If you are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, then you would be as interested as many others are in the Garden of Eden. As the scriptures describe, Eden puts a perfect yet unimaginable image in anyone’s head. A land with no diseases or hunger? To witness this lovely place only mentioned in the Bible, many still ask, where was the Garden of Eden located?
Genesis 2:8-14 implies that the Garden of Eden was located in the East and had a river watering the Garden that flowed from Eden. It then separated into four river heads. The scripture also implies that in this Garden were plenty of trees and that, at the center, was the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Was the Garden of Eden real? Does it currently exist on earth? If so, why can’t we trace it? This article will provide evidence for these questions and more.
Was the Garden of Eden a real place? Was it on earth?
Many bible readers are still torn between believing that the Garden of Eden was real. Both scholars and scientists have used information given in the Bible to suggest the location of this Paradise on earth. The Bible talks of a river that passed through the Garden of Eden and then separated into four streams.
It is still difficult to tell if this Garden was real. However, even if its exact location on earth has never been identified, biblical evidence suggests it exists. Different scriptures talk of this Garden of the Lord, suggesting it is real.
- Isaiah 51:3: The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the Garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
- Ezekiel 28:12-13: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the Garden of God; every precious stone adorned you.
- Joel 2:3: Before them, fire devours, behind them, a flame blazes. Before them, the land is like the Garden of Eden; behind them, a desert waste— nothing escapes them.
Does the Bible give a specific location of the Garden of Eden?
The Bible points out the location of the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:8-14 says;
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the East, in Eden, and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the Garden was the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
A river watering the Garden flowed from Eden; from there, it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
Where do religious scholars believe the Garden of Eden is located?
Between the Middle East and Ethiopia
Some religious scholars imply that the Garden of Eden is located between Ethiopia and the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East, near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The scripture mostly supports this assumption in Genesis 2:11-14. Theologists also use the biblical reference of Cush and believe it is currently Ethiopia.
However, when looking into the other two rivers, Pishon and Gihon, confusion comes in. These two rivers still cannot be traced to other currently existing ones, leading to even more questions. Biblical scholars, therefore, suggest that due to the Great Flood (Genesis 7:21-24) and other geographical changes to the globe, the rivers could have moved. Remember that God sent the flood on the earth, and everything was wiped out. Thus, religious scholars believe that nobody can trace the other two rivers.
It is a myth
Another version is the religious scholars who suggest that the Garden of Eden could all be a myth. They base their ideology on the assumption that the Garden was perfect, with no sin and no hunger, and that Adam and Eve even walked naked with no shame. This sounds too good to be true to some believers. They also base their argument on the fact that no fossils have ever been found that resemble Adam and Eve. Still, some Christians argue that there could not be any fossils because Adam never added anything to the Garden, as it was always the Lord doing that.
Iraq
Iraq is a country in the Middle East, in Southern Mesopotamia, with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flowing through it. The problem is that the other two rivers cannot be traced, so religious scholars still assume they moved.
It exists but is hidden and guarded by the Cherubim
Genesis 3:24: After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
According to the Word, once God discovered Adam and Eve to have sinned, he was angry at them. The Bible implies that God gave them garments to cover their nakedness, cursed them, then threw them out of the Garden. Theologists imply that he proceeded to lock humanity out of the Garden by placing cherubim to guard it. They suggest that this is why nobody can trace the Garden since then.
Not known because the location was moved
It is also essential to consider other theologists who suggest that even the current Tigris and Euphrates may have been moved and might not be the actual locations of the rivers. The river’s current location is flooded with fossils. Surely, God did not place Eden in a land full of dead things. Right? These religious scholars suggest that Eden cannot be found, nor can any of its four rivers because it was either entirely destroyed by the Great Flood or moved completely to an unknown location.
Africa
Interestingly, others believe Eden is in Africa since scientists trace humanity’s birthplace in Africa. From the map, Africa is located in the East, and the theologians argue that the Garden of Eden could be in Botswana. Additionally, they imply that Eden was in the Kalahari Desert, which used to be a wetland in the past. This argument is farfetched, though, and many other biblical scholars still oppose it.
All these assumptions should be considered. However, believers may never know where exactly the Garden of Eden was located and if it still exists. Some religious scholars even suggest the need to continue believing in the Word without seeing since this is the true meaning of having faith as a believer.
References
- Is the Garden of Eden a Real Place?
- Where Was the Garden of Eden?
- Where Is the Garden of Eden?
- What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Garden of Eden?
- Where Would the Garden of Eden Be Located Today?
- Where Is the Garden of Eden Located Today?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
