Where is the Garden of Eden?

It’s one of the many great mysteries of the Bible. Where is the Garden of Eden? Did it even exist?

The Bible is seen as more than a theological book for Christians. It is seen, by many, as much of a history book since it contains many historical narratives and facts that have been proven to be true decades after they were written in the sacred pages.

There are countless things in Scripture that can be taken literal and so many more that are figurative. So, what about the sacred Garden of Eden? Where is it?

It was the place where God breathed the first breath of life into mankind. It’s where He gave mankind animals the name and ripped their peaceful life away from them after Original Sin. Many say it never existed and is figurative. Many more claim it is, in fact, an actual account of the beginning of mankind. But, if it really happened, where is the sacred ground?

There are many theories that have been presented by archeologists, historians, philosophers, and theologians. One of the most commonly held beliefs is that the Garden of Eden did, in fact, exist and it is located in the Middle East in Mesopotamia. This is based primarily on the reference in Scripture in the book of Genesis regarding the location being at the junction of some well-known rivers.

“A river rises in Eden to water the garden; beyond there it divides and becomes four branches. The name of the first is the Pishon; it is the one that winds through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is excellent; bdellium and apis lazuli are also there. The name of the second river is the Gihon; it is the one that winds all through the land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it is the one that flows east of Assure. The fourth river is the Euphrates.” ( Genesis 2:10-14)

Many scholars believe this details the area of Mesopotamia and places the Garden of Eden somewhere in the Middle East along that area. However, many historians and archeologist argue this may not be accurate because of historical shifts in the flow of rivers and size of oceans due to flooding. If the original route and location of the rivers shifted then it would not lead to the location of the Garden. On the other hand, many historians point out that the flow of the rivers has, indeed, shifted, but it has not been to a large extent and would not have caused much of a variance in using them to identify the location of the Garden of Eden.

The problem is using these verses directly, and easily, to find the Garden of Eden is because we know where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are located. The Gihon River’s location is a debate as to which river it could be since there is not a river that is known by that name any longer. The location of the Pishon is a mystery and the river has not been discovered. As a result, most theologians and historians argue that, based on the knowledge of where two out of the four rivers flow and intersect, it is located somewhere in Mesopotamia near the Tigris and Euphrates. 

Mesopotamia is also a Greek word meaning “the land between the rivers”. It is also an area that was located between the Tigris and Euphrates river, which is where it got its name. The most commonly held theory and belief as to the location is in the area of modern-day Iraq and specifically within the Mesopotamia area. 

One of the other beliefs tends to focus on the passage in Scripture that mentions “land of Cush”. The land of Cush is recognized as an area in central Africa, not near Iraq or Mesopotamia, and it is believed by many scholars to have been the location of the Garden of Eden because of that reference. 

There are many different possibilities and locations that have been proposed by experts over the years. It is certainly a mystery that is fun to discuss and contemplate at times. The most important thing is not that we find or identify the location of the Garden of Eden. The primary thing is that we remember we re searching for the Garden of Eden because of what happened in that garden. It is because in that garden is where original sin was born. It is in that garden where the devil won and caused mankind to fall into sin. It is also out of that garden that God devised a plan of love that would end in another garden and another woman would usher in life through obedience.