Devine Scripture

Genesis 2:9

What does Genesis 2:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 2:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 2:9 means

God stocked the Garden of Eden with a magnificent variety of trees, all "pleasant to the sight, and good for food." This speaks to God's generous provision for both man's physical sustenance and his aesthetic enjoyment. Crucially, two unique trees are highlighted: the "tree of life," signifying God's gift of eternal life through fellowship, and the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil," which would become the test of humanity's obedience and moral freedom. These trees underscore the spiritual and ethical dimensions of God's design.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And out of the earth the Lord made every tree to come, delighting the eye and good for food; and in the middle of the garden, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Jehovah God causeth to sprout from the ground every tree desirable for appearance, and good for food, and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Lord God brought forth of the ground all manner of trees, fair to behold, and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the midst of paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; and the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Context

This verse elaborates on the contents of the Garden described in verse 8, detailing the abundance and the specific, crucial trees God placed within it. It immediately follows the placement of man in the garden, setting the stage for man's commission and the single prohibition. The introduction of the two unique trees is vital for understanding the imminent divine command and the subsequent narrative of humanity's fall.

v.8And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

v.9This passage

v.10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ezekiel 47:12

    And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall the fruit thereof fail: it shall bring forth new fruit every month, because the waters thereof issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for food, and the leaf thereof for healing.

  • Proverbs 11:30

    The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.

  • Genesis 3:3

    but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

  • Genesis 3:22

    And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—

  • Ezekiel 31:8

    The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it; the fir-trees were not like its boughs, and the plane-trees were not as its branches; nor was any tree in the garden of God like unto it in its beauty.

  • Revelation 22:14

    Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

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