Genesis 2:9

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And out {H4480} of the ground {H127} made {H6779} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} to grow {H6779} every tree {H6086} that is pleasant {H2530} to the sight {H4758}, and good {H2896} for food {H3978}; the tree {H6086} of life {H2416} also in the midst {H8432} of the garden {H1588}, and the tree {H6086} of knowledge {H1847} of good {H2896} and evil {H7451}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Out of the ground Adonai, God, caused to grow every tree pleasing in appearance 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.

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.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 2:9 meticulously details the LORD God's creative provision and intentional design for humanity within the Garden of Eden. This verse highlights His boundless generosity by causing "every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food" to grow from the ground, while specifically introducing two pivotal trees positioned "in the midst of the garden": the Tree of Life, symbolizing eternal fellowship and sustenance from God, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, representing a crucial moral test of humanity's obedience and trust in divine wisdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 2:9 is situated within the second, more detailed account of creation (Genesis 2:4-25), which shifts focus from the cosmic scope of Genesis 1 to the specific creation of humanity and their pristine dwelling. Following the formation of man from the dust of the ground and the breathing of life into him ([Genesis 2:7](/genesis/2-7 "God forms Adam from dust and breath")), the LORD God plants a special garden in Eden ([Genesis 2:8](/genesis/2-8 "God plants the Garden of Eden")). Verse 9 then elaborates on the garden's contents, emphasizing not only its abundant provision for sustenance and delight but also introducing the two unique trees that will become central to the unfolding narrative of human choice and the fall. This verse sets the stage for the divine command given in [Genesis 2:16-17](/genesis/2-16-17 "God's Command to Adam") and the subsequent temptation and disobedience in [Genesis 3](/genesis/3 "The Fall of Humanity").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near Eastern worldview often depicted gardens as places of divine presence, abundance, and order, contrasting with the surrounding chaos. While not directly paralleling specific myths, the concept of a sacred garden where deities reside and provide for humanity resonates with the cultural understanding of the time. The idea of specific trees having unique properties or being associated with divine knowledge or life was also present in various ancient mythologies, though the biblical account uniquely frames these trees within a monotheistic framework of a sovereign, benevolent God establishing moral boundaries. The "ground" (Hebrew: *ʼădâmâh*) from which the trees grow is also significant, as it is the same source from which Adam (Hebrew: *ʼādām*) was formed, emphasizing a deep connection between humanity and creation, and highlighting God's direct involvement in providing for His creation from the very earth He made.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces and contributes to several foundational themes in Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the theme of **Divine Provision and Generosity**, as God creates a garden overflowing with beauty and sustenance, going beyond mere necessity to include delight. It establishes the theme of **Human Responsibility and Moral Agency**, as the presence of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil presents humanity with a genuine choice, a test of obedience and trust in God's wisdom. This choice is foundational to the concept of the **Covenant** between God and humanity, where blessings are contingent upon obedience. Furthermore, the "Tree of Life" introduces the theme of **Life and Immortality** as a gift from God, access to which is tied to relationship and obedience. The eventual loss of access to this tree due to sin in [Genesis 3:22-24](/genesis/3-22-24 "Expulsion from Eden") highlights the profound consequences of disobedience and foreshadows the need for a means to restore true life.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **pleasant (Hebrew, _châmad'_):** From a primitive root meaning "to delight in." This word describes something desirable, beautiful, or precious. Its use here highlights God's intention to provide for humanity's aesthetic pleasure and enjoyment, not just their basic needs. It also subtly foreshadows the serpent's temptation in [Genesis 3:6](/genesis/3-6 "Eve sees the tree is pleasant"), where the tree is described as "pleasant to the eyes," playing on this inherent human desire for beauty and desirability, but twisting it towards disobedience.
* **life (Hebrew, _chay'_):** From a root meaning "to be alive." This term encompasses not only physical existence but also vitality, flourishing, and well-being. When applied to the "Tree of Life," it signifies unending, vibrant existence and an unhindered, intimate relationship with God, who is the ultimate source of all life. It represents the blessed, eternal fellowship God intended for humanity.
* **knowledge (Hebrew, _daʻath'_):** From the root "to know." This is not merely intellectual awareness but often implies experiential knowledge, understanding, or discernment. In the context of the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil," it refers to the ability to define or determine good and evil for oneself, rather than receiving these definitions from God. This "knowledge" was to be gained through obedience, but was instead sought through disobedience, leading to a painful, experiential understanding of sin and its consequences.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food":** This opening clause emphasizes God's direct, active, and benevolent agency in creation. The phrase "the LORD God" (YHWH Elohim) combines God's personal, covenantal name (YHWH) with His majestic, sovereign title (Elohim), underscoring both His intimate involvement with humanity and His ultimate authority as Creator. The description of the trees as "pleasant to the sight" (aesthetically beautiful) and "good for food" (nutritionally sustaining) reveals God's abundant generosity, providing not just for survival but for delight and flourishing in a perfect, harmonious environment.
* **"the tree of life also in the midst of the garden":** This introduces the first of two unique trees, highlighting its central and accessible position. The "Tree of Life" symbolizes unending, vibrant existence and an unhindered, life-giving relationship with God. Its placement signifies that eternal life and blessed fellowship were readily available to humanity as long as they remained in obedience and communion with their Creator. It is a tangible representation of the divine intention for humanity's perpetual flourishing.
* **"and the tree of knowledge of good and evil":** This introduces the second unique tree, also centrally located, which serves a distinct purpose. This tree represents God's sovereign right to define what is good and what is evil. It was not inherently evil, but the command associated with it ([Genesis 2:17](/genesis/2-17 "God's command to Adam")) established a critical test of trust and obedience. Eating from it would signify humanity's desire to determine moral truth independently of God, leading to a knowledge gained through disobedience and the resultant experience of sin and its devastating consequences, rather than through humble reception of divine revelation.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 2:9 employs several significant literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, as the two trees are not merely botanical specimens but powerful representations of profound theological truths. The Tree of Life symbolizes eternal life, divine sustenance, and unhindered fellowship with God, while the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil symbolizes God's sovereign authority, humanity's moral agency, and the boundary of obedience. The phrase "good and evil" is an example of **Merism**, a literary device where two contrasting parts represent a whole (in this case, the totality of moral discernment). The verse also utilizes **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the pivotal role these trees will play in the subsequent narrative of humanity's fall and the introduction of sin into the world. The careful juxtaposition of the two trees in the "midst of the garden" creates a sense of **Antithesis**, setting up the fundamental choice that humanity must make between life in obedience and a self-determined knowledge leading to death.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 2:9 profoundly shapes our understanding of God's character and humanity's original state. It reveals a God of immense generosity who provides abundantly for His creation's well-being and delight, yet also a God of perfect wisdom who establishes clear boundaries for human flourishing. The presence of the two trees highlights humanity's unique position as moral agents, endowed with the capacity for genuine choice and the responsibility to trust God's word over their own desires. True life and flourishing are presented as being contingent upon humble submission to God's revealed will, while the pursuit of independent knowledge of good and evil leads to alienation and death. This foundational narrative sets the stage for the entire biblical drama of sin, judgment, and redemption.

