Original Word: אֵד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ed
Pronunciation: āyd
Phonetic Spelling: (ade)
KJV: mist, vapor
NASB: mist
Word Origin: [from the same as H181 (אוּד - brand) (in the sense of enveloping)]

1. a fog

mist, vapor

From the same as 'uwd (in the sense of enveloping); a fog -- mist, vapor.

see HEBREW 'uwd

Word Origin
from the same as ud
Definition
a mist
NASB Translation
mist (2).

אֵד noun masculine mist (derivation dubious; Arabic derivation very dubious; Dl^{W125, compare WB22} KS^2.4 Hpt^{JAOS 1896, 158 ff.} Gunk^{Gen 2:6} Holz^{Gen 2:6} Buhl compare Assyrian edû, flood, mass of waters (√ אדה), editu, overflow (for irrigation); ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Aq in Genesis 2:6 have spring, ᵑ7 cloud, so ᵐ5 ᵑ7 Job 36:27; add perhaps Job 36:30 אֵדוֺ for אוֺרוֺ (Du Dr). Arabic = be strong; that which affords protection, shade; otherwise Dl^{W 125}) Genesis 2:6; אֵדוֺ Job 36:27.

I. אוה

1Arabic betake oneself to a place for dwelling, etc.;

2 id., be tenderly inclined.

Creation and Provision

The first appearance of אֵד in Scripture occurs within the Eden narrative: “But springs welled up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground” (Genesis 2:6). Before any rain had fallen, the Creator employed this gentle up-flow to moisten the uncultivated soil, thereby preparing it for the formation of Adam from “the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7). The image underscores God’s initiative in sustaining life even before human labor or meteorological systems were in operation. It is a testimony to His meticulous care; the garden was never left to chance but was nourished from beneath by an unseen source.

Hydrological Insight in the Wisdom Literature

Job 36:27 draws the reader into the divine mechanics of precipitation: “For He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain from the mist.” Elihu’s observation situates אֵד within the water cycle—evaporation, condensation, and rainfall. Long before modern science described these processes, Scripture credited God with the orchestration of clouds, vapors, and showers. Thus אֵד serves not merely as poetic flourish but as an affirmation that every natural cycle operates under the Creator’s sovereign governance.

Symbolic Implications of the Mist

1. Hidden yet Effective: The mist rises quietly, accomplishing its work without fanfare. In ministry this mirrors the often-unseen movements of God’s Spirit, nurturing hearts in ways that may escape immediate notice (cf. John 3:8).
2. Humility and Dependence: Humankind’s first breath coincided with soil moistened by אֵד. The narrative reminds believers that life’s origin and sustenance are rooted in divine provision, fostering humility and dependence (Psalm 104:27–30).
3. Anticipation of Rain: אֵד precedes both vegetation and rainfall in Genesis. It foreshadows later, heavier showers—much as preliminary stirrings of revival often herald a fuller outpouring (Joel 2:23).

Connections with Other Water Motifs

– Dew (Judges 6:37-40) and mist share the trait of gentleness; both illustrate God’s ability to refresh without overwhelming.

– Rivers (Psalm 1:3) represent continual nourishment, whereas אֵד depicts the subterranean beginnings of that flow. Together they portray a comprehensive theology of sustenance—from invisible source to visible stream.

– The cloud of glory (Exodus 40:34-38) echoes the theme of vapor enveloping creation. Though different Hebrew terms are used, the conceptual link reinforces God’s recurring use of water-laden imagery to reveal His presence.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Cultivate Hidden Faithfulness: Just as the mist does its vital work out of sight, so believers are called to unseen disciplines—prayer, meditation, quiet service—that prepare the “soil” of hearts.
• Trust God’s Timing: Genesis 2 highlights divine watering before rainfall. Ministry may pass through seasons where God employs subtle means; patience is required until the full “rain” arrives (James 5:7).
• Teach Environmental Stewardship: The biblical portrayal of the water cycle invites respect for creation’s delicate balance. Stewardship is rooted not in modern novelty but in the ancient testimony that “the earth is the LORD’s” (Psalm 24:1).

Christological and Redemptive Threads

While אֵד itself does not directly reference Messiah, its functions prefigure the ways Christ meets human need: He is the source of “living water” (John 4:10-14) that rises from within the believer. The quiet emergence of the mist also parallels the humble incarnation—God entering the world in an unobtrusive form, yet effecting eternal transformation.

Summary Understanding

אֵד appears only twice, yet those occurrences weave together creation, natural law, and spiritual metaphor. The mist from Eden and the vapor of Job affirm God’s sovereignty over the physical and the metaphysical, inviting believers to rest in His faithful, often unseen, provision.

וְאֵ֖ד ואד לְאֵדֽוֹ׃ לאדו׃ lə’êḏōw lə·’ê·ḏōw leeDo veEd wə’êḏ wə·’êḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts