Bible Strands
Genesis 2:14
The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Genesis 2:14 occurs within the second creation account as the narrator catalogues the waterways flowing from Eden. The passage functions as a geographical report rather than a speech directed to a specific audience.
The words — The term חִדֶּ֔קֶל (Chiddeqel) identifies the Tigris river, while קִדְמַת אַשּׁ֑וּר (qidmat 'Ashshur) literally denotes "the east of Assyria." The participle הַֽ/הֹלֵ֖ךְ (ha.holekh) describes the river's physical course as running along that eastern side.
The thread — The Tigris reappears in Daniel 10:4 as a landmark for the prophet’s vision, while the Euphrates is later named as a territorial boundary in Genesis 15:18. The region of Assyria is also noted in Genesis 10:11 as a location associated with Nimrod’s building activities.
Why it lands — The text anchors the Eden narrative in identifiable ancient geography, naming two major rivers and a specific regional orientation. It asks the reader to accept the historical placement of the creation account without importing external boundaries or theological claims.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
Cross-references
- Daniel 10:4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
- Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
- Genesis 10:11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,
- Genesis 10:22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
- Genesis 25:18 Ishmael’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.
- Deuteronomy 1:7 Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the foothills, in the Negev, and along the seacoast to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great River Euphrates.
- Deuteronomy 11:24 Every place where the sole of your foot treads will be yours. Your territory will extend from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Western Sea.
- Revelation 9:14 saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”