Genesis 2:9
in Genesis 2Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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
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.
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This verse in Genesis 2
Commentary
20 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Its prominent position where it must have been an object of daily observation and interest, was admirably fitted to keep man habitually in mind of God and futurity. tree of the knowledge of good and evil--so called because it was a test of obedience by which our first parents were to be tried, whether they would be good or bad, obey God or break His commands.
This site's exposition
the tree of life
Every tree in the garden is good for food, and two of them are named. Only one of the two is put off limits, so the tree of life stands open to Adam through this chapter. Revelation 22:2 has it growing again, with leaves for the healing of the nations.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Now Eden is the land of Paradise. By "of old" Scripture means that He planted it on the third day; it explains this with the words "the Lord caused to sprout from the earth every kind of tree that is beautiful to look upon and …
He is bruised and wounded, but He healeth every disease and every infirmity. He is lifted up and nailed to the Tree, but by the Tree of Life He restoreth us; yea, He saveth even the Robber crucified with Him; yea, He wrapped the visible world in darkness.
But we shall combine spiritual things with spiritual things and read of the tree of life that was planted in Paradise, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree of life was planted in the Garden of Eden and in Eden there rose a river that separated into four branches... Likewise we read in Solomon—if one accepts that book as Solomon's, for he speaks there of wisdom (Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God)—then, as I was saying, where Solomon says: "She is a tree of life to those who grasp her," he is speaking of wisdom. Now, if wisdom is the tree of life, Wisdom itself, indeed, is Christ. You understand now that the man who is blessed and holy is compared to this tree, that is, he is compared to Wisdom. Consequently, you see, too, that the just man, that blessed man who has not followed in the counsel of the wicked—who has not done that but has done this—is like the tree that is planted near running water. He is, in other words, like Christ, inasmuch as He "raised us up together, and seated us together in heaven." You see, then, that we shall reign together with Christ in heaven; you see, too, that because this tree has been planted in the Garden of Eden, we have all been planted there together with Him.
Thirdly, through the two trees which grew in the midst of Paradise, scripture shows that there are two states, one mortal and mutable, and one immortal and immutable.
The Church, setting forth the likeness of paradise, includes within her walls fruit-bearing trees, whereof that which does not bring forth good fruit is cut off and is cast into the fire. These trees she waters with four rivers, that is, with the four Gospels, wherewith, by a celestial inundation, she bestows the grace of saving baptism. Can any one water from the Church's fountains who is not within the Church? Can one impart those wholesome and saving draughts of paradise to any one if he is perverted, and of himself condemned, and banished outside the fountains of paradise, and has dried up and failed with the dryness of an eternal thirst?
13 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
Behold still another form of kindness out of regard for this creature. (109c) You see, since he wanted him to live in the garden, he ordered various trees to come forth from the earth, that could both delight him with their appearance and be pleasing to the taste. "Every tree." it says, "beautiful to behold" that is, in appearance "and good to eat;" in short, they had the ability to please him through their appearance and to provide much pleasure through their taste, and by their great abundance offered considerable good cheer to the one in a position to enjoy them. You see, it says, "Every tree," whatever name you give it, he made come forth. Do you recognize here a life free of any care? Do you see a wonderful existence? Like some an gel, in fact, man lived this way on earth, wearing a body, yet being fortunately rid of any bodily needs; like a king adorned with scepter and crown and wearing his purple robe, (109d) he revelled in this life of freedom and great affluence in the garden. "The tree of life in the middle of the garden," the text goes on to say, "and the tree for knowing good and evil." After teaching us that, according to the Lord's command, the earth produced every tree, lovely to behold and good to taste, it says next: "The tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree for knowing good and evil." The good Lord, you see, knowing as creator the harm that would in due time be likely to arise from this condition of great freedom, brought forth the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and the tree for knowing good and evil, since before long he would be imposing on him abstinence from the tree so that man might realize that he owed enjoyment of them to divine love and goodness, and that God was Lord (110a) and creator of his nature as of all visible things.
There was a tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Paradise. This was so because 'God made to grow a tree pleasant to 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.' [ Gen 2:9 ] We shall see later whether this tree, like the others, was pleasant to sight and good for food. The question will be more fittingly discussed at the point where, on tasting the fruit of this tree, we find that man was deceived.
The Medieval Church8 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 1 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Of this central Person, it is said in Genesis: "The Lord God made to grow out of the ground all kinds of trees pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden."
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 11 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The third mode of generation is by means of propagation, and this in a fourfold way: as of a growth coming from a seed, a tree from a root, a conceived offspring from the belly or womb of the mother, or children from a begetting …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, to the East, and He put there the man He had formed. The Lord God made to grow out of the ground all kinds of trees pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
It is true that in this regard there comes the danger of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so that, after dismissing the tree of life by reason of the sweetness of emotions, the soul may wander around other sciences and go …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 15 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
And so, progressing little by little, Scripture explains how the Antichrist will be, first, most filthy, etc. Hence, next to the tree of life was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: for the latter promised good and rendered evil, wherefore it will …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 17 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
It should be noted that as a fruit delights both sight and taste, it delights the sense of sight mostly by its excellence and beauty, but the sense of taste, by its sweetness and flavor.
