Lexical Summary eden: Delight, Pleasure Original Word: עֵדֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance delicate, delight, pleasure Or (feminine) aednah {ed-naw'}; from adan; pleasure -- delicate, delight, pleasure. See also Beyth 'Eden. see HEBREW adan see HEBREW Beyth 'Eden Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [עֵ֫דֶן] noun [masculine] luxury, dainty, delight; — plural absolute עֲדָנִים luxuries 2 Samuel 1:24 Si versa l. (read perhapsסְדִינִים [see סָדִין] Klo Gr HPS); plural suffix Jeremiah 51:34 he hath filled his belly מֵעֲדָנָ֑י from my dainties (figurative of Nebuchadnezzar's plunder; Gie reads מַעֲדַגָּ֑י); ᵑ7 Gf Rothst join with following: from my dainties hath he thrust me forth; figurative of delights of worshipping ׳י, נַחַל עֲדֶנֶיךָ Psalm 36:9 ׅ "" (דֶּשֶׁן כֵּיתֶ֑ךָ. עֶדְנָה noun feminine delight; — Genesis 18:12 (sexual). Topical Lexicon Thematic Overviewעֵדֶן portrays the idea of delight, luxury, or pleasurable abundance. In its five Old Testament occurrences the term moves from the promise of personal joy (Genesis 18:12), through royal splendor (2 Samuel 1:24), into the worshipful satisfaction found in God Himself (Psalm 36:8), while also serving as an indictment of oppressive excess (Jeremiah 51:34) and a place-name bound up with judgment (Amos 1:5). Together these uses trace a coherent biblical theology of delight that is legitimate when received from God and destructive when pursued apart from Him. Occurrences and Contextual Notes 1. Personal Delight Promised—Genesis 18:12 “So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” Sarah links delight to God’s miraculous covenant-keeping. The word signals the renewal of hope for a barren woman and reminds readers that true joy springs from divine promise, not human circumstances. 2. Royal Luxury Remembered—2 Samuel 1:24 “O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.” David’s lament highlights Saul’s role in providing national prosperity. The verse honors legitimate blessings of leadership while implicitly warning that material splendor is fleeting when disconnected from obedience. 3. Divine Delights Offered—Psalm 36:8 “They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights.” Here delight flows from God’s presence. The imagery moves beyond material prosperity to portray spiritual satisfaction found in communion with the LORD. The river recalls Eden’s fourfold stream (Genesis 2:10-14), suggesting that worship restores the paradisiacal fellowship lost by sin. 4. Delicacies Devoured—Jeremiah 51:34 “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me… he has filled his belly with my delicacies, then cast me out.” Judah laments that her pleasures have been consumed by the oppressor. What should have been enjoyed under God’s blessing becomes the very object of her conqueror’s appetite, demonstrating that separated from covenant faithfulness, luxury invites exploitation. 5. House of Eden Judged—Amos 1:5 “I will break down the gate of Damascus… and the one who wields the scepter from the House of Eden.” The place-name “House of Eden” preserves the root idea of delight yet is subject to divine judgment because Aram’s rulers used their prosperity to commit atrocities (Amos 1:3-5). The prophet affirms that no fortress of pleasure can shield the unrepentant from God’s justice. Biblical Theology of Delight • God as Source: Whether promising a child to Sarah or inviting the righteous to feast in His house, Scripture presents delight as God-given (Psalm 16:11; James 1:17). Ministry and Discipleship Implications 1. Cultivate God-centered Joy Believers are encouraged to seek delight first in the Lord (Psalm 37:4), knowing that earthly pleasures are safest when subordinated to worship. 2. Steward Material Blessings The contrast between Saul’s generosity and Babylon’s exploitation warns leaders to use resources for edification, not self-indulgence (1 Timothy 6:17-19). 3. Preach Judgment and Mercy Amos and Jeremiah show that unchecked luxury invites discipline. Yet Genesis and Psalms affirm that the same God delights to restore. Balanced proclamation guards against both legalism and license. 4. Anticipate Eschatological Fulfillment The recurring motif of divine delight points to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9), encouraging perseverance with the assurance that present sufferings cannot compare with future glory (Romans 8:18). Key Cross-References for Study Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 8:30-31; Isaiah 58:13-14; Luke 12:19-21; John 7:37-38; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Revelation 22:1-5 Summary עֵדֶן encapsulates the Scripture’s dynamic portrayal of delight—graciously bestowed by God, easily corrupted by sin, and ultimately secured in Christ. Rightly understood, it summons the faithful to rejoice in the Giver above the gifts, steward every blessing for His glory, and look forward to the unending pleasures at His right hand. Forms and Transliterations מֵֽעֲדָנָ֑י מעדני עֲדָנִ֔ים עֲדָנֶ֣יךָ עֶ֑דֶן עֶדְנָ֔ה עדן עדנה עדניך עדנים ‘ă·ḏā·ne·ḵā ‘ă·ḏā·nîm ‘ăḏāneḵā ‘ăḏānîm ‘e·ḏen ‘eḏ·nāh ‘eḏen ‘eḏnāh adaNeicha adaNim Eden edNah mê‘ăḏānāy mê·‘ă·ḏā·nāy meadaNaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:12 HEB: הָֽיְתָה־ לִּ֣י עֶדְנָ֔ה וַֽאדֹנִ֖י זָקֵֽן׃ KJV: I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord INT: have become have have pleasure my lord being 2 Samuel 1:24 Psalm 36:8 Jeremiah 51:34 Amos 1:5 5 Occurrences |
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