παράδεισος (paradeisos)
paradeisos
paradise
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun paradeisos describes a walled garden or park, originally an Oriental term for the enclosed hunting grounds and pleasure groves of Persian kings. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, it renders Hebrew words for Eden and other royal orchards, evoking images of shaded, well-watered spaces where nature is carefully tended.
In the New Testament, the word shifts from a physical location to a spiritual reality. Jesus uses it in Luke 23:43 to promise the repentant thief that they will be together "in paradise," while Paul speaks of being caught up to it in 2 Corinthians 12:4. Revelation 2:7 also places the tree of life within this realm.
Early Jewish thought often viewed this as the abode of righteous souls before resurrection, a concept that influenced how early Christians understood the intermediate state. The term carries significant theological weight, bridging the lost garden of Genesis with the restored hope of eternity, where believers dwell in God’s presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word paradise originally described the enclosed gardens and hunting parks of ancient Persian kings. It was a place of beauty, safety, and careful cultivation. In the New Testament, this physical image transforms into a spiritual reality. It points to the restored relationship between God and humanity, echoing the peace of Eden but secured through Christ’s work.
Jesus used this term in His final moments on earth. He promised the repentant thief that they would be together in paradise that very day. This assurance shows that death is not an end, but a transition into God’s immediate presence. For believers, it offers comfort that our spirits are safe with Him.
Revelation connects this place to the tree of life, suggesting a future restoration where we dwell fully in God’s presence. While we do not know all the details of this intermediate state, the promise remains clear. You are held by a God who prepares a place for you, offering hope that transcends our current struggles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- paradise1×
- Paradise.1×
- Paradise1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παράδεισον1×
- παραδείσῳ.¶1×
- παραδείσῳ1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 23:43
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Jesus uses this term to provide immediate assurance of fellowship with Him after death, shifting the focus from physical location to relational presence.
-
II Corinthians 12:4
how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Paul describes a mystical experience where paradise serves as the destination for being caught up to God, highlighting its nature as a realm of divine proximity.
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Revelation of John 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
The promise of eating from the tree of life in God’s paradise connects the final victory of believers directly to the restoration of original innocence and eternal life.