Genesis 2:9 Out 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.

◄ Genesis 2:9 ►

New International Version
The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

New Living Translation
The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

English Standard Version
And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Berean Standard Bible
Out 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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

New American Standard Bible
Out of the ground the LORD God caused every tree to grow that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

NASB 1995
Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing 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.

NASB 1977
And out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing 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.

Legacy Standard Bible
And out of the ground Yahweh God caused to grow every tree that is desirable in appearance 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.

Amplified Bible
And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD God filled the garden with all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden. One of these gave life--the other gave the wisdom to know the difference between right and wrong.

English Revised Version
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 the knowledge of good and evil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.

Good News Translation
He made all kinds of beautiful trees grow there and produce good fruit. In the middle of the garden stood the tree that gives life and the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.

International Standard Version
The LORD God caused every tree that is both beautiful and suitable for food to spring up out of the ground. The tree of life was also in the middle of the garden, along with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Majority Standard Bible
Out 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.

NET Bible
The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)

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

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and YHWH God causes 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 the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah God will cause to grow out of the earth every tree pleasant to the sight, and good for food; and the tree of lives in the midst of the garden, and the tree to know good and evil.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And from the soil the Lord God produced every tree that was beautiful to behold and pleasant to eat. And even the tree of life was in the midst of Paradise, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

New American Bible
Out of the ground the LORD God made grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

New Revised Standard Version
Out of the ground the LORD God made 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.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And out of the ground the LORD God made 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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH God made to grow from the Earth every tree that is desirable to see and good to eat, and the tree of life in the middle of Paradise, and the tree of knowledge of the good and of the evil.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 the knowledge of good and evil.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God made to spring up also out of the earth every tree beautiful to the eye and good for food, and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of learning the knowledge of good and evil.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Man and Woman in the Garden
…8And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed. 9Out 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. 10Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it branched into four headwaters:…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Revelation 22:2
down 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. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

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 Paradise of God.

Ezekiel 47:12
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.

Revelation 22:19
And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.

John 6:48-51
I am the bread of life. / Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. / This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. ...

Matthew 7:17-19
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. / Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Romans 5:12-19
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. / For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. / Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come. ...

1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam a life-giving spirit.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 61:3
to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Ezekiel 31:8-9
The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it; the cypresses could not compare with its branches, nor the plane trees match its boughs. No tree in the garden of God could compare with its beauty. / I made it beautiful with its many branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden, which were in the garden of God.’

Treasury of Scripture

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 middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

every.

Ezekiel 31:8,9,16,18
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty…

tree of life.

Genesis 3:22
And the LORD 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:

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

tree of knowledge.

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:3,22
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…

Deuteronomy 6:25
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Jump to Previous

Evil Food Garden Good Ground Grow Life Middle Midst Pleasant Sight Tree

Jump to Next

Evil Food Garden Good Ground Grow Life Middle Midst Pleasant Sight Tree

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.

Berean Study Bible

And out of the ground
The phrase "out of the ground" emphasizes the divine act of creation, where God forms life from the earth itself. The Hebrew word for "ground" is "adamah," which is closely related to "Adam," the first man. This connection highlights humanity's intrinsic link to the earth, underscoring the biblical theme of stewardship and responsibility for creation. The ground is not just a physical substance but a divine medium through which God brings forth life, reflecting His power and creativity.

the LORD God
The use of "LORD God" combines the personal name of God, "Yahweh," with "Elohim," a term that denotes majesty and power. This duality presents God as both a personal, covenant-keeping deity and the sovereign Creator of the universe. It is a reminder of His intimate involvement in creation and His authority over it. The conservative Christian perspective sees this as a testament to God's unchanging nature and His relational aspect with humanity.

made to grow
The phrase "made to grow" indicates God's active role in sustaining creation. The Hebrew verb "tsamach" suggests not just the initial act of creation but an ongoing process of growth and life. This reflects the biblical view that God is not a distant creator but one who continually nurtures and sustains His creation. It is an encouragement to trust in God's provision and care in all aspects of life.

every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food
This phrase highlights the abundance and beauty of God's creation. The trees are described as "pleasing to the eye," indicating that God values beauty and aesthetics. The phrase "good for food" underscores God's provision for human needs. The Hebrew word "tov," meaning "good," is used here, echoing the repeated declaration of creation's goodness in Genesis 1. This dual emphasis on beauty and sustenance reflects God's holistic care for humanity, providing both physical nourishment and aesthetic pleasure.

In the middle of the garden
The location "in the middle of the garden" signifies the central importance of what follows. The garden, likely Eden, is a place of divine presence and blessing. Its central feature underscores the significance of the trees mentioned, particularly in the narrative of human choice and divine command. This centrality invites reflection on the priorities and focus of one's life, encouraging a God-centered existence.

were the tree of life
The "tree of life" symbolizes eternal life and divine blessing. In the broader biblical narrative, it represents the life-giving presence of God. The tree is a recurring motif in Scripture, appearing in Revelation as a symbol of eternal life in the new creation. Its presence in Eden signifies the potential for unending life and communion with God, contingent upon obedience and relationship with Him.

