The river that watered the garden was a physical blessing, bringing fertile land for farming. It also represented God's presence (compare Psalm 46:4; Ezekiel 47:1–12; Zechariah 14:8; Revelation 22:1–2).
branched into four headwaters: The common understanding is that one river had its source in Eden, flowed down through the garden, and then split into the four rivers named.