Places in the Bible Today:

Gihon 1

Data

Translated NameGihon
Typesriver or spring
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

9 Possible Identifications

  1. another name for the Nile (ancient): 20% confidence

    1. panorama of the Nile RiverNile River

  2. another name for Gihon 2 (ancient): 15% confidence

    1. water flowing from the Gihon SpringGihon Spring

  3. Karkheh River (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the Karkheh RiverKarkheh River

  4. White Nile (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the White NileWhite Nile

  5. Diyala River (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the Diyala RiverDiyala River

  6. not a proper name (canal): less than 10% confidence
  7. Karun River (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. closeup of the Karun RiverKarun River

  8. Al Gharraf River (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the Al Gharraf RiverAl Gharraf River

  9. Aras River (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the Aras RiverAras River

Verses (1)

Gen 2:13

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookGihon (of Eden)
OpenBible.info (2007)Gihon 1
OpenBible.infoa71d79b (Gihon 1)
TIPNRGihon@Gen.2.13
UBS Names Databaseot ID_724
WikidataQ1247896

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Gihon (place)
  2. Collins, Genesis 1-4 (2006): page 120
  3. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Eden (place); Gihon
  4. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): Gen 2:11-14
  5. Hamilton, Genesis (1995): 2:11-12; 2:13
  6. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): Gihon
  7. Hartley, Genesis (2000): 2:10-14 note
  8. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Gihon
  9. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): The location of the rivers mentioned in Genesis 2
  10. Matthews, Genesis (1996, 2005): 2:10-14
  11. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Gihon
  12. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Gihon
  13. Wenham, Genesis (1987, 1994): 2:13
  14. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Gihon
  15. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010): Eden

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Places with Similar Names

Thumbnail Image Credits

René Hourdry, Deror_avi, Unknown author, Bernard DUPONT, Ali Al Obaidi, matin fattahi, Raghib rzeeg, M karzarj

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.