### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gan**, represented by `{{H1588}}`, refers to a **garden**, often implying an enclosed and cultivated space. It appears 42 times across 37 unique verses in the Bible. The term denotes a place of beauty and provision, from a simple plot of herbs to the divine sanctuary of Eden.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1588}}` is most famously used to describe the **garden** of Eden, a place of divine provision and fellowship where God planted the first man ([[Genesis 2:8]], [[Genesis 2:15]]). This pristine location contained trees that were pleasant to the sight and good for food, including the tree of life [[Genesis 2:9]]. The concept of a **garden** is also used metaphorically to represent national and spiritual prosperity. The LORD promises to make the wilderness of Zion like Eden and her desert like the **garden** of the LORD [[Isaiah 51:3]]. Similarly, a soul blessed by God is described as a watered **garden** [[Jeremiah 31:12]]. The term also appears in more literal contexts, such as the king's **garden** [[2 Kings 25:4]] or a vineyard desired for a **garden** of herbs [[1 Kings 21:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the nature and purpose of a biblical **garden**:
* `{{H5193}}` **nâṭaʻ** (to plant): This root describes the act of creating a garden. The LORD God **planted** a garden eastward in Eden [[Genesis 2:8]].
* `{{H5647}}` **ʻâbad** (to dress): This word signifies the labor required to maintain a garden. Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to **dress** it and to keep it [[Genesis 2:15]].
* `{{H8104}}` **shâmar** (to keep): This term implies guarding or preserving. Adam was tasked to **keep** the garden [[Genesis 2:15]], and after the fall, Cherubims were placed to **keep** the way of the tree of life [[Genesis 3:24]].
* `{{H6529}}` **pᵉrîy** (fruit): A garden is a place of provision, primarily of **fruit**. The woman tells the serpent they may eat of the **fruit** of the trees of the garden [[Genesis 3:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1588}}` is significant, representing key biblical concepts:
* **Divine Provision and Ideal State:** The **garden** of Eden represents God's perfect, ordered provision for humanity, a place where every tree was good for food and pleasant to the sight [[Genesis 2:9]]. The land is described as being like the **garden** of the LORD before its destruction [[Genesis 13:10]].
* **Place of Divine Presence:** It was a sanctuary for communion between God and humanity. The LORD God was heard walking in the **garden** in the cool of the day, highlighting a direct relationship before the fall [[Genesis 3:8]].
* **Metaphor for Spiritual Blessing:** Prophets use the image of a well-watered **garden** to symbolize a soul that is satisfied and guided by the LORD [[Isaiah 58:11]] and a people restored to God's goodness [[Jeremiah 31:12]].
* **Stewardship and Obedience:** The command to dress and keep the **garden** [[Genesis 2:15]] establishes humanity's role as stewards of God's creation. The subsequent command not to eat from a specific tree ties obedience directly to remaining in this blessed place ([[Genesis 2:16]], [[Genesis 3:3]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1588}}` is far more than a simple term for a plot of land. It begins as the setting for creation's ideal state—a place of beauty, sustenance, and divine fellowship in Eden. The **garden** becomes a powerful biblical symbol for spiritual prosperity and restoration, representing the state of a soul that flourishes under the LORD's care. From the literal fenced enclosure to the metaphor for a blessed life, **gan** illustrates a place of divine order, human stewardship, and the profound peace that comes from dwelling in God's presence.
TRV