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The "Hideqel" in Genesis refers to one of the four rivers mentioned in Genesis 2:14, which describes the geography of the Garden of Eden. The verse states: "The name of the third river is Hideqel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates." Based on biblical scholarship, historical geography, and linguistic analysis, "Hideqel" is widely identified as the Tigris River. Here's how we know:

Identification of Hideqel as the Tigris

1. Linguistic Evidence:

- The Hebrew word Ḥiddeqel (חִדֶּקֶל) is closely related to the Akkadian name for the Tigris, Idiqlat, used in ancient Mesopotamian texts. The similarity in pronunciation and spelling suggests a direct connection. Over time, this name evolved into the Greek Tigris, which is the name we use today. Also the name for the Tigris is Diglath in Aramaic (The G sound in this word is a soft g like the French R). In the Septuagint, Hideqel is translated as Tigris, and the Vulgate follows suit, rendering it Tigris in Latin, both affirming its identity as the Tigris River in early biblical translations.

- The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) renders Hideqel as Tigris, further solidifying this link.

2. Geographical Clues:

- Genesis 2:14 describes the Hideqel as flowing "east of Assyria." The Tigris River aligns with this description, as it runs through the region historically associated with Assyria, a powerful ancient empire centered in what is now northern Iraq. The Tigris flows southeastward, passing east of the Assyrian heartland (e.g., cities like Nineveh), before joining the Euphrates.

- The mention of the Euphrates as the fourth river strengthens this identification, as the Tigris and Euphrates are the two major rivers of Mesopotamia, often paired together in ancient texts and maps.

3. Historical Context:

- Ancient Jewish and early Christian commentators, such as Josephus (in Antiquities of the Jews), explicitly identify the Hideqel with the Tigris. This reflects a long-standing tradition of equating the two, based on the known geography of the ancient Near East.

- Mesopotamian records, including cuneiform inscriptions, consistently refer to the Tigris by names like Idiqlat, reinforcing its prominence in the region where Eden’s rivers are placed.

How Do We Know?

The identification rests on a combination of textual, linguistic, and geographical evidence:

- The Hebrew Hideqel matches the ancient Akkadian Idiqlat, which became Tigris in later languages.

- The river’s location "east of Assyria" corresponds to the Tigris’s course through modern-day Iraq.

- Its pairing with the Euphrates, a river still known by that name today, anchors the Genesis account in a recognizable Mesopotamian setting.

Potential Challenges

While the Tigris is the consensus identification, some uncertainties remain due to the antediluvian (pre-Flood) setting of Genesis 2. The Great Flood (Genesis 6–9) may have altered the earth’s geography, meaning the modern Tigris might not flow exactly as the ancient Hideqel did. Nevertheless, the post-Flood continuity of names and locations—especially with the Euphrates as a fixed point—suggests that the Tigris is the most plausible match.

Conclusion

The Hideqel in Genesis is the Tigris River, known today as one of the defining waterways of Mesopotamia. We arrive at this conclusion through the Hebrew text’s linguistic roots, its geographical reference to Assyria, and the consistent testimony of ancient traditions. Together, these threads weave a compelling case that Hideqel and Tigris are one and the same.