Ezekiel 31:3 — Word Study
WLCהִנֵּ֨ה אַשּׁ֜וּר אֶ֣רֶז בַּלְּבָנ֗וֹן יְפֵ֥ה עָנָ֛ף וְחֹ֥רֶשׁ מֵצַ֖ל וּגְבַ֣הּ קוֹמָ֑ה וּבֵ֣ין עֲבֹתִ֔ים הָיְתָ֖ה צַמַּרְתּֽוֹ׃
BSALook athinnêh AssyriaʼAshshûwr [the Assyrian nation] a cedarʼerez [a cedar tree, strong and durable] in LebanonLᵉbânôwn [a mountain range in Israel] with beautifulyâpheh [fair, lovely] branchesʻânâph [boughs, limbs] that shadedtsâlal [provided shadow, gave shade] the forestchôresh [wood, wooded area] on highqôwmâh [in great stature] its toptsammereth [treetop, highest branch] washâyâh■ amongbêyn the cloudsʻăbôth [thick boughs, heavenly realm]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּ֨ה | there! | Particle |
| אַשּׁ֜וּר | Assyria | Noun proper |
| אֶ֣רֶז | [was] a cedar | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בַּלְּבָנ֗וֹן | in Lebanon | Preposition, noun proper |
| יְפֵ֥ה | beautiful of | Adj |
| עָנָ֛ף | branch[es] | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְחֹ֥רֶשׁ | and forest | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מֵצַ֖ל | giving shade | Verb, Hiphil, participle (active) masculine singular |
| וּגְבַ֣הּ | and tall of | Conjunction |
| קוֹמָ֑ה | height | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וּבֵ֣ין | and between | Conjunction |
| עֲבֹתִ֔ים | branches | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| הָיְתָ֖ה | it was | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| צַמַּרְתּֽוֹ׃ | treetop its | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. |
| KJV | ¶ Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. |
| ASV | Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a forest-like shade, and of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs. |
| YLT | Lo, Asshur, a cedar in Lebanon, Fair in branch, and shading bough, and high in stature, And between thickets hath its foliage been. |
| WEB | Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, and with a forest-like shade, of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs. |
| BBE | See, a pine-tree with beautiful branches and thick growth, giving shade and very tall; and its top was among the clouds. |
Where they part company is יְפֵ֥ה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with several descriptive phrases, creating a layered image of Assyria's grandeur.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאַשּׁוּר
verbצָלַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ezekiel 31:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Comparison of Assyria's Greatnessgenerated
Ezekiel 31:3 presents a vivid image of Assyria as a strong and beautiful cedar tree in Lebanon, illustrating its towering stature and the shade it provides. This metaphor serves to highlight Assyria's might and influence, contrasting it with other nations, particularly Egypt. The surrounding verses further elaborate on Assyria's growth and prominence, making it a central figure in this prophetic message.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nahum 3:1–19 | |
| 2 | Zephaniah 2:13 | And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 17:3–4 | and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar. |
| 4 | Isaiah 10:33–34 | Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. |
| 5 | Isaiah 37:24 | Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֶרֶז, 'E.rezgenerated
The Hebrew word אֶרֶז ('erez) refers to a cedar tree, known for its strength and durability. It symbolizes stability and grandeur, often used in biblical texts to denote something of great value and significance. In this context, it emphasizes Assyria's impressive stature among the nations.
The parsing as a masculine singular noun indicates that it is a concrete object, reinforcing the imagery of a physical tree. The cedar is often associated with the construction of temples and important buildings, further underscoring the idea of Assyria as a powerful and revered nation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is built around a series of clauses that describe Assyria. The main clause, introduced by הִנֵּ֨ה (hinneh), draws attention to Assyria, followed by a descriptive phrase identifying it as a cedar in Lebanon. The subsequent clauses elaborate on its attributes, including its beautiful branches and towering height.
The finite verb הָיְתָ֖ה (hayah) anchors the sentence, with various descriptive phrases detailing Assyria's characteristics and stature, creating a vivid image of its greatness.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word אֶרֶז is rendered as κυπάρισσος, which refers to a cypress tree. This choice may reflect a broader interpretation of the type of tree, suggesting a similar stature and strength but differing in specific identification.
