Torah Garden Atlas
Comprehensive reference guide to people, places, and divine names in the Torah
Your comprehensive reference guide to the biblical world
Welcome to the Torah Atlas - a complete reference system for understanding the people, places, and divine names that populate the Torah narratives. This collection transforms every wikilinked entity in your Torah text into a rich, research-backed resource for deeper study.
Quick Statistics
- 167 Total Entities referenced across Torah texts
- 10 Divine Names - The many ways God reveals himself
- 139 People - From major patriarchs to minor characters
- 18 Places - Key locations in biblical geography
=J Divine Names
The many ways God reveals himself in Torah
The Torah uses multiple names for God, each revealing different aspects of divine character and relationship. These names are crucial for understanding both theology and literary structure.
Primary Divine Names
YHWH (449 occurrences) - The sacred tetragrammaton
- The covenant name of God
- “I AM who I AM” - Divine self-existence
- Most frequently used in Torah
Adonai (779 occurrences) - Lord, Master
- Emphasizes God’s sovereignty and lordship
- Often substituted when reading YHWH
- Most common divine name in Torah
Elohim (265 occurrences) - God, Mighty One
- Emphasizes divine power and judgment
- Used in creation account and universal contexts
- Plural form suggesting majesty
YHWH Elohim (20 occurrences) - The LORD God
- Combination emphasizing covenant and power
- Bridges personal and universal aspects
- Prominent in Genesis 2-3
Descriptive Divine Names
El Shaddai (5 occurrences) - God Almighty El Elyon (4 occurrences) - God Most High Ehyeh (3 occurrences) - I Am El Olam (1 occurrence) - God Everlasting El Roi (1 occurrence) - The God Who Sees El (1 occurrence) - God
=e People of the Torah
From patriarchs to pharaohs - the human story of Scripture
The Torah chronicles humanity’s relationship with God through individual stories and family narratives spanning centuries.
The Patriarchs & Matriarchs
Major Patriarchs:
- Abraham (133 occurrences) - Father of faith and covenant
- Jacob (190 occurrences) - Israel, father of the twelve tribes
- Isaac (81 occurrences) - Son of promise
Matriarchs:
- Sarah (37 occurrences) - Mother of Isaac, princess
- Rebekah (30 occurrences) - Wife of Isaac, mother of Jacob and Esau
- Rachel (43 occurrences) - Beloved wife of Jacob
- Leah (33 occurrences) - Mother of six tribes
Key Biblical Figures
Joseph Narrative:
- Joseph (158 occurrences) - Dreamer, vizier, provider
- Pharaoh (94 occurrences) - [[Atlas/People/Pharaoh|Egyptian king in Joseph’s time]]
Primeval History:
- Adam (9 occurrences) - First man, father of humanity
- Eve (2 occurrences) - Mother of all living
- Noah (40 occurrences) - Righteous in his generation
- Abel (9 occurrences) - Righteous shepherd
- Cain (16 occurrences) - First murderer
Extended Family & Associates
Abraham’s Circle:
- Lot (31 occurrences) - [[Atlas/People/Lot|Abraham’s nephew]]
- Hagar (12 occurrences) - [[Atlas/People/Hagar|Sarah’s servant, mother of Ishmael]]
- Ishmael (17 occurrences) - [[Atlas/People/Ishmael|Abraham’s first son]]
- Abimelech (24 occurrences) - Philistine king
Jacob’s Family:
- Esau (80 occurrences) - [[Atlas/People/Esau|Jacob’s twin, father of Edom]]
- Laban (57 occurrences) - Father-in-law of Jacob
- Benjamin (17 occurrences) - Youngest son of Jacob
- Judah (29 occurrences) - Fourth son, leader among brothers
Tribal and National Groups
- Israelites - The chosen people, descendants of Jacob
- Egyptians (13 occurrences) - People of Egypt
- Canaanites (10 occurrences) - Original inhabitants of the land
- Hittites (11 occurrences) - Ancient Near Eastern people
- Philistines (8 occurrences) - Sea peoples
=� Places & Geography
The biblical landscape - where the story unfolds
Torah narratives span from Mesopotamia to Egypt, with the Promised Land at the center of God’s purposes.
