Have you ever wanted to see the Garden of Eden from the Bible? Us too! Did you know that the Bible says the Garden of Eden is protected by cherubim and a flaming sword...and that because of this, we can’t find it today? The Garden of Eden in the Bible is as mysterious as it is ancient. So, if you’re wondering, “Where is the Garden of Eden?”, this blog is for you!
Historical Background of the Garden of Eden
The historical background of the Garden of Eden is the biblical background of the Garden of Eden. The Bible is our source for why we know that the Garden of Eden even exists. The main Bible verse about the Garden of Eden comes from Genesis 2:8-10, which reads:
“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 were 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.” - Genesis 2:8-10
Based on this Bible verse about the Garden of Eden, we see that God designed the garden Himself. We also see that there were many trees. Not only were these trees in the Garden of Eden beautiful, but they also provided food for people. The Garden of Eden is a place of total provision and goodness.
Different Bible Verses About the Garden of Eden
As the story goes on, we learn that in the middle of the garden are two very important trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve is deceived by the serpent and decides to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When she does so, she also invites Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. Because of this, God needed to protect the tree of the life and the Garden of Eden from humans. We read more about this in Genesis 3:
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man, and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. - Genesis 3:22-24
Given that Adam and Eve sinned, God decided to protect the Garden of Eden and the tree of life. While we all want to return to the perfect paradise of the Garden of Eden, until the Lord returns to earth, we’ll have to wait on the promise of the New Heavens and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1-5).
However, if we go back just a few verses, we’ll find that the Bible leaves us some key geographical clues about the potential whereabouts of the Garden of Eden. Let’s read about this in Genesis 2:10-14:
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 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. - Genesis 2:10-14
Now that we’ve learned a bit more about the Garden of Eden in the Bible, it’s time to use these geographical clues and archaeological evidence to see if we can connect the dots about where Eden is located.
Where is the Garden of Eden Located?
The short answer? Probably Modern-day Iraq. The long answer? No one really knows. There are a lot of opinions around where the Garden of Eden is located. Even though we have hypotheses around where the Garden of Eden is, none of us can be 100% sure in our assessment…you know, given that the Garden of Eden is hidden and being protected by cherubim and a flaming sword.
Here are the top four answers to the question: “Where is the Garden of Eden in the Bible?”
1. Iraq: Bible verses about the Garden of Eden describe four rivers: the Tigris, Euphrates, Gihon, and Pishon. Given that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flow through modern-day Iraq, many scholars have settled that the location of the Garden of Eden was in Iraq/Mesopotamia.
2. Persian Gulf: Other scholars believe that the Garden of Eden is most likely located in the Persian Gulf. However, this proposed location for the Garden of Eden is a spot of land that is currently covered in water.
3. Armenia: Other scholars follow Christian traditions that believe the Garden of Eden is located in the Armenian highlands. This theory evolved because the Tigris & Euphrates rivers originate in this area between Turkey, Armenia, and Iran.
4. Ethiopia: Other theories suggest that the location of the Biblical Garden of Eden is in Ethiopia, in the Bahir Dar region. This potential location of the Garden of Eden is contested as many scholars disagree with this assumption.
However, even though all of these theories are awesome, the Bible shows us that the Garden of Eden is inaccessible due to cherubim guarding the place!
Want to watch an archaeologist hunt for the Garden of Eden’s lost river? Discover more with Joel Kramer from Expedition Bible:
Conclusion
Though hunting for the potential location of the Garden of Eden is fun, it will remain a mystery until the end of the age. However, we think it's safe to assume that God will show us the exact location of the Garden of Eden when those who have received Christ are caught up with Jesus in heaven!
Have you received Jesus into your heart yet? There's no better time than now to start your life in God. Learn more about what Jesus has done for you and how to receive salvation in our blog: This is For You!
