Wilderness Definitions

Wilderness is an evocative term, with deep biblical roots. Wilderness is also a protective legal designation enacted by Congress, based on definitions established by the Wilderness Act of 1964, recognizing the value of unusually pristine and scenic lands. Obviously there are differences between the biblical definitions, which refer mostly to arid land types in the near east, and the current legal definition in the U.S. Paying attention to what we mean by “wilderness” can clarify the relevance of wilderness areas for Christians today.

In the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, the most common word for wilderness is midbar (uninhabited land, land used to pasture flocks, abode of wild animals). In many cases specific places are referred to, such as the Wilderness (midbar) of Sinai. Some English translations prefer the term “desert” instead of “wilderness,” likely in recognition of the sorts of wild areas common in the ancient near east (reflecting desert, steppe, and Mediterranean ecosystems).* In the Greek of the New Testament, the most common term for wilderness is eremos/eremia (desert, isolated, solitary, lonely, or remote place). The English roots of wilderness come from the Middle English wildernesse, which combines wilde (shaggy hair, unkempt -- whence wool) with doer (Old English for wild animal) and ness (state of): a wild place, or place of wild animals.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established statutory protections for lands falling under its definition of wilderness, land: “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” Wilderness areas are designated by Congress from among federal lands that are generally undeveloped and relatively primeval in character, where “man’s work [is] substantially unnoticeable,” and with outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined types of recreation. (Click here for full 1964 Wilderness Act definition.)

Thus the contemporary ideal of wilderness in America encompasses more than the deserts, remote places, and uninhabited lands reflected in biblical words for wilderness. More than being an uninhabited borderland for refuge, escape, and cattle-grazing, American wilderness signifies our attempt to celebrate and preserve God’s creation, and observe Sabbath wisdom by restraining productive human enterprise.

*The King James translation refers to “wilderness” just over 300 times, while the New International Version uses the word only 5 times, in preference to more than 300 uses of the word “desert.” Hebrew words such as arabah (desert plain) and siyyah (dry or parched land, desert, barren place) are also used in both translations.

What Is Wilderness?