Lexical Summary gannah: gardens, garden, orchard Original Word: גַּנָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance garden Feminine of gan; a garden -- garden. see HEBREW gan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of gan Definition a garden NASB Translation garden (6), gardens (9), orchard (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גַּנָּה noun feminine garden (compare foregoing) — גַּנָּה Isaiah 1:30; Isaiah 61:11; construct גִּנַּת Songs 6:11 3t.; suffix גַּנָּתוֺ Job 8:16; plural גַּנֹּת Numbers 24:6, גַּנּוֺת Ecclesiastes 2:5 6t.; suffix גַּנּוֺתֵיכֶם Amos 4:9; garden, orchard, Amos 4:9 ("" כֶּרֶם, תְּאֵנָה, זַיִת), Amos 9:14 (fruit-garden; "" כֶּרֶם), Jeremiah 29:5,28; Ecclesiastes 2:5 ("" מַּרְדֵּס), גִּנַּת אֱגוֺז Songs 6:11 nut-garden; compare גִּנַּתבִּֿיתָן Esther 1:5; Esther 7:7,8; in simile, of prosperous Israel Numbers 24:6 (poem in J E; עֲלַינָהָר׳ג), of chastised Israel Isaiah 1:30 (׳אשׁר מים אין לָהּ ג), of Yahweh's blessing Isaiah 61:11; in Job 8:16 עַלגַּֿנּוֺ in figure of prosperity of wicked, as a luxuriant plant; gardens as places of idolatrous worship Isaiah 1:29 ("" אֵילִים), Isaiah 65:3 ("" לְבֵנִים ), Isaiah 66:17 (i.e. groves). Topical Lexicon Overview The noun גַּנָּה denotes a cultivated, enclosed garden, an emblem of provision, beauty, and intentional care. Scripture employs the term twelve times, weaving a rich tapestry of blessing, judgment, exile, and ultimate restoration. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Numbers 24:6 – Balaam likens Israel to “gardens beside a river,” picturing covenantal fruitfulness. Covenantal Blessing Imagery Gardens in the ancient Near East required walls, irrigation, and vigilant upkeep. When Balaam compares Israel to luxuriant gardens, he highlights God’s meticulous guardianship and abundant supply. The imagery looks back to Eden and forward to the vineyard parables of Jesus, affirming that flourishing is a divine gift, not human manufacture. Warning Against Idolatrous Gardens Isaiah confronts the syncretistic groves popular in Canaanite religion. What was meant for cultivation became a stage for defilement. The withered garden in Isaiah 1:30 functions as a moral mirror: when worship is displaced, sterility follows. Ministry application: no amount of aesthetic beauty can compensate for spiritual compromise. Exilic and Post-Exilic Instruction Jeremiah’s mandate to “plant gardens” in Babylon teaches patient obedience. Exiles would not merely survive but serve the common good (Jeremiah 29:7). A garden under foreign skies affirmed that the Lord’s promises travel with His people; obedience in small, earthy tasks becomes an act of faith. Prophetic Vision of Eschatological Renewal Isaiah 61:11 and Amos 9:14 look beyond immediate circumstance to the Messianic age. Righteousness “springs up” and ruined cities are rebuilt. The garden re-emerges as a signpost pointing to Revelation 22, where Eden’s lost tree of life stands accessible once more. Theological and Ministry Implications • Divine Provision: God, not circumstance, determines fruitfulness (Numbers 24:6; Isaiah 61:11). Christological Foreshadowing The Servant of Isaiah 61 proclaims good news amid imagery of sprouting gardens, language Jesus applies to Himself in Nazareth (Luke 4:18–21). His resurrection in a garden tomb (John 19:41) and post-resurrection appearance to Mary there subtly recall the promise that life will spring from once-cursed ground. Practical Reflection for Believers Today 1. Cultivate personal and corporate “gardens” of prayer, Scripture, and service, trusting God for growth (1 Corinthians 3:7). Forms and Transliterations בַּגַּנּ֔וֹת בגנות גַּ֝נָּת֗וֹ גַּנּ֖וֹת גַּנּוֹתֵיכֶ֧ם גַנּ֔וֹת גנות גנותיכם גנתו הַגַּנּ֗וֹת הגנות וּֽכְגַנָּ֔ה וּכְגַנָּ֖ה וכגנה כְּגַנֹּ֖ת כגנת מֵהַגַּנּ֖וֹת מהגנות bag·gan·nō·wṯ bagganNot baggannōwṯ gan·nā·ṯōw gan·nō·w·ṯê·ḵem gan·nō·wṯ ḡan·nō·wṯ gannaTo gannāṯōw ganNot gannoteiChem gannōwṯ ḡannōwṯ gannōwṯêḵem hag·gan·nō·wṯ hagganNot haggannōwṯ kə·ḡan·nōṯ keganNot kəḡannōṯ mê·hag·gan·nō·wṯ mehagganNot mêhaggannōwṯ ū·ḵə·ḡan·nāh ucheganNah ūḵəḡannāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 24:6 HEB: כִּנְחָלִ֣ים נִטָּ֔יוּ כְּגַנֹּ֖ת עֲלֵ֣י נָהָ֑ר NAS: that stretch out, Like gardens beside KJV: are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, INT: valleys stretch gardens beside the river Job 8:16 Ecclesiastes 2:5 Isaiah 1:29 Isaiah 1:30 Isaiah 61:11 Isaiah 65:3 Isaiah 66:17 Jeremiah 29:5 Jeremiah 29:28 Amos 4:9 Amos 9:14 12 Occurrences |
    |