Word of the Day: Land of Nod

Land of Nod
noun

sleep.

This phrase comes from Genesis in the story of Cain and Abel. Adam and Eve had two kids, Cain and Abel. Abel was a shepherd; Cain was a farmer. When they offered sacrifices to the Lord, Abel laid out his first lambs and fattest of his flock. Cain gave fruit. God wasn't too pleased with Cain's offering. Cain got jealous and killed Abel. God banned Cain from his presence. Cain pouted. God didn't care.

Genesis 4:16
"And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."

This doesn't have jack diddly to do with sleeping. In Hebrew, apparently Nod means "wanderer." Makes sense for Genesis, but not for sleeping.

If you look up "nod off" the dictionary says Middle English has the word nodden that may have come from Middle High German notten. English already had the word nod meaning "sleep." When people read Genesis 4, it sounded like Sleepyland. Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning.

------------------

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
by Eugene Field

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe --
Sailed off on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in the beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!"
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in the beautiful sea --
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish --
Never afeard are we";
So cried the stars to the fisherman three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.


All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam --
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe
Bringing the fisherman home;
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea --
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoes that sailed the skies
Is the wee one's trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fisherman three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.