Biblical Hebrew: Words RevealedSample

Biblical Hebrew: Words Revealed

The Meaning Behind “Eden”

Why was God’s garden called Eden?

The Garden of Eden was aptly named because it reflects the meaning of the noun עדן (eden). The Garden in Genesis was luxurious, well-watered and extremely fertile. Genesis 2:9 says that every tree in the garden was pleasing to look at and good for food. This garden in Genesis was so renowned for its fertility that it became the epitome of a lush and luxuriant living environment (Isaiah 51:3).

A Delightful Place

The verb עדן (adan) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Neh. 9:25), and means “to delight in” or “to enjoy the good life.” Nehemiah recalls the Israelites delighting in the abundance of vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees of the promised land. As a common noun, עדן (eden) carries nuances of delicacies, pleasures, luxury and delight, as in 2 Samuel 1:24, depicting the daughters of Israel being clothed luxuriously with scarlet.

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