### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun κῆπος (kēpos), Strong's `{{G2779}}`, denotes a "garden," "orchard," or "cultivated plot of ground." Its base definition is straightforward, referring to an enclosed area for the cultivation of plants, vegetables, or fruits. While its etymological affinity is noted as uncertain, its semantic range is clear and consistent across ancient Greek literature. It signifies a place of human cultivation and order, often implying a sense of privacy, beauty, or specific agricultural purpose. Unlike wild, untamed land, a κῆπος is a designed and maintained space, reflecting human effort and intention.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term κῆπος (kēpos) appears exclusively in the Gospel of John within the New Testament, occurring three times. Each instance is deeply embedded in the Passion narrative, carrying significant contextual weight.
1. **[[John 18:1]]**: "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples." This verse introduces the setting for Jesus' agony, prayer, and subsequent betrayal. Though not explicitly named Gethsemane by John, the geographical indicator "over the brook Cedron" strongly identifies it with the traditional location of Gethsemane, an olive grove. Here, the garden becomes the crucible of Christ's spiritual struggle, a place of profound surrender to the Father's will, and tragically, the scene of His arrest.
2. **[[John 18:26]]**: "One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?" This second mention reinforces the location of the arrest and betrayal, serving as a point of identification and accusation against Peter. The garden is confirmed as the specific site of these pivotal events.
3. **[[John 19:41]]**: "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid." This final occurrence places Jesus' burial within a garden setting, near Golgotha. The presence of a "new sepulchre" within this garden is crucial. It signifies a place of life and growth (the garden) becoming the site of death and burial, yet paradoxically, the prelude to resurrection. This juxtaposition is highly symbolic.
In all occurrences, κῆπος functions as a specific, identifiable locale, integral to the unfolding drama of Christ's passion, from His arrest to His burial.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of a "garden" is pervasive throughout biblical literature, often carrying rich theological implications. While κῆπος is a Greek term, it resonates with several Hebrew equivalents and broader biblical themes:
* **Hebrew Equivalents**: The most prominent Hebrew parallel is `{{H1598}}` (gan), which also means "garden" and is famously used for the Garden of Eden ([[Genesis 2:8]]). Other related terms might include `{{H1004}}` (bayith), which can sometimes refer to a cultivated plot, or terms for specific types of cultivated land like vineyards (`{{H3754}}`, kerem) or olive groves.
* **Greek Synonyms/Related Terms**: While κῆπος is distinct, related Greek terms might include `{{G480}}` (ampelon, "vineyard") or `{{G1675}}` (elaiōn, "olive grove"), which is specifically used for the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane.
* **Key Concepts**:
* **Eden**: The primordial garden, a place of perfect communion with God, innocence, and life ([[Genesis 2:8-10]]). It is the setting for humanity's fall into sin and death.
* **Cultivation and Stewardship**: Gardens inherently imply human labor, care, and a sense of order, reflecting humanity's original mandate to tend and keep God's creation ([[Genesis 2:15]]).
* **Privacy and Retreat**: Gardens often served as places for quiet reflection, prayer, or specific activities, as seen in Gethsemane.
* **Burial Sites**: It was common in ancient times for tombs, especially those of the wealthy, to be located in gardens or orchards, providing a serene and private resting place.
### Theological Significance
The recurring motif of the κῆπος (kēpos) in John's Gospel, particularly in the Passion narrative, carries profound theological significance, creating a deliberate echo of the Garden of Eden and the broader biblical narrative of redemption.
1. **The New Eden and the New Adam**: The garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prays and is betrayed, stands in stark contrast to the Garden of Eden. In Eden, humanity fell through disobedience; in Gethsemane, the "Second Adam" ([[Romans 5:14-19]]) demonstrates perfect obedience to the Father's will, even unto death. The place of humanity's original sin becomes the place of the sinless Son's perfect submission, laying the groundwork for redemption.
2. **Paradox of Suffering and Glory**: Gethsemane, a place typically associated with beauty and tranquility, becomes the scene of intense agony, betrayal, and the initiation of Christ's suffering. This paradox underscores the depth of Christ's sacrifice and the divine plan where suffering precedes glory.
3. **The Garden of Burial and Resurrection**: The garden tomb in [[John 19:41]] is perhaps the most potent theological symbol. In the first garden (Eden), death entered the world. In this second garden, death is conquered. The tomb, a symbol of finality, is situated within a κῆπος, a place of life, growth, and new beginnings. This juxtaposition powerfully foreshadows the resurrection, where life triumphs over death, and the curse of Eden is reversed. The garden tomb thus becomes the threshold of new creation.
4. **Continuity of Redemption**: The consistent use of the "garden" motif from Genesis to John highlights a theological continuity in God's redemptive plan. The narrative arc moves from the loss of paradise in a garden to the victory over death in a garden, culminating in the vision of a restored paradise with the "tree of life" in the New Jerusalem ([[Revelation 22:2]]). The κῆπος serves as a tangible link in this grand narrative of fall and redemption.
### Summary
The Greek word κῆπος (kēpos), meaning "garden," appears exclusively in the Gospel of John, specifically within the crucial events of Jesus' Passion. Its three occurrences highlight two distinct but interconnected garden settings: the garden of Gethsemane, the place of Christ's agonizing prayer, betrayal, and arrest; and the garden near Golgotha, where Jesus' tomb was located. Theologically, κῆπος is deeply significant. It evokes a profound connection to the Garden of Eden, presenting a narrative of redemption where the "Second Adam" overcomes sin and death in a garden, reversing the curse initiated in the first garden. The κῆπος thus symbolizes both the depth of Christ's suffering and the triumph of His resurrection, transforming places of agony and death into symbols of hope, new life, and the ultimate restoration of fellowship with God.
TRV