of Eden's river. This enduring motif signifies that God's ultimate intention for humanity includes access to boundless, spiritual, and physical sustenance, reminiscent of the perfection established at creation and fully restored at the end of days.

Genesis 2 10 Commentary

Genesis 2:10 is a pivotal verse, depicting the core of Eden's life-support system. The single river originating directly from Eden underscores the garden as the purest and most bountiful source of life, echoing God's own character as the ultimate source of all creation. Its purpose "to water the garden" emphasizes God's proactive provision for the lush environment and the thriving of Adam. The subsequent division into "four heads" illustrates a systematic and comprehensive spreading of this life and blessing outward from Eden. This imagery suggests that the vitality, purity, and fruitfulness initiated in God's ideal garden were intended to proliferate and nourish a wider world. This organized hydrological system stands in contrast to chaotic ancient creation myths, highlighting God's order, purpose, and detailed provision for His created realm. It provides an archetype of divine sustenance and the extension of God's blessings from a singular, sacred source.