Genesis 2:12

Summary

This verse describes the quality of gold found in the land of Havilah (referenced from the previous verse) and names two additional minerals present there: bdolach ("bdellium", H0916) and shoham ("onyx", H7718). The Hebrew uses a construct chain structure to link the gold and stones to their location or type.

Key words

• zahav ("gold", H2091) — masculine singular construct noun, meaning "gold of," forming a bound relationship with ha'aretz ("the land").
• ha'aretz ("land", H0776G) — feminine singular noun with definite article, the absolute noun completing the construct phrase "gold of the land."
• tov ("good", H2896A) — masculine singular adjective, predicating quality on the gold just named.
• bdolach ("bdellium", H0916) — masculine singular noun with definite article, naming a substance located "there" (sham, H8033G).
• even ("stone of", H0068G) — feminine singular construct noun, meaning "stone of," bound to hashoham ("the onyx", H7718) to form "onyx stone."

What the text says

The verse opens with a construct chain: zahav ha'aretz hahi ("gold of that land"), where zahav ("gold", H2091) stands in construct relation to ha'aretz ("land", H0776G), itself modified by the demonstrative hahi ("that", from H1931). This construction identifies the gold specifically as belonging to the land mentioned in the preceding verse, rather than gold in general. The adjective tov ("good", H2896A) then predicates a quality on this gold, forming a simple nominal clause: "the gold of that land is good."

The second half of the verse shifts to an existential construction using the adverb sham ("there", H8033G), followed by two mineral names: ha-bdolach ("the bdellium", H0916) and even ha-shoham ("stone of the onyx", H0068G + H7718). The second mineral name is itself a construct chain, even ("stone of") bound to hashoham ("the onyx"), producing "onyx stone" as a compound designation. The syntax lists these items without a verb, relying on sham to establish their location "there," a common pattern in Biblical Hebrew for stating presence or existence.

Differences between versions

The Hebrew names bdolach ("bdellium", H0916) and even hashoham ("onyx stone", H7718). The LXX renders these as ὁ ἄνθραξ ("the carbuncle") and ὁ λίθος ὁ πράσινος ("the green stone"), substituting different mineral terms rather than transliterating or directly translating the Hebrew names. The Vulgate follows the Hebrew more closely with bdellium and lapis onychinus ("onyx stone"). Among the Spanish translations, RV1909 renders shoham as "piedra cornerina" (carnelian stone), while SBLIBRE renders bdolach as "resina aromática" (aromatic resin) rather than "bdellium," reflecting differing traditions in identifying these substances.