Genesis 2:14 kjv

And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

Genesis 2:14 nkjv

The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Genesis 2:14 niv

The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

Genesis 2:14 esv

And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

Genesis 2:14 nlt

The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates.

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 14 Meaning

Genesis 2:14 meticulously continues the description of the Garden of Eden by identifying two more rivers that flowed from the single river that watered the garden. It specifically names the third river as Hiddekel, known in modern times as the Tigris, noting its course east of the region of Ashur or Assyria. The fourth river is explicitly named as the Euphrates. This verse firmly grounds the primordial Eden narrative within a discernible geographical context, locating it in an area known to the original audience and highlighting the tangible reality of God's perfect initial provision for humanity.

Genesis 2 14 Context

Genesis 2:14 is part of the larger creation account, specifically focusing on God's preparation of a special dwelling place, the Garden of Eden, for the first human beings. Verses 10-14 detail a unique hydrological system within the garden: a single river flowed out of Eden and then divided into four headwaters, each subsequently named. This detailed geographic description aims to provide a tangible setting for the early events of human history, situating God's direct creation and interaction with humanity within a real, discernible (though likely geographically altered by subsequent events) earthly landscape. The inclusion of two universally recognizable major rivers of the ancient Near East, the Tigris and Euphrates, contrasts with the more enigmatic Pishon and Gihon, reinforcing the historical reality of the account rather than presenting a mythical or allegorical realm without earthly connections. It sets the stage for humanity's stewardship within God's perfect, provision-rich creation.

Genesis 2 14 Word analysis

• And the name of the third river: This phrase signals a continuation of the detailed inventory of the rivers stemming from Eden, emphasizing an orderly, purposeful account of God's creation. The numbering suggests a comprehensive, descriptive list.
• is Hiddekel: (Hebrew: חִדֶּקֶל, Ḥiddekel). This is the ancient Hebrew name for what is commonly known today as the Tigris River. The name is sometimes interpreted to mean "swift" or "arrow-swift," referring to its rapid current. Its specific mention here anchors the Garden's location in Mesopotamia.
• that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria: This geographical indicator is crucial. "Assyria" (Hebrew: אַשּׁוּר, Ashshûr) refers either to the ancient land or the powerful city of Ashur, located on the Tigris River. Saying the Hiddekel flows "east of Ashur" further pinpoints the river's known course, orienting it relative to a prominent political and geographical entity in the ancient Near East. This directs the reader's attention to Mesopotamia, east of the traditional lands of Canaan. The specification provides precise, albeit ancient, geographic coordinates.
• And the fourth river: This continues the ordered enumeration, ensuring all four branches originating from Eden's main river are identified, completing the description of Eden's water system.
• is Euphrates: (Hebrew: פְּרָת, Pĕrāt). The Euphrates is one of the longest and most significant rivers in Western Asia, central to Mesopotamian civilization. Its name carries deep historical and biblical significance, often serving as a key geographical marker in covenants, national boundaries, and prophetic events. Unlike the first two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates are well-known, indicating that the initial readers would recognize the concrete nature of this described geography.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the name of the third river is Hiddekel... And the fourth river is Euphrates": This precise naming demonstrates God's sovereignty over creation, even down to the detailed naming of geographical features. It provides a real, historical, and knowable context for the Genesis narrative, distinct from purely mythological tales that lack such concrete anchoring. The naming of major, recognizable rivers alongside the more obscure Pishon and Gihon highlights the blend of the familiar with the unique aspects of Eden.
• "east of Assyria": This phrase further situates Eden's outflow within the Tigris-Euphrates river system. To the original Hebrew audience, Assyria was a familiar land, eventually a powerful empire, so specifying a river's flow relative to it provided a precise and tangible direction. It suggests that while Eden was a special garden, its waters fed into the very real, and sometimes turbulent, lands of early human history. This serves as a subtle polemic against myths of creation that describe abstract, unknowable realms; here, God creates in a world that becomes known.

Genesis 2 14 Bonus section

The specific mention of the Tigris and Euphrates, both major arteries of the Fertile Crescent, has fueled centuries of attempts to definitively locate the Garden of Eden. While the exact location remains elusive, primarily because geological changes over millennia and particularly events like the global flood could have drastically altered river courses and landscapes, the mention of these rivers clearly places the account geographically within ancient Mesopotamia. This reinforces the theological point that early human history unfolded in a concrete, physical world, not an imaginary realm. The distinct nature of these two recognizable rivers, contrasted with the less known Pishon and Gihon (perhaps now defunct or renamed), suggests that the narrative deliberately blends elements of divine mystery with known earthly realities to portray Eden's uniqueness yet tangible presence. This grounding also sets the stage for future biblical narratives that constantly interact with and draw from the geographical and political realities defined by these very rivers.

Genesis 2 14 Commentary

Genesis 2:14 solidifies the Garden of Eden's position not as an abstract allegory, but as a real, distinct, and tangible location within early earth history. By explicitly naming the Hiddekel (Tigris) and Euphrates, the biblical account grounds the Eden narrative in the known geography of the Ancient Near East, specifically Mesopotamia. This emphasizes the historical reality of God's interaction with humanity from creation's outset. The precise naming of the rivers underscores the orderly and detailed nature of God's provision in the garden, a perfect environment replete with all that was necessary for human flourishing. The specific geographic details contrast with chaotic origin myths of neighboring cultures, showcasing God's intentional design and sovereign control over creation's intricate systems, even its hydrology. This detailed account invites the reader to consider Eden not as an ethereal concept but as the pristine, abundant origin of human experience before the fall, a place of direct fellowship with the Creator.