גַּן
𐤂𐤍
Gan
H1588 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An enclosed plot of land used for cultivation, especially of plants and trees; refers to a garden or walled enclosure intended for growing flowers, fruits, or vegetables. The term can denote both private gardens and larger, often ornamental or functional, enclosed spaces.
Semantic Range
enclosed garden, walled garden, cultivated plot, royal or private garden, paradise (in context of garden of Eden), ornamental enclosure
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root גנן (g-n-n), which means 'to cover, shield, protect'. The substantive גַּן ('gan') designates a place that is protected or enclosed, emphasizing the concept of fencing or shelter around a cultivated area. The lexical meaning centers on 'enclosed garden' rather than a generic plot of land.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, גַּן most notably refers to 'the garden of Eden' (גַּן־עֵדֶן), depicted as a divinely planted and enclosed paradise (Genesis 2–3). Elsewhere it can describe royal gardens (e.g., Song of Songs 4:12; 6:2) or cultivated plots belonging to individuals or rulers (Nehemiah 3:15; Jeremiah 39:4). The emphasis is frequently on the enclosure and deliberate cultivation, distinguishing גַּן from שָׂדֶה (sadeh, 'field'), which is not necessarily enclosed or tended for ornamental purposes. The Greek Septuagint most often renders גַּן as παράδεισος (paradeisos). Later translation traditions sometimes use 'paradise,' which reflects interpretive choices rather than strict lexical meaning. In the post-exilic and later periods, the noun can extend metaphorically to represent places of delight or protected sanctuaries but remains rooted in the concrete image of a cultivated, enclosed space. English 'garden' best captures the term’s lexical range, although biblical gardens were typically large, walled, and status-laden compared to modern domestic gardens.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּנַן; a garden (as fenced); garden.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גנן (g-n-n) — to cover, to shield, to protect, to enclose
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1476 | גּוּנִי | Protected one |
| H1593 | גַּנָּה | his enclosed garden |
| H1594 | גִּנָּה | enclosed garden of |
| H1598 | גָּנַן | shielding |
| H1599 | גִּנְּתוֹן | Encloser |
Word Forms
14 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1588-07 |
הַ/גָּ֔ן | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
the garden | the enclosed garden | 8 |
H1588-09 |
כְּ/גַן | kegan | HR/Ncbsc |
like a garden | like an enclosed garden | 7 |
H1588-03 |
בְּ/גַן | began | HR/Ncbsc |
in the garden | in an enclosed garden | 6 |
H1588-04 |
גַּן | gan | HNcbsa |
the garden | enclosed garden | 6 |
H1588-10 |
לְ/גַן | legan | HR/Ncbsc |
for a garden | to an enclosed garden | 3 |
H1588-01 |
בַּ/גָּ֖ן | bagan | HRd/Ncbsa |
in the garden | in the enclosed garden | 2 |
H1588-12 |
לְ/גַנּ֔/וֹ | legano | HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms |
to his garden | to his enclosed garden | 2 |
H1588-02 |
בַּ/גַּנִּ֔ים | baganim | HRd/Ncbpa |
in the gardens | in the enclosed gardens | 2 |
H1588-13 |
מִ/גַּן | migan | HR/Ncbsc |
from the garden | from an enclosed garden | 1 |
H1588-06 |
גַּנִּ֔ים | ganim | HNcbpa |
of gardens | enclosed gardens | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
42 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1588-04 |
Genesis 2:8 | גַּן | gan | HNcbsa |
a garden | enclosed garden |
H1588-07 |
Genesis 2:9 | הַ/גָּ֔ן | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
the garden | the enclosed garden |
H1588-07 |
Genesis 2:10 | הַ/גָּ֑ן | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
the garden | the enclosed garden |
H1588-14 |
Genesis 2:15 | בְ/גַן | vegan | HR/Ncbsc |
in the garden | in an enclosed garden |
H1588-07 |
Genesis 2:16 | הַ/גָּ֖ן | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
the garden | the enclosed garden |
H1588-07 |
Genesis 3:1 | הַ/גָּֽן | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
of the garden | the enclosed garden |
H1588-07 |
Genesis 3:2 | הַ/גָּ֖ן | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
of the garden | the enclosed garden |
H1588-07 |
Genesis 3:3 | הַ/גָּן֒ | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
the garden | the enclosed garden |
H1588-01 |
Genesis 3:8 | בַּ/גָּ֖ן | bagan | HRd/Ncbsa |
in the garden | in the enclosed garden |
H1588-07 |
Genesis 3:8 | הַ/גָּֽן | hagan | HTd/Ncbsa |
of the garden | the enclosed garden |