What does Genesis 2:8 mean?

After forming the first human being, God planted a garden in a region called Eden. English translations of this verse all include some concept of "east" in describing the location of this garden. The original Hebrew says gan b ē'den mi qe'dem, which most literally means "a garden towards the east, in Eden." It should be pointed out that "Eden," literally speaking, is the territory where the garden is located, not the actual garden itself. From the geography given in the following verses, it seems logical to conclude that Eden was in the region of Mesopotamia. By implication, Genesis' original audience would have been to the west of that area.

The first chapter of Genesis shows God as a provider. In each of the first three days, He fashions an environment suitable for a later creation. On days four, five, and six of the creation week, God places a new creation into each of those prepared places. Here, we see God making provisions for man, planting a garden of trees, and placing the man there. This garden would be man's first home.