גִּנָּה (gin.nah)
gin.nah
garden
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ginneh, a variant spelling of gan, simply means garden or orchard. It appears in only four verses of Scripture, primarily within the poetic landscapes of Song of Solomon and the narrative setting of Esther. Unlike its more common counterpart, which often evokes the Garden of Eden as a place of divine presence, this specific form grounds the reader in tangible, earthly beauty.
In Song of Solomon 4:13, it describes the lush foliage of a lover’s garden, emphasizing fertility and sensory delight. Similarly, Esther 7:7 places Queen Esther within a royal garden, using the setting to heighten the tension of her plea before King Ahasuerus. The word serves as a concrete backdrop for human intimacy and political drama alike.
Its limited usage suggests it functions less as a theological symbol and more as a descriptive term for cultivated land. Translators consistently render it as "garden," preserving the sense of an enclosed, tended space where growth occurs under care. This lexical choice keeps the focus on the physical reality of the scene rather than abstract spiritual metaphors.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ginneh brings us back to the earth. It describes a garden as a real, cultivated place where things grow under care. Unlike abstract spiritual symbols, this term grounds us in tangible beauty and the simple joy of watching life flourish. It reminds us that God often works through the physical world we inhabit.
In the Song of Solomon, this garden reflects human intimacy and delight. In Esther, it becomes a stage for high-stakes drama. Both uses show that our daily surroundings matter. They are not just backdrops but places where connection, tension, and grace can unfold.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] garden of2×
- from/ [the] garden of1×
- a garden of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/גִּנַּ֨ת1×
- גִּנַּ֥ת1×
- גִּנַּ֤ת1×
- גִּנַּ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 7:7
The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
This verse places the king in the garden during a moment of wrath, using the setting to heighten the tension before Haman's downfall.
-
Song of Solomon 6:11
I went down into the nut tree grove, to see the green plants of the valley, to see whether the vine budded, and the pomegranates were in flower.
The speaker moves through this cultivated space to observe nature's growth, highlighting the sensory delight of the garden.
-
Esther 1:5
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
Here the garden court hosts a grand feast, showing how these enclosed spaces served as centers for royal community and celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ginneh mean in the Bible?
How is ginneh different from gan?
Why does this word matter for my faith?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 2 books)
Esther 3 verses
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace,…
Esther 7:7The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request…
Esther 7:8Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the…