Genesis 2:13

Genesis 2:13

And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

a. NLT: The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Cush. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And the name of the second river is Gibon, it is that which is surrounding the whole land of Cush; [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: The second river is named Gihon; it is the one flowing around the whole land of Cush. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Septuagint: And the name of the second river is Geon, this it is which encircles the whole land of Ethiopia.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: The name of the second river is Gihon, the one that encircles the whole land of Cush. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “And the name of the second river is Gihon…”

a. [And the] name [Strong: 8034 shem shame a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

b. [of the] second [Strong: 8145 sheniy shay-nee' from 8138; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again:--again, either (of them), (an-)other, second (time).]

c. river [Strong: 5104 nahar naw-hawr' from 5102; a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity:--flood, river.]

d. [is] Gihon [Strong: 1521 Giychown ghee-khone' or (shortened) Gichown {ghee-khone'}; from 1518; stream; Gichon, a river of Paradise; also a valley (or pool) near Jerusalem:--Gihon.]

2. “...the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.”

a. [the same is] it [Strong: 1931 huw' hoo of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.

b. [that] compasseth [Strong: 5437 cabab saw-bab' a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively (as follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).]

c. [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

d. [the] whole [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

e. land [Strong: 776 'erets eh'-rets from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

f. [of] Ethiopia [Strong: 3568 Kuwsh koosh probably of foreign origin; Cush (or Ethiopia), the name of a son of Ham, and of his territory; also of an Israelite:--Chush, Cush, Ethiopia.]

1). These verses describe the irrigation of the garden and the splitting up of the river into four separate rivers and some of the natural resources in the surrounding area. The geography of the area changed dramatically after the flood so their exact location is unknown, even though there are familiar names in the descriptions.