The translation choice shows a slight widening of the imagery, as cypress trees are also known for their durability and height, paralleling the strength attributed to Assyria.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezekiel 31:3 compares Assyria to a majestic cedar tree in Lebanon, highlighting its beauty and strength. The verse describes how Assyria's branches provided shade and how it towered high, emphasizing its significance among nations.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Ezekiel uses the cedar as a metaphor for Assyria's strength, beauty, and towering presence among the nations, suggesting its importance and influence.
Lebanon is known for its cedar trees, which symbolize strength and durability, making it a fitting backdrop for the comparison to Assyria.
The branches providing shade symbolize protection and refuge, indicating Assyria's role as a powerful nation that could offer security to its allies.
This verse is part of a larger passage where Ezekiel contrasts Assyria's greatness with Egypt's, emphasizing the fate of both nations and the consequences of their pride.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen strength and beauty in my own life or community?
- How can I recognize and appreciate the greatness of nations or people around me?
- What does it mean for a leader or nation to provide shade and protection?
- How do metaphors in scripture help us understand complex ideas about power and influence?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 31:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBehold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon,.... Here grew the tallest, most stately, broad and flourishing ones.
Read John Gill on Ezekiel 31 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBehold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 31 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe Assyrian kingdom and its kings were the greatest the world ever knew before thee, they had longest time of growth, through 1340 or 1360 years, from Belus who was Nimrod, or Belus Assyrius, to Sardanapalus, from 1719 or 1717, or 1718, to 3059, of the world. And they had as fair advantages, as reaching a foresight, and as unwearied diligence to advance the kingdom; yet I bought it down. A cedar; like a cedar; kings and kingdoms oft compared to trees, both in profane and sacred emblems; or like the most goodly cedar for strength and beauty. In Lebanon; a great mountainous tract from east to west, one hundred and twenty five miles in length, encloseth Canaan on the north. With fair…
Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 31 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEzekiel 31:3 Behold, the Assyrian [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.Ver. 3. Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar.] See Ezekiel 17:3; Ezekiel 17:22-23 Daniel 4:10-11. The cedar is a very tall, fair, shady, leafy, and lively tree. Such was Esarhaddon, King of Assyria, once a most potent monarch, now not the master of a mole hill. Now, therefore (by an argument from the greater to the less), if he so fell through his pride, shalt not thou much more?
Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 31 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) A cedar in Lebanon.—Lebanon is mentioned only because it was the place where the most famous cedars grew in their greatest perfection. Assyria did, indeed, at one time possess Lebanon, but this was never its home or seat of empire. The word “shroud” in the description refers to the thickness of the shade of the branches. Among the thick boughs.—Rather, among the clouds. (See Note on Ezekiel 19:11 .Comp. also Ezekiel 31:10; Ezekiel 31:14.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 31 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar] Why is the Assyrian introduced here, when the whole chapter concerns Egypt? Bp. Lowth has shown that אשור ארז ashshur erez should be translated the tall cedar, the very stately cedar; hence there is reference to his lofty top; and all the following description belongs to Egypt, not to Assyria. But see on Ezekiel 31:11.
Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 31 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. the Assyrian was a cedar] It is evident that the Assyrian has nothing to do here; any comparison of Egypt to Assyria is without motive. Besides Ezekiel 31:3 is repeated in Ezekiel 31:10, and spoken of Egypt (cf. Ezekiel 31:18). The word “asshur” here is the name of a tree, either the same as teasshur (ch. Ezekiel 27:6), or this form should be read. Render: Behold a stately cedar in Lebanon (lit. a teasshur of a cedar); or, behold a sherbin, a cedar in Lebanon—the more general “cedar” being added after the species. a shadowing shrowd] The “shroud,” usually “forest,” must refer to the closely interwoven branches, hardly to the underwood. The phrase is wanting in LXX. the thick boughs] The…
Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 31 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFifth prophecy against Egypt: a warning to Pharaoh from the fate of the Assyrians.
Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 31 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, and with a forest-like shade, of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs.
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached into the clouds.
Tyndale line
¶ Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a forest-like shade, and of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs.
Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shady cover, and of a high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Beholde, Asshur was like a cedar in Lebanon with faire branches, and with thicke shadowing boughes, and shot vp very hye, and his toppe was among the thicke boughes.
