The Meaning of Genesis 2:8 Explained

Genesis 2:8

KJV: And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

YLT: And Jehovah God planteth a garden in Eden, at the east, and He setteth there the man whom He hath formed;

Darby: And Jehovah Elohim planted a garden in Eden eastward, and there put Man whom he had formed.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  God  planted  a garden  eastward  in Eden;  and there  he put  the man  whom  he had formed. 

What does Genesis 2:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 2:1-17 - Man In Eden, Innocence
The first paragraph belongs to the previous chapter, as is clear from the use of the same term for God-Elohim. God's Rest was not from weariness, or exhaustion, but because His work of Creation was finished. He is ever at work, remember John 5:17. We enter into His rest, when we cease to worry, and trust Him in all and for all. In Genesis 2:4, Moses incorporates another of those wonderful God-given narratives, which had been handed down from the lips of the patriarchs. It is marked by the use of another term for God-Jehovah Elohim. Every man is entrusted with a garden, that he may keep it. God's goodness is no excuse for idleness. Whether your heart and life shall produce weeds, or flowers and fruits, depends on yourself. Ponder Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 24:30-31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 2

1  The first Sabbath
4  Further details concerning the manner of creation
8  The planting of the garden of Eden, and its situation;
15  man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge forbidden
18  The animals are named by Adam
21  The making of woman, and the institution of marriage

What do the individual words in Genesis 2:8 mean?

And planted Yahweh God a garden in Eden in the east and He put there - the man whom He had formed
וַיִּטַּ֞ע יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים גַּן־ בְעֵ֖דֶן מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיָּ֣שֶׂם שָׁ֔ם אֶת־ הָֽאָדָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָצָֽר

וַיִּטַּ֞ע  And  planted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטַע  
Sense: to plant, fasten, fix, establish.
יְהוָ֧ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהִ֛ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
גַּן־  a  garden 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: גַּן 
Sense: garden, enclosure.
בְעֵ֖דֶן  in  Eden 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדֶן 
Sense: the first habitat of man after the creation; site unknown.
מִקֶּ֑דֶם  in  the  east 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶדֶם 
Sense: east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime.
וַיָּ֣שֶׂם  and  He  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָֽאָדָ֖ם  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יָצָֽר  He  had  formed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.