Place Old Testament
Pishon
Also known as Pishon =ESV, NIV; Pison =KJV
Pishon was one of the four rivers that flowed from the river in the Garden of Eden, encircling the land of Havilah, which was known for its gold, bdellium, and onyx. Mentioned once in Scripture, at Genesis 2:11.
Why it matters. A river flowing from Eden, encircling Havilah
- Primary passages
- Location
- Location unknown
No coordinates in the source dataset.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Pishon
Pishon is one of the four rivers mentioned in the biblical account of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:11). The Bible describes a single river flowing out of Eden to water the garden, which then divided into four rivers, with Pishon being the first. Pishon is said to wind through the entire land of Havilah, a region known for its abundance of gold, bdellium (a fragrant resin), and onyx stone (Gen. 2:11-12). The name "Pishon" is thought to derive from the Hebrew root "puwsh," meaning "to scatter, spread, or spring forward," possibly indicating that the river originated from a spring and formed a delta. Despite attempts to identify Pishon with various modern-day rivers, such as the Nile, Indus, or Ganges, its exact location remains unknown, as the geography described in the Eden account is difficult to reconcile with the current landscape. Some scholars suggest that the Pishon and the other rivers of Eden may have symbolic or allegorical significance, representing the life-giving power and abundance that flowed from God's presence in the garden.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 1 verse across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.
Genesis (1 verse)