Strictly literal
Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and a shadowing shroud, and of a high stature: and his top was amidst the thick boughs.
Lo, Asshur, a cedar in Lebanon, Fair in branch, and shading bough, and high in stature, And between thickets hath its foliage been.
Behold, Asshur, a cedar in Lebanon, || Beautiful in branch, and shading bough, and high in stature, || And its foliage has been between thickets.
Behold, Asshur was a cedar in Lebanon beautiful in its boughs, and a shadowing thicket, and high in stature; and among the thick-boughed trees was its highest branch.
Behold! Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, giving shade to the forest, and the tallest in height, and the branches formed its treetop.
From the Latin
Behold, the Assyrian was like a cedar in Libanus, with fair branches, and full of leaves, of a high stature, and his top was elevated among the thick boughs.
Simplified
Look at Assyria. It was like a cedar in Lebanon, with its beautiful branches providing shade in the forest. It was so high that its top reached the clouds.
See, a pine-tree with beautiful branches and thick growth, giving shade and very tall; and its top was among the clouds.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint share a significant amount of correspondence, with 9 out of 14 words matched. However, the Septuagint's word order and articles differ from the Hebrew text, indicating a different interpretative approach while maintaining the overall message.
הִנֵּ֨ה אַשּׁ֜וּר אֶ֣רֶז בַּלְּבָנ֗וֹן יְפֵ֥ה עָנָ֛ף וְחֹ֥רֶשׁ מֵצַ֖ל וּגְבַ֣הּ קוֹמָ֑ה וּבֵ֣ין עֲבֹתִ֔ים הָיְתָ֖ה צַמַּרְתּֽוֹ׃
9 of the 14 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ezekiel 31:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
Part — ParticleHTj
אַשּׁוּר (Ashshuwr) refers to Assyria, the ancient empire and its people, as well as Asshur, the second son of Shem. The term encompasses the region, the nation, and the descendants of Asshur. It is linked to the notion of success and is first mentioned in Genesis 10:22.
אַשּׁוּר n.pr.gent. & terr. Asshur, Assyria
base
H804 אַשּׁוּר Asshur, Assyria
804 'Ashshuwr ash-shoor'
or iAshshur {ash-shoor'}; apparently from 833 (in the sense
of successful); Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his
descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria),
its region and its empire:--Asshur, Assur, Assyria,
Assyrians. See 838.
see HEBREW for 0833
see HEBREW for 0838
אַשּׁוּר (ash.shur) — Assyria.
§ Asshur or Assyria = "a step"
the nation, Assyria
the land, Assyria or Asshur
אַשּׁוּר (ash.shur) — Asshur.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.22;
son of: Shem (H8035);
brother of: Elam (H5867C), Arpachshad (H0775), Lud (H3865) and Aram (H0758)
§ Asshur or Assyria = "a step"
1) the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians
2) the people of Assyria
3) the nation, Assyria
4) the land, Assyria or Asshur
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
a-sir'-i-a:
I. GEOGRAPHY
II. EARLY HISTORY
III. CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS
IV. POPULATION
V. TRADE AND LAW
VI. ART
VII. MECHANICS
VIII. FURNITURE, POTTERY AND EMBROIDERY
IX. LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND SCIENCE
X. GOVERNMENT AND ARMY
XI. RELIGION
XII. EXCAVATIONS
XIII. CHRONOLOGY
XIV. HISTORY
1. Early Period
2. The Older Empire
3. The Second Empire
4. Last Period and Fall of Empire
LITERATURE
Assyria, a Greek name formed from Asshur ('ashshur; 'Assour; Assyrian Assur): The primitive capital of the country.
I. Geography.
The origin of the city (now Kala'at Shergat), which was built on the western bank of the Tigris between the Upper and Lower Zab, went back to pre-Sem times, and the meaning of the name was forgotten (see Ge 2:14, where the Hiddekel or Tigris is said to flow on the eastern side of Asshur). To the North of the junction of the Tigris and Upper Zab…
Assyria
The name derived from the city Asshur on the Tigris, the original capital of the country, was originally a colony from Babylonia, and was ruled by viceroys from that kingdom. It was a mountainous region lying to the north of Babylonia, extending along the Tigris as far as to the high mountain range of Armenia, the Gordiaean or Carduchian mountains. It was founded in B.C. 1700 under Bel-kap-kapu, and became an independent and a conquering power, and shook off the yoke of its Babylonian masters. It subdued the whole of Northern Asia. The Assyrians were Semites (Gen. 10:22), but in process of time non-Semite tribes mingled with the inhabitants. They were a military people, the “Romans of the East.”