* [Proverbs 3:18](/proverbs/3-18 "Wisdom as a Tree of Life")
* [Revelation 2:7](/revelation/2-7 "Promise to Eat from the Tree of Life")
* [Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Sin and Death Through Adam")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 2:9 serves as a timeless reminder of the enduring tension between God's boundless provision and His righteous boundaries. For believers today, this narrative underscores the vital importance of trusting God's wisdom and embracing His revealed will as the pathway to true life and flourishing, rather than seeking to define truth and morality independently. In a world that often champions self-determination and the pursuit of knowledge apart from divine revelation, this verse calls us back to a posture of humble dependence. Our choices, like Adam and Eve's, have profound spiritual implications. Do we truly believe that God's way is always "good for food" and "pleasant to the sight" in the deepest sense, even when it involves limitations or commands that challenge our autonomy? Ultimately, true life is found not in self-definition or the accumulation of forbidden knowledge, but in humble submission to the One who is the source of all life and the perfect arbiter of good and evil.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's provision in the Garden of Eden, as described in Genesis 2:9, challenge our modern understanding of what constitutes true "good" and "life"?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to seek "knowledge of good and evil" apart from God's revealed will, rather than trusting His boundaries?**
* **What does the centrality of the Tree of Life in the Garden teach us about God's original intention for humanity's relationship with Him?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of the two unique trees in Genesis 2:9?**

Answer: The Tree of Life symbolizes eternal life and unhindered fellowship with God, representing the divine intention for humanity's perpetual flourishing and vitality. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, conversely, represents God's sovereign right to define moral truth and serves as a test of humanity's obedience and trust. Together, they highlight God's abundant provision for life and His establishment of moral boundaries, presenting humanity with a foundational choice between trust and self-determination.

**Was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil inherently evil?**

Answer: No, the tree itself was not evil. Its significance lay entirely in the divine command associated with it. God placed it in the garden as a test of obedience, not as an evil entity. Eating from it was an act of disobedience, signifying humanity's desire to determine good and evil independently of God, which led to the experience of sin and its devastating consequences, as detailed in [Genesis 3](/genesis/3 "The Fall").

**Why is God referred to as "the LORD God" in this verse?**

Answer: The designation "the LORD God" combines two significant Hebrew names for God: *YHWH* (rendered "LORD" in English, emphasizing God's personal, covenantal relationship with humanity and His faithful presence) and *Elohim* (rendered "God," highlighting His majestic, sovereign power as Creator and supreme deity). This combination underscores both God's intimate involvement in creation and His ultimate authority over all He has made, particularly in His direct dealings with humanity in the Garden of Eden and the establishment of the covenant.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 2:9, with its introduction of the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, profoundly sets the stage for humanity's fall and the subsequent need for redemption. Humanity's disobedience in partaking of the forbidden tree led to expulsion from the Garden and loss of access to the Tree of Life, symbolizing spiritual death and separation from God ([Genesis 3:22-24](/genesis/3-22-24 "Expulsion from Eden")). This narrative implicitly points to Christ as the ultimate fulfillment and solution to the problem introduced by these trees. Jesus, through His perfect obedience to the Father's will—even to the point of death on a tree (the cross)—becomes the true "Tree of Life" ([Revelation 22:2](/revelation/22-2 "The Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem")) for fallen humanity. He restores access to eternal life and unhindered fellowship with God for all who believe, reversing the consequences of Adam's disobedience ([Romans 5:18-19](/romans/5-18-19 "Righteousness Through Christ")). Unlike Adam, who sought knowledge of good and evil apart from God, Jesus perfectly embodies true knowledge, not through independent determination, but through His complete and perfect alignment with the Father's will, thereby offering a path to life that Adam forfeited. He is the ultimate provision, both "pleasant to the sight" and "good for food" for the soul, satisfying our deepest longings and providing true spiritual sustenance ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus is the Bread of Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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:

Revelation 22:14

Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Revelation 2:7

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Ezekiel 47:12

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

Revelation 22:2

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.

Proverbs 11:30

¶ The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.

Proverbs 3:18

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