Genesis 2:13 kjv
And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
Genesis 2:13 nkjv
The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush.
Genesis 2:13 niv
The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.
Genesis 2:13 esv
The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush.
Genesis 2:13 nlt
The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush.
Genesis 2 13 Cross References
(table)| Verse | Text | Reference || :---------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- || Gen 2:10 | A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden... | Eden as source of waters. || Gen 2:11 | The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that surrounds... Havilah. | First river from Eden. || Gen 2:14 | The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. | The two other famous rivers. || 1 Kgs 1:33 | King David also said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule and bring him down to Gihon." | Jerusalem's Gihon Spring. || 1 Kgs 1:38 | So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. | Coronation at Gihon Spring. || 2 Chr 32:30 | This same Hezekiah stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David. | Hezekiah diverting Gihon waters. || Isa 8:6 | "Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah..." | Symbolic reference to a spring (near Gihon). || Ps 36:8-9 | You give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. | God as the ultimate source of life. || Isa 11:11 | In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush... | Prophetic reference to geographical Cush. || Jer 13:23 | Can the Cushite change his skin or the leopard his spots? | Reference to the immutable nature of Cushites. || Ezek 29:10 | "...I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a desolate waste from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Cush." | Geographical extent of Cush. || Zeph 3:10 | From beyond the rivers of Cush my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering. | Cush as a distant place from where people come. || Psa 68:31 | Princes shall come out of Egypt; Cush shall quickly stretch out her hands to God. | Nations, including Cush, turning to God. || Gen 13:10 | And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you go toward Zoar. | Comparing fertile land to the Garden of Eden. || Ezek 47:1 | Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east... | Vision of life-giving water from God's presence. || Zech 14:8 | On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. | Waters of life flowing from God's city. || Joel 3:18 | "And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim." | Abundance and divine provision. || Rev 22:1 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. | Ultimate river of life in New Jerusalem. || Ps 104:10 | You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills. | God's provision of water in creation. || Num 24:6 | Like valleys that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedars beside waters. | Image of luxuriant, well-watered growth. || Isa 58:11 | And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. | Promise of abundant provision. |
Genesis 2 verses
Genesis 2 13 Meaning
(p)Genesis 2:13 specifies the second river flowing out of the Garden of Eden as the Gihon, which is described as encompassing the entire land of Cush. This verse continues the topographical description of Eden, emphasizing its geographical reality as the source of life-sustaining waters that spread across distinct regions, establishing the profound and life-giving influence originating from God's created sanctuary.
Genesis 2 13 Context
(p)Genesis 2:13 is part of a larger literary unit (Gen 2:10-14) that details the four rivers flowing from the Garden of Eden. This passage follows the creation of man and the placing of Adam in the Garden (Gen 2:7-8) and serves to ground the paradisiacal setting within a specific, though now debated, geography. For the original audience, this detailed description emphasized the Garden's reality, fertility, and central role as the origin point of blessing and sustenance for the surrounding regions, highlighting God's providential care in establishing the created order. This passage distinguishes the biblical creation narrative from less geographically anchored ancient Near Eastern myths, offering a concrete sense of place.
Genesis 2 13 Word analysis
- (ul) The name: (Heb. shēm). In ancient Hebrew thought, a name was not merely an identifier but encapsulated the character, essence, and reputation of what it designated. Naming a river bestowed importance and reality upon it, rooting the account in concrete details.
- (ul) of the second river: Connects directly to the previous verse (Gen 2:11) about the first river, Pishon. This enumeration structures the narrative, establishing the Edenic river as a primary source that diverges into multiple branches, implying a comprehensive watering system for the nascent world.
- (ul) is Gihon: (Heb. Ha-Gihon, הַגִּיחֽוֹן). Derived from a root meaning "to burst forth," "gush out." This name aptly describes a powerful, flowing water source. While a famous Gihon Spring is located in Jerusalem (e.g., 1 Kgs 1:33), the Gihon of Eden's description (winding around Cush) indicates a much larger, primeval river whose precise identification is lost to history. Scholars debate its original location, but the name conveys its strong flow.
- (ul) it winds through: (Heb. sovev, סוֹבֵ֣ב). This verb suggests encompassing, surrounding, or flowing in a circuitous manner. It highlights the extensive reach of the river, covering a vast geographical area. The winding course implies its substantial length and impact on the land it traverses.
- (ul) the entire land: (Heb. kol-eretz, כָּל־אֶרֶץ). "Kol" means "all" or "entire," emphasizing the comprehensive reach of the Gihon within the designated region. This underscores the fertility and life-giving power derived from Eden, touching all parts of the specified land.
- (ul) of Cush: (Heb. Kush, כּוּשׁ). This term presents a significant interpretive challenge. Traditionally, Cush is identified with ancient Nubia/Ethiopia, south of Egypt, implying a vast reach of the Edenic rivers. However, some scholars suggest an older, Mesopotamian "Kish" or Kassite region of Sumeria, given the proximity of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This ambiguity suggests either an Eden of immense, transcontinental influence or a primeval geography distinct from later conventional maps, or perhaps a polemical point about God's domain over even distant, powerful nations. The biblical author is pointing to a known geographical area to his audience, grounding the sacred narrative in understandable, even if distant, terms.
(ul)
- "The name...Gihon": This phrase immediately attributes an identity and character to the second river, signaling its distinct nature and the author's intention to provide specific geographical details of Eden, contrasting with mythical or vague origins.
- "it winds through the entire land of Cush": This group of words describes the extensive reach and influence of the Gihon river, watering and defining the territory of Cush. This indicates that the blessings emanating from Eden, symbolized by these rivers, extended far beyond the immediate garden, highlighting its central importance for global fertility and life from God's creation.
Genesis 2 13 Bonus section
(p)The geographical specificity in Genesis 2, despite its enigmatic nature today, underscores the Bible's historical rootedness, implying that these events occurred in real space and time, not in a mythical, unlocated realm. The detailed naming of four rivers from a single source suggests a singular, universal origin for all life and bounty, directly attributable to the one true God, countering polytheistic notions of multiple divine forces governing nature. The recurring theme of water as a source of life and blessing, starting with Eden's rivers, flows throughout Scripture, culminating in the river of life from the throne of God in the new heavens and new earth (Rev 22), thereby connecting the initial creation with the eschatological renewal. The mystery surrounding the exact location of Gihon and Cush in Genesis 2 encourages a focus on the theological significance of Eden as God's dwelling and the source of His overflowing goodness, rather than just on precise cartographic details.
Genesis 2 13 Commentary
(p)Genesis 2:13 provides the second detail in the geographical survey of the Garden of Eden's unique hydrography. The description of the Gihon river "gushing forth" and winding through "the land of Cush" reinforces the idea of Eden as the primordial fount of life for the earth. The explicit naming of places—even if their precise modern identification remains a matter of scholarly debate—lends a tangible reality to the biblical creation account, setting it apart from purely mythological narratives of the ancient world. The function of these rivers is not merely to water the garden, but to spread life-giving waters outwards, suggesting Eden's purpose was to be a wellspring of blessing for the world. This prefigures the concept of the Kingdom of God and God's blessings expanding from a specific divine source. The mention of "Cush" alludes to a distant, perhaps even exotic, land to the original audience, emphasizing the wide reach of God's initial benevolent design.