What does Pishon mean in the Bible?

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TL;DR:

The Pishon is mentioned as a river in Genesis. Pishon reminds us of Jesus as our living water.

from the old testament

  • The word Pishon is used only one time in the Bible: "A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there" (Genesis 2:10–12).
  • The word Pison in Hebrew, likely meaning "increase," comes from the root word puwsh in Hebrew, which means "scatter, spread, or grow up."
  • We know very little about geographic features of the earth before the flood (Genesis 6:17), so to tell where the Pishon river was or currently is, is not possible. Some scientists think it may be another name for the Nile, the Indus, or the Ganges river.
  • What we do know is that the Pishon was a valuable source of life-giving water surrounding a land filled with beauty and riches. This river encircled a land called Havilah, which reminds us of the presence and blessing of God.
  • Interestingly, the Euphrates river, which came from the same source in the garden of Eden as the Pishon, the Gihon, and the Tigris (Genesis 2:10–14), later became one of the boundaries of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15:18).

from the new testament

  • The word Pishon is not found in the New Testament.

implications for today

The mention of the Pishon River flowing from Eden, surrounding the land of Havilah with its life-giving waters, resonates with Jesus' promise to be the source of living water for believers (John 7:38). Just as the Pishon brought sustenance and blessings to Havilah, Jesus offers spiritual nourishment, abundance, and blessings to all who come to Him. The Pishon's encirclement of Havilah symbolizes God's presence and blessing, much like how Jesus surrounds and encompasses believers with His love, grace, and provision. This imagery reminds us that just as the Pishon was a vital and valuable place, Jesus is the ultimate source of life, beauty, and abundance for those who place their trust in Him.

understand

  • The Pishon is mentioned once in Genesis as one of the rivers flowing from Eden, surrounding the land of Havilah known for its riches
  • "Pishon" may derive from the Hebrew root "puwsh," suggesting characteristics like increasing or scattering.
  • The exact location of the Pishon is unknown; it's been speculated to be the Nile, the Indus, or the Ganges, but remains uncertain.

reflect

  • How does the imagery of the Pishon River flowing from Eden and surrounding Havilah with blessings resonate with your understanding of God's provision in your life?
  • What parallels do you see between the Pishon River's role in Genesis and Jesus' promise to be the source of living water in the New Testament?
  • How does the uncertainty surrounding the Pishon's location challenge your perception of God's sovereignty and control over the unknown aspects of life?

engage

  • In the Apocrypha, Pishon is mentioned in Sirach 24:25. Scholars believe the Pishon River started in a spring and ended in a delta.
  • Consider the possible meanings of the Hebrew root word for "Pishon" and its association with increase or scattering. How does this deepen our understanding of God's provision and abundance?
  • Discuss the implications of Jesus being the source of living water. How does this imagery shape our understanding of Jesus' role in providing spiritual nourishment and abundance in our lives?