Eden was the general location in which the garden was placed, not the garden itself. The term could mean "plain," "delight," or "fertility." The description that follows suggests the idea of fertility.
in the east: The exact location of Eden is unknown. But it was east of Canaan, which later became Israel's home.
God placed the man in the garden to have a relationship with him and to receive his physical blessings (see also 2:15 and study note there).