Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Ronald Hendel on Eden being "the Garden of Plenty"

  

The word ‘ēden derives from the root ‘dn, which means approximately “to be fruitful, abundantly provisioned” (Millard 1984; Greenfield 1984). An Aramaic inscription from (Tell Fekheyre)uses the verb m’dn (in the D-stem) to mean “to make abundant” (equated with Akkadian muttaḥḥhidu). The idea of abundant food and bounty coheres with the use of this root in Hebrew. The Garden of Eden is therefore “The Garden of Plenty,” referring to its lush and abundant vegetation. This is an aspect of its paradisical quality, which corresponds with Yahweh’s presence and care. (Ronald Hendel, Genesis 1-11: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary [AYB 1A; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2024], 163)

 

 Compare the above with:


Ziony Zevit on the Garden of Eden being called "Bountiful"

 

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