and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
This tree represents the moral and ethical boundaries set by God. The knowledge of "good and evil" implies a discernment that belongs to God alone. The Hebrew word "da'at" (knowledge) suggests experiential understanding, not just intellectual awareness. This tree serves as a test of obedience and trust in God's wisdom. It highlights the theme of free will and the consequences of human choices, a foundational concept in Christian theology regarding sin and redemption.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food.--It has often been noticed that while the ancients do not seem to have had much taste for the beauty of the landscape, they greatly admired large and umbrageous trees. This feeling seems like a reminiscence of the joy of our first parents when they found themselves in a happy garden, surrounded by trees, the beauty of which is even more commended than the fact placed second, that they supplied wholesome and nutritious food. Two trees in the centre of the garden had marvellous qualities; for "the tree of life" ad the power of so renewing man's physical energies that his body, though formed of the dust of the ground, and therefore naturally mortal, would, by its continual use, live on for ever. The other, "the tree of knowledge of good and evil," must have acquired this name after the fall. As long as Adam and Eve were in their original innocence they had no knowledge of evil, nor could any mere mental development bestow it upon them. They must either feel it in themselves, or see it in others, before they could know it. We conclude, then, that this was the tree to which God's command, that they should not eat of it (comp. Genesis 3:3), was attached; and only by the breach of that command would man attain to this higher knowledge, with all the solemn responsibilities attached to it. Besides this each tree had a symbolic meaning, and especially the tree of life (Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2). The Chaldean legends have preserved the memory of this latter tree, and depict it as the Asclepias acida, whence the soma juice is prepared.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - And out of the ground made the Lord God (Jehovah Elohim) to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight - literally, lovely to see; i.e. beautiful in form and color - and good for food. In the preparation of man's pristine abode respect was had to ornamentation as well as utility. Every species of vegetation that could minister to his corporeal necessities was provided. Flowers, trees, and shrubs regaled his senses with their fragrance, pleased his eye with their exquisite forms and enchanting colors, and gratified his palate with their luscious fruits. Hence the garden of the Lord became the highest ideal of earthly excellence (Isaiah 51:3). In particular it was distinguished by the presence of two trees, which occupied a central position among its multifarious productions. The tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. That these were not two separate trees, but only one tree distinguished by different names, has been maintained, though with no weightier reason than the statement of Eve in Genesis 3:3. The opinion of Witsius, Luther, Kennicott, and Hengstenberg, that classes of trees, and not individual trees, are meant by the phrases "tree of life" and "tree of knowledge," is precluded by the language of Jehovah Elohim in Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:24. As regards their significance, consistency requires that they should both be explained on the same principle. This, accordingly, disposes of the idea that the tree of life (literally, the tree of the lives: cf. ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς, Revelation 2:7; 20:19) is simply a Hebraism for a living tree, as by no sort of ingenuity can the tree of knowledge be transformed into a knowing tree. It likewise militates against the notion that the two trees were styled from the peculiar effects of their fruits, the one conferring physical immortality on Adam's body (Scotus, Aquinas, Fairbairn, Kalisch, Luther), and the other imparting moral and intellectual intuitions to his soul (Josephus, Kalisch). But even if the life-giving properties of the one tree could be demonstrated from Genesis 3:24, proof would still be required with regard to the other, that the mere physical processes of manducation and digestion could be followed by results so immaterial as those of "rousing the slumbering intellect, teaching reason to reflect, and enabling the judgment to distinguish between moral good and moral evil" (Kalisch). Besides, if this was the immediate effect of eating the forbidden fruit, it is difficult to perceive either why it should have been prohibited to our first parents at all, it being "for their good to have their wits sharpened" (Willet); or in what respect they suffered loss through listening to the tempter, and did not rather gain (Rabbi Moses); or wherein, being destitute of both intellectual and moral discernment, they could be regarded as either guilty of transgression or responsible for obedience. Incapacity to know good and evil may be a characteristic of unconscious childhood and unreflecting youth (Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 7:15; Jonah 4:11), or of debilitated age (2 Samuel 19:36), but is not conceivable in the case of one who was created in God's image, invested with world-dominion, and himself constituted the subject of moral government. Unless, therefore, with ancient Gnostics and modern Hegelians, we view the entire story of the probation as an allegorical representation of the necessary intellectual and ethical development of human nature, we must believe that Adam was acquainted with the idea of moral distinctions from the first. Hence the conclusion seems to force itself upon our minds that the first man was possessed of both immortality and knowledge irrespective altogether of the trees, and that the tree character which belonged to these trees was symbolical or sacramental, suggestive of the conditions under which he was placed in Eden. "Arbori autem vitae nomen indidit, non quod vitam homini conferrer, qua jam ante praeditus erat; sod ut symbolum ac memoriale esset vitae divinitus acceptae" (Calvin). For a further exposition of the exact significance of these trees see below on vers. 16,17.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Out
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

of the ground
הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

the LORD
יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

gave growth
וַיַּצְמַ֞ח (way·yaṣ·maḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6779: To sprout, spring up

to every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

tree
עֵ֛ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

that is pleasing
נֶחְמָ֥ד (neḥ·māḏ)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2530: To desire, take pleasure in

to the eye
לְמַרְאֶ֖ה (lə·mar·’eh)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision

and good
וְט֣וֹב (wə·ṭō·wḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

for food.
לְמַאֲכָ֑ל (lə·ma·’ă·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3978: An eatable

And in the middle
בְּת֣וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

of the garden
הַגָּ֔ן (hag·gān)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1588: An enclosure, garden

[were] the tree
וְעֵ֤ץ (wə·‘êṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

of life
הַֽחַיִּים֙ (ha·ḥay·yîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

and the tree
וְעֵ֕ץ (wə·‘êṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

of the knowledge
הַדַּ֖עַת (had·da·‘aṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1847: Knowledge

of good
ט֥וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

and evil.
וָרָֽע׃ (wā·rā‘)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

Links

Genesis 2:9 NIV
Genesis 2:9 NLT
Genesis 2:9 ESV
Genesis 2:9 NASB
Genesis 2:9 KJV

Genesis 2:9 BibleApps.com
Genesis 2:9 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 2:9 Chinese Bible
Genesis 2:9 French Bible
Genesis 2:9 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 2:9 Out of the ground Yahweh God made (Gen. Ge Gn)