Four rivers of Genesis

[Seamus_Sully]

When the Hebrews Scriptures were translated into Greek, How were those four rivers of Genesis chapter two translated?

Thanks!

 

[Seamus_Sully]

An additional question: Does the river have four parts?

Also, how did the LXX translate parts or divisions of the river?

Some of the Fathers taught that there was One Day in the first chapter of Genesis: Do they teach a similar things with this river?

 

[Seamus_Sully]

Also, I need help in locating the passages about water flowing from inside Christ and the believers.

Any help?

THANKS!

 

[Spirithound]

When the Hebrews Scriptures were translated into Greek, How were those four rivers of Genesis chapter two translated?

Ok, I’m not actually familiar with the methodology used, but 2 approaches could be to find out what the meaning of the name of the river is, and then come up with a similar word in your own language, or secondly, to simply transliterate it using your language’s alphabet and phonology.

Also, I need help in locating the passages about water flowing from inside Christ and the believers.

Water flowed from inside Christ when He was pierced by the spear on the cross. Not sure about the believers…

 

[Seamus_Sully]

If we translated the Hebrew to English???

First river: Increase (Pison)

Havilah: Circle

Second river; Brusting forth (Gihon)

Ethiopia: Black

Third river: Rapid (Hiddekel)

Assyris: Step

Fourth river: fruitfulness… in the Greek: The Great River (Eupharates)

Eden: pleasure

Furthermore, I have often wondered if the Biblical Creation Account was known first, and then the rivers and the lands received their names from those who know the Biblical Creation Account.

 

[NotWorthy]

I know this doesn’t answer your question, Seamus, but it may help enlighten someone who is reading this thread. I got this from AgapeBibleStudy.com

Eden is on a mountain or a mountain plateau. The Tigris and Euphrates are two rivers of Eden that are still great rivers today. They flow from Turkey, through Syria and Iraq to the Persian Gulf. The Pishon no longer exists but satellite imagery has detected the huge dry riverbed of an ancient river that flowed through the Arabian Peninsula. It has been speculated that this ancient river watered this area from c. 10,000BC until it gradually dried up sometime after 3500BC. [see “The River Runs Dry”, *Biblical Archaeology Review, July/August, 1996]. Genesis 2:10-12 relates that the river Pishon flowed “around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold…” The ancient river bed discovered by the satellites is located near Mahd edh-Dhahab, one of the richest gold mines in Saudi Arabia or Afric a and which may have been worked as early as 1000BC. The fourth river, the Gihon bears the same name as the stream that is the only water source for Jerusalem in ancient times as well as today.

In this imagery “water” becomes an important often-repeated symbol in sacred Scripture for the blessings of salvation. Just as the river that flows out from Eden feeds the rivers that bring life to the earth, so too will the “waters of salvation” nourish the Church from which “rivers of living water” [for Catholics the most Holy Eucharist] will flow out from the Church to bless the whole earth [see Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 14:8; Isaiah 27:6; Revelation 22:1 *“Then the angel showed me the river of life, rising from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing crystal-clear…”

]. The Fathers of the Church saw the rivers flowing out of Eden, home of the Tree of Life, as symbolic of the four Gospels flowing out from the Cross, the true Tree of Life.

 

[Seamus_Sully]

Noteworthy

Thanks!

I wounder if the Great River is not the same as in the Apocalypse. I know that Jerome said the the Tree of Life is on both sides of the River, one side the O. T. and the other side the N. T.

Also, I wonder whether it is one River with four parts, like the four senses of the Bible. Actually, not the written Word, but the Eternal Word.

I wonder whether or not the four Gospels were written as four parts to the one Great River.

I wonder if individual Gospels fall into one of the four senses or understandings of Scripture.

Well, as always, I have more questions than I do answers.

Also, NoteWorthy, in your opinion or judgment, might the Euphrates be named from or after the Biblical Accounts? I might have already asked you that question, but I cannot recall. In your judgment, would it help the English reader or vernacular transaltion to use Increase, Circle, Bursting Forth, and fruitful?

Ironically, I think it is more literal, and yet opens up to deeper understanding. JUST A THOUGHT!

Again, THANKS

 

[Seamus_Sully]

I have often wondered if this is not the water from Genesis’ first chapters.

St. John 4: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

St. John 7: 8 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

 

[Nita]

You might like to check out this section in Sirach:

Sirach 24:23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.
24:25 It fills men with wisdom, like the Pishon,
and like the** Tigris **at the time of the first fruits.
24:26 It makes them full of understanding, like the Euphrates, and like the Jordan at harvest time.
24:27 It makes instruction shine forth like light, like the Gihon at the time of vintage.

Nita

 

[Seamus_Sully]

Nita

THANKS!!!

 

[NotWorthy]

I have often wondered if this is not the water from Genesis’ first chapters.

St. John 4: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

St. John 7: 8 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

I think if you look at Ezekiel chapter 47 and read it in the light of Christ, you’ll begin to understand what Jesus is talking about.

Regarding the water that flows from the Temple in verse 1, what is the Temple in John’s Gospel? Jesus.

Notice in verse 10 of Ezekiel, there are fisherman along the side casting there nets. Sound familiar when read in the light of Christ?

Notice in verse 12, every tree that touches the water shall bear fruit. Sound familiar when read in the light of Christ?

Now, are we sure that this relates to John chapter 7? Well, during the Liturgy at the Festival of Lights (which is the scene at John 7), the priests brings water from the Pool of Siloam and pours it out on the altar. He repeats this seven times. Then the priests read from a certain book of Scripture. Do you know what that Scripture is? Ezekiel, chapter 47!

 

[Seamus_Sully]

NoteWorthy & Nita

Your ideas have been most helpful.

THANKS!

 

[Seamus_Sully]

When the Hebrews Scriptures were translated into Greek, How were those four rivers of Genesis chapter two translated?

Thanks!

I wanted to say somethhing along these lines: When the Hebrews Scriptures were translated into Greek, what Greek words were used for the four rivers of Genesis’ second chapter?

THANKS!