גַּן (gan)
gan
Garden (of Uzza)
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 33 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew word gan refers to a garden or enclosure, specifically one that is fenced in for protection. Derived from a root meaning to cover or shield, it implies a secure space set apart from the wild outside world. This definition appears clearly in Genesis 2:8, where God plants a garden and places the first humans within its bounds.
While often describing agricultural spaces like vineyards or herb plots (Deuteronomy 11:10), the term carries significant symbolic weight. In Song of Solomon 4:12, it is used metaphorically for a bride, portraying her as a private, protected sanctuary. The most famous instance is the Garden of Eden, described in Genesis 3:24 as a place of divine presence that humans were excluded from after their disobedience.
Translators consistently render gan as "garden," preserving its sense of a cultivated, enclosed area. Whether referring to King Ahaz’s tomb garden (2 Kings 16:18) or the lush imagery in Isaiah 51:3, the word emphasizes order, safety, and intentional design rather than untamed nature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gan describes a space that is carefully enclosed and protected from the wild outside world. It suggests a place of order, safety, and intentional design rather than untamed nature. When you read about God planting a garden in Genesis, you are encountering an image of His desire to provide a secure environment for relationship. This concept extends beyond agriculture to describe places of rest and intimacy, reminding us that God creates spaces where we can find peace.
In the Song of Solomon, this term is used metaphorically to portray a bride as a private sanctuary. This imagery highlights the value of closeness and trust within marriage. For your own life, it invites you to view your heart and relationships as places set apart for love and care. It is a reminder that God cares about the details of your daily life, offering shelter and provision in the midst of a chaotic world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 33 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ garden7×
- in/ [the] garden of4×
- like/ [the] garden of3×
- [the] garden of3×
- to/ garden/ his2×
- of/ [the] garden of2×
- like/ a garden2×
- in the/ gardens2×
- in the/ garden2×
- to/ garden/ my1×
- to/ a garden of1×
- like <the>/ garden1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/גַן\־3×
- כְּ/גַן\־3×
- גַּ֣ן3×
- בְּ/גַן\־3×
- לְ/גַנּ֔/וֹ2×
- כְּ/גַ֣ן2×
- הַ/גָּֽן\׃2×
- הַ/גָּ֖ן2×
- מִ/גַּן\־1×
- לְ/גַנִּ/י֮1×
- כַּ/גַּן֙1×
- כְּ/גַ֥ן1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:8
Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
This verse establishes the garden as the first created home for humanity, setting the stage for the entire biblical narrative of relationship and fall.
-
Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Here the garden becomes a place from which humans are excluded due to sin, marking a shift in the human experience away from direct divine presence.
-
Song of Solomon 4:12
My sister, my bride, is a locked up garden; a locked up spring, a sealed fountain.
The metaphor of a locked garden illustrates the unique intimacy and protected nature of marital love, showing how the word applies to personal relationships.
-
II Kings 21:18
Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his place.
This historical reference to the garden of Uzza demonstrates the term's use for actual royal burial sites, grounding the poetic imagery in real ancient life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word gan mean?
How is gan different from other Hebrew words for field?
Where does this word appear most significantly?
Every Occurrence (33 verses across 10 books)
Genesis 13 verses
Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:9Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the…
Genesis 2:10A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became the source of four rivers.
Genesis 2:15Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.
Genesis 2:16Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;
Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God…
Genesis 3:2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden,
Genesis 3:3but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall…
Genesis 3:8They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves…
Genesis 3:10The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
Genesis 3:23Therefore Yahweh God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.
Genesis 3:24So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned…
Genesis 13:10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh…