פִּישׁוֹן
𐤐𐤉𐤔𐤅𐤍
Pishon
H6376 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun referring to the Pishon, one of the four rivers mentioned in Genesis as flowing from the garden of Eden. The term denotes a specific geographic waterway but does not occur outside the Eden narrative. The definition is restricted to the name of this river, whose location remains uncertain; there is no evidence of broader usage or figurative meaning in the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
proper name of Edenic river, geographic feature; no general or figurative usage
Root / Etymology
From the root פושׁ (p-w-sh), which has the core meaning 'to spring, leap up, or disperse,' though the exact derivation is uncertain and may be folk etymology. The form פִּישׁוֹן may imply 'one that spreads/disperses,' but since it is a proper name, the lexical meaning is ultimately obscure. Etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פִּישׁוֹן appears only in Genesis 2:11, identifying one of the rivers of Eden, described as encompassing the land of Havilah. No later biblical or extra-biblical sources unambiguously identify this river, and its precise meaning and geographical referent are debated among scholars. The Septuagint, Vulgate, and later English versions transliterate the name, occasionally as 'Pison.' The river’s association in Genesis is with abundance and precious resources, but the word itself has no evident theological or metaphorical uses. Unlike other Hebrew terms for rivers (e.g., נהר), פִּישׁוֹן is a unique proper noun and not a generic river term. The shift from the Hebrew to English 'Pison' reflects translational tradition rather than semantic difference. Later terms such as 'Jew' or 'Judaism' are not applicable; the term relates to a mythic or legendary place in Israelite narrative, not to an ethnic group or religious practice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פּוּשׁ; dispersive; Pishon, a river of Eden; Pison.
Bantu Hebrew
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פושׁ (p-w-sh) — to spring, leap up, disperse
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6376-01 |
פִּישׁ֑וֹן | pishon | HNp |
Pishon | Pishon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6376-01 |
Genesis 2:11 | פִּישׁ֑וֹן | pishon | HNp |
Pishon | Pishon |