Major Nations & Regions
Egypt (79 occurrences) - Land of bondage and deliverance
- Primary setting for Joseph narrative and Exodus
- Place of refuge during famines
- Symbol of worldly power and oppression
Canaan (42 occurrences) - The Promised Land
- Central focus of Abrahamic covenant
- Land promised to patriarchs and their descendants
- Geographic center of Torah narratives
Cities & Settlements
Religious & Covenant Centers:
- Bethel (12 occurrences) - House of God
- Beersheba (11 occurrences) - Well of the oath
- Shechem (18 occurrences) - First stop in Canaan
Wicked Cities:
- Sodom (21 occurrences) - Infamous city of sin
- Gomorrah (9 occurrences) - Destroyed with Sodom
Origins & Destinations:
- Haran (13 occurrences) - [[Atlas/Places/Haran|Abraham’s departure point]]
- Mamre (10 occurrences) - Oak grove near Hebron
Geographical Features
Special Locations:
- Eden (6 occurrences) - Primordial garden
- Machpelah (6 occurrences) - Patriarchal burial cave
Regions:
- Goshen (10 occurrences) - Hebrew settlement in Egypt
- Negeb (5 occurrences) - Southern wilderness
=� Research Connections
By Frequency of Mention
Most Referenced Divine Names:
Most Referenced People:
- Jacob (190) - Israel, father of tribes
- Joseph (158) - Provider during famine
- Abraham (133) - Father of faith
Most Referenced Places:
By Torah Book Distribution
The Atlas entities span all five Torah books, with concentrations in:
- Genesis: Origins, patriarchs, and foundations
- Exodus: Liberation, covenant, and law
- Leviticus: Worship, holiness, and priesthood
- Numbers: Wilderness, testing, and preparation
- Deuteronomy: Renewal, reflection, and transition
= Cross-Reference System
Thematic Connections
Covenant Theology: Abraham � Isaac � Jacob � Joseph Connected through divine promises of land, descendants, and blessing
Divine Revelation: YHWH � El Shaddai � El Elyon � El Olam Progressive revelation of God’s character and attributes
Geographic Journey: Ur � Haran � Canaan � Egypt � Exodus Physical journey mirroring spiritual development
Literary Patterns
Testing Narratives:
- Abraham and Isaac - Ultimate test of faith
- Jacob wrestling at Peniel - Identity transformation
- Joseph in Egypt - Providence through suffering
Covenant Locations:
- Bethel - House of God, ladder vision
- Beersheba - Well of oath, multiple covenant confirmations
- Mamre - Oak grove, divine visitations
<� Study Applications
For Biblical Study
- Character Studies: Follow individuals through complete narratives
- Thematic Research: Trace concepts across multiple passages
- Historical Context: Understand ancient Near Eastern background
For Academic Research
- Source Criticism: Divine name usage patterns
- Literary Analysis: Narrative structure and development
- Archaeological Correlation: Historical and material evidence
For Devotional Reading
- Spiritual Formation: Learn from biblical examples
- Prayer and Meditation: Names of God for worship
- Life Application: Ancient wisdom for modern living
=� How to Use This Atlas
- Start with Torah Text: Click any wikilinked name while reading
- Explore Cross-References: Follow connections between related entries
- Research Deeply: Use web-researched content for comprehensive understanding
- Build Knowledge: Create your own connections and insights
Navigation Tips
- Each entry includes cross-references to related people, places, and concepts
- Frequency counts help identify the most significant entities
- Hebrew etymology provides linguistic insights
- Archaeological context grounds narratives in history
The Torah Atlas transforms your study from simple reading into deep exploration of the interconnected world of Scripture. Every name, every place, every divine encounter is connected - waiting to be discovered.
Begin exploring: Choose any entity above to start your journey through the biblical world.