Genesis 3:24

KJV1611 – Modern English

So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ מִקֶּ֨דֶם לְגַן־עֵ֜דֶן אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֗ים וְאֵ֨ת לַ֤הַט הַחֶ֙רֶב֙ הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת לִשְׁמֹ֕ר אֶת־דֶּ֖רֶךְ עֵ֥ץ הַֽחַיִּֽים׃

Transliteration

And yĕgāreš [direct object marker] the ʾādām; and yaškēn from qedem to gan-ʿēden [direct object marker] the kĕrubîm and [direct object marker] lahaṭ the ḥereb the mithappeket to šĕmōr [direct object marker] derek ʿēṣ the ḥayyîm.

Grammar Details

• *yĕgāreš*: verb, piel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular + waw consecutive - and he drove out
• *ʾādām*: noun, masculine, singular - man/Adam
• *yaškēn*: verb, hiphil imperfect, 3rd masculine singular + waw consecutive - and he stationed/placed
• *qedem*: noun, masculine, singular - east/ancient time
• *gan*: noun, masculine, singular construct - garden of
• *ʿēden*: proper noun - Eden
• *kĕrubîm*: noun, masculine, plural - cherubim
• *lahaṭ*: noun, masculine, singular construct - flame of
• *ḥereb*: noun, feminine, singular - sword
• *mithappeket*: verb, hithpael participle, feminine singular - turning itself/revolving
• *šĕmōr*: verb, qal infinitive construct - to guard/keep
• *derek*: noun, masculine, singular construct - way/path of
• *ʿēṣ*: noun, masculine, singular construct - tree of
• *ḥayyîm*: noun, masculine, plural - life

Word Meanings

• *qedem*: east/eastern side/in front of
• *kĕrubîm*: cherubim/angelic beings
• *mithappeket*: turning/revolving/whirling

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden He placed cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  So he drove out{H1644} the man;{H120} and he placed{H7931} at the east{H6924} of the garden{H1588} of Eden{H5731} the Cherubim,{H3742} and the flame{H3858} of a sword{H2719} which turned every way,{H1870} to keep{H8104} the way{H1870} of the tree{H6086} of life.{H2416}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  So he drove out{H1644}{(H8762)} the man{H120}; and he placed{H7931}{(H8686)} at the east{H6924} of the garden{H1588} of Eden{H5731} Cherubims{H3742}, and a flaming{H3858} sword{H2719} which turned every way{H2015}{(H8693)}, to keep{H8104}{(H8800)} the way{H1870} of the tree{H6086} of life{H2416}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And he cast Ada out and sette at ye enteringe of the garden Eden Cherubin with a naked swerde movinge in and out to kepe the way to the tree of lyfe.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And he cast Adam out. And before the garden of Eden he set Cherubes, and a naked fyrie swerde, to kepe ye waye vnto the tre of life.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thus he cast out man, and at the East side of the garden of Eden he set the Cherubims, and the blade of a sworde shaken, to keepe the way of the tree of life.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And so he droue out man, and at the east side of the garde of Eden he set Cherubins, and a fierie two edged sworde, to kepe the way of the tree of lyfe.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  So he drove out the man; and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  yea, he casteth out the man, and causeth to dwell at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubs and the flame of the sword which is turning itself round to guard the way of the tree of life.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  So he sent the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden he put winged ones and a flaming sword turning every way to keep the way to the tree of life.

• World English Bible (2000)

  So he drove out the man; and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Referenced Verses

• Heb 1:7 : 7 And of the angels He says, Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.
• Ps 104:4 : 4 Who makes His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:
• Exod 25:18-22 : 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; from the mercy seat you shall make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look toward one another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I will give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the testimony, of everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
• 1 Chr 21:16-17 : 16 And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between the earth and the heavens, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17 And David said to God, Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? It is I who have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on your people, that they should be afflicted.
• Heb 10:18-22 : 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh, 21 And having a high priest over the house of God, 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
• Ezek 10:2-9 : 2 And he spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, under the cherub, and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in, in my sight. 3 Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, as the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory. 5 And the sound of the cherubim's wings was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of Almighty God when He speaks. 6 And it happened, that when he commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. 7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took it, and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out. 8 And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man's hand under their wings. 9 And when I looked, behold, the four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the color of a beryl stone. 10 And regarding their appearances, the four had one likeness, as if one wheel was within another wheel. 11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they did not turn as they went, but they followed wherever the head looked; they did not turn as they went. 12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes all around, the wheels that they four had. 13 As for the wheels, it was called to them in my hearing, O wheel. 14 And each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15 And the cherubim were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them: and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. 18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and rose from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels were also beside them, and everyone stood at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubim. 21 Each one had four faces, and each one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they each went straight forward.
• John 14:6 : 6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father except through me.
• Ps 80:1 : 1 Listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth.
• Ps 99:1 : 1 The LORD reigns; let the people tremble: he sits between the cherubim; let the earth be moved.
• Gen 2:8-9 : 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 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 middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
• Exod 25:2 : 2 Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: from every man who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering.
• Num 22:23 : 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
• Josh 5:13 : 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand; and Joshua went to him and said to him, Are you for us or for our adversaries?
• 1 Sam 4:4 : 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
• 1 Kgs 6:25-35 : 25 And the other cherub was ten cubits; both cherubim were of the same measure and size. 26 The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was the other cherub. 27 And he set the cherubim inside the inner house; and they stretched out the wings of the cherubim, so that the wing of one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched each other in the middle of the house. 28 And he overlaid the cherubim with gold. 29 And he carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside. 30 And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, inside and outside. 31 And for the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive wood; the lintel and door posts made up a fifth part of the wall. 32 The two doors were of olive wood, and he carved on them figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread the gold upon the cherubim and upon the palm trees. 33 So also he made for the door of the temple posts of olive wood, a fourth part of the wall. 34 And the two doors were of fir wood; the two leaves of the one door folded, and the two leaves of the other door folded. 35 And he carved on them cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and covered them with gold laid on the carved work.