Bible Dictionary
GARDENER
A gardener is a keeper or watchman responsible for guarding a garden, especially during its productive season. Mary encountered such a person near Jesus’ tomb after the resurrection.
Definition
A gardener is a keeper or warden of a garden. In the biblical occurrence, the term may denote a watchman responsible for guarding the garden rather than a laborer who cultivated it.
Biblical Usage
Mary encountered a gardener near Jesus’ tomb after the resurrection and, not recognizing him, asked whether he had removed the body.
Historical Background
Gardens in Palestine were commonly placed under a watchman during their productive season. The word combines the ideas of garden and keeper.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>gar'-d'-n-er (kepouros):</p><p>"Gardener" occurs once in the English Versions of the Bible (Joh 20:15), the translation of kepos and ouros, "warden" or "keeper." It is likely that the man referred to was the watchman or keeper (Arabic natur; Hebrew notser), corresponding to those mentioned in 2Ki 17:9; 18:8; Job 27:18, etc., and not one who did the manual labor. It is the common practice in Palestine today to set a watchman over a garden during its productive season.</p><p>See WATCHMAN.</p>