Eden is the name of the primordial garden where God placed humanity, from a root meaning 'delight' or 'pleasure.' The word appears 16 times in various forms. Geographically, it is described as watered by four rivers including the Tigris and Euphrates. Theologically, it is the archetypal meeting place between God and human beings.
Eden represents the ideal state of creation — unbroken shalom between God, humanity, and nature. The garden was not merely pleasant but was a sanctuary where God walked in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). Its loss through the Fall introduces the entire biblical narrative of redemption, which culminates in the restoration of Eden-like conditions in Revelation 22 (tree of life, river, God's presence). Ezekiel 28 and 36 use Eden as a paradigm for both judgment and restoration. The tabernacle and temple were deliberately designed to echo Eden's imagery, positioning Israel's worship as a return to primordial fellowship with God.