And the Lord God brought forth from the soil 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.
The tree of life was also given for continual nourishment, and finally for perfect transformation through perpetual immortality.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), as the heart and soul of it, doubtless God had an eye to that especially in this grant; and therefore when, upon his revolt, this grant is recalled, no notice is taken of any tree of the garden as prohibited to him, except the tree of life ( ch. iii. 22 ), of which it is there said he might have eaten and lived for ever, that is, never died, nor ever lost his happiness.
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And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Every tree that is pleasant to the sight, etc. - If we take up these expressions literally, they may bear the following interpretation: the tree pleasant to the sight may mean every beautiful tree or plant which for shape, color, or fragrance, delights the senses, such as flowering shrubs, etc. And good for food - All fruit-bearing trees, whether of the pulpy fruits, as apples, etc., or of the kernel or nut kind, such as dates, and nuts of different sorts, together with all esculent vegetables.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Before man was created the river watered the garden on all sides.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
19 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּצְמַ֞ח | vaiyatzmach | and he made sprout | H6779 → | 33 times |
| יְהוָ֤ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱלֹהִים֙ | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה | haadamah | the ground | H127 → | 225 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | every | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| עֵ֛ץ | ʾetz | tree | H6086 → | 328 times |
| נֶחְמָ֥ד | nechmad | desirable | H2530 → | |
| לְמַרְאֶ֖ה | lemareh | to appearance | H4758 → | 103 times |
| וְט֣וֹב | vetov | and good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| לְמַאֲכָ֑ל | lemaakhal | for food | H3978 → | 30 times |
| וְעֵ֤ץ | veetz | and [the] tree of | H6086 → | 328 times |
| הַֽחַיִּים֙ | hachaiyim | <the> life | H2416 → | 498 times |
| בְּת֣וֹךְ | betokh | [was] in [the] middle of | H8432 → | 418 times |
| הַגָּ֔ן | hagan | the garden | H1588 → | 42 times |
| וְעֵ֕ץ | veetz | and [the] tree of | H6086 → | 328 times |
| הַדַּ֖עַת | hadaat | the knowledge | H1847 → | |
| ט֥וֹב | tov | good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| וָרָֽע׃ | vara' | and evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
וַיַּצְמַ֞חand he made sprout
vaiyatzmachH6779 →33 times
יְהוָ֤הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱלֹהִים֙God
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔הthe ground
haadamahH127 →225 times
כָּל־every
kol-H3605 →5413 times
עֵ֛ץtree
ʾetzH6086 →328 times
נֶחְמָ֥דdesirable
nechmadH2530 →
לְמַרְאֶ֖הto appearance
lemarehH4758 →103 times
וְט֣וֹבand good
vetovH2896 →538 times
לְמַאֲכָ֑לfor food
lemaakhalH3978 →30 times
וְעֵ֤ץand [the] tree of
veetzH6086 →328 times
הַֽחַיִּים֙<the> life
hachaiyimH2416 →498 times
בְּת֣וֹךְ[was] in [the] middle of
betokhH8432 →418 times
הַגָּ֔ןthe garden
haganH1588 →42 times
וְעֵ֕ץand [the] tree of
veetzH6086 →328 times
הַדַּ֖עַתthe knowledge
hadaatH1847 →
ט֥וֹבgood
tovH2896 →538 times
וָרָֽע׃and evil
vara'H7451 →662 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 2:7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the…
it leads to
- Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone…
- Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
- Matthew 11:15
He who has ears, let him hear.
- Revelation 13:9
He who has an ear, let him hear:
- Matthew 13:43
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
- Revelation 2:17
Through
Revelation 22:2down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month.…
it leads to
- Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
- Revelation 2:7
Through
Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
it leads to
- Daniel 12:3
Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
- Daniel 12:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies39
On this verse
On this chapter
- Adam
- All Scripture Is God-Breathed
- The Numbers of Scripture
- The Covenants
- Creation and Evolution
- Cush in Scripture
Show the next 6 titles
- Diligence
- Divorce: What Jesus Said
- The Edenic Covenant
- The Euphrates
- Eve: The Mother of All Living
- Marriage and the Household
Show the next 6 titles
- The New Jerusalem
- The Words Erek Appayim and Makrothymia
- Sabbath Rest
- Two Traditions, One Song
- Whose Money Is It
- The Body and Sexual Ethics in Scripture
Show the next 6 titles
About Genesis
This page draws on 20 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, On Paradise; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 1; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 11; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 15; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 17; Bonaventure, Breviloquium, Part 2, Chapter 10; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 6; Cyprian, Epistle LXXII.10; Ephrem the Syrian, Commentary (church-history corpus); Gregory of Nazianzus, THEOLOGICAL ORATIONS 29.20; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Homily 1, on Psalm 1; John Chrysostom, Commentary (church-history corpus); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.