Genesis 2:8

2:8 The Lord God planted an orchard ¹  in the east, ²  in Eden; ³  and there he placed the man he had formed. ⁴ 

Genesis 11:2

11:2 When the people ⁵  moved eastward, ⁶  they found a plain in Shinar ⁷  and settled there.

Genesis 12:8

12:8 Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel ⁸  and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped the Lord. ⁹ 

Genesis 3:24

3:24 When he drove ¹⁰  the man out, he placed on the eastern side ¹¹  of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries ¹²  who used the flame of a whirling sword ¹³  to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 13:11

13:11 Lot chose for himself the whole region of the Jordan and traveled ¹⁴  toward the east.

So the relatives separated from each other. ¹⁵ 

[2:8]  ¹ tn Traditionally “garden,” but the subsequent description of this “garden” makes it clear that it is an orchard of fruit trees.

[2:8]  ² tn Heb “from the east” or “off east.”

[2:8]  ³ sn The name Eden (עֵדֶן, ’eden) means “pleasure” in Hebrew.

[2:8]  ⁴ tn The perfect verbal form here requires the past perfect translation since it describes an event that preceded the event described in the main clause.

[11:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[11:2]  ⁶ tn Or perhaps “from the east” (NRSV) or “in the east.”

[11:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “in the land of Shinar.”

[12:8]  ⁹ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[12:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “he called in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 13:4; 21:33; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:116, 281.

[3:24]  ¹³ tn The verb with the vav (ו) consecutive is made subordinate to the next verb forming a temporal clause. This avoids any tautology with the previous verse that already stated that the Lord expelled the man.

[3:24]  ¹⁴ tn Or “placed in front.” Directions in ancient Israel were given in relation to the east rather than the north.

[3:24]  ¹⁵ tn The Hebrew word is traditionally transliterated “the cherubim.”

[3:24]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “the flame of the sword that turns round and round.” The noun “flame” is qualified by the genitive of specification, “the sword,” which in turn is modified by the attributive participle “whirling.” The Hitpael of the verb “turn” has an iterative function here, indicating repeated action. The form is used in Job 37:12 of swirling clouds and in Judg 7:13 of a tumbling roll of bread. Verse 24 depicts the sword as moving from side to side to prevent anyone from passing or as whirling around, ready to cut to shreds anyone who tries to pass.

[13:11]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “Lot traveled.” The proper name has not been repeated in the translation at this point for stylistic reasons.

[13:11]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “a man from upon his brother.”