A celebrated country and empire, had its name from Ahur, or Assur, the second son of Shem, who settled in that region, Ge 10:22. In the Bible the name Assyria is employed in three different significations: namely, 1. Assyria ancient and proper lay east of the Tigris, between Armenia, Susiana, and Media, and appears to have comprehended the six provinces attributed to it by Ptolemy, namely, Arrapachis, Adiabene, Arbelis, (now Erbil,) Calachene, (Heb. Halah? 2Ki 17:6,) Apollonias, and Sittacne. It is the region which mostly comprises the modern Kurdistan and the pashalik of Mosul. Of these provinces, Adiabene was the most fertile and important; in it was situated Nineveh the capital; and the term Assyria, in its most narrow sense, seems sometimes to have meant only this province.…
country of Assur or Ashur
The Hebrew word אֶ֫רֶז (*erez*) means 'cedar' and refers to the cedar tree, its timber, and its use in building and purification. It is derived from a root indicating the tenacity of its roots. The entries consistently highlight its significance in construction and ritual practices.
אֶ֫רֶז n.m. cedar
cedar-tree
cedar-timber, cedar-wood for building
cedar-wood used in purification
base
H730 אֶ֫רֶז cedar
730 'erez eh-rez'
from 729; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its
roots):--cedar (tree).
see HEBREW for 0729
אֶ֫רֶז (e.rez) — cedar.
1) cedar
1a) cedar tree
1b) cedar timber, cedar wood (in building)
1c) cedar wood (in purifications)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
se'-dar, se'-der ('erez, from Hebrew root meaning "to be firm"; kedros): The 'erez was in almost all the Old Testament references the true cedar, Cedrus libani, but the name may have been applied in a loose way to allied trees, such as junipers and pines. In Nu 24:6--"as cedar-trees beside the waters"--the reference must, as is most probable, be purely poetical (see ALOES) or the 'arazim must signify some other kind of tree which flourishes beside water.
1. Cedar for Ritual Cleansing:
Cedar is twice mentioned as a substance for ritual cleansing. In Le 14:4 the cleansed leper was sprinkled with the blood of a "clean bird" into which had been put "cedar- wood, and scarlet, and hyssop." In Nu 19:6 "cedar-wood, and hyssop, and…
Cedar
(Heb. e’rez, Gr. kedros, Lat. cedrus), a tree very frequently mentioned in Scripture. It was stately (Ezek. 31:3-5), long-branched (Ps. 80:10; 92:12; Ezek. 31:6-9), odoriferous (Cant. 4:11; Hos. 14:6), durable, and therefore much used for boards, pillars, and ceilings (1 Kings 6:9, 10; 7:2; Jer. 22:14), for masts (Ezek. 27:5), and for carved images (Isa. 44:14).
The Hebrew word erez , invariably rendered "cedar" by the Authorized Version, stands for that tree in most of the passages where the word occurs. While the word is sometimes used in a wider sense, (Leviticus 14:6) for evergreen cone-bearing trees, generally the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is intended. (1 Kings 7:2; 10:27; Psalms 92:12; Solomon 5:15; Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 31:3-6) The wood is of a reddish color, of bitter taste and aromatic odor, offensive to insects, and very durable. The cedar is a type of the Christian, being evergreen, beautiful, aromatic, wide spreading, slow growing, long lived, and having many uses. As far as is at present known, the cedar of…
A noble evergreen-tree greatly celebrated in the Scriptures, Ps 92:12 Eze 31:3-6. These trees are remarkably thick and tall; some among them are from thirty-five to forty feet in girth, and ninety feet in height. The cedar-tree shoots out branches at ten of twelve feet from the ground, large and almost horizontal; its leaves are an inch long, slender and straight, growing in tufts. The tree bears a small cone, like that of the pine. This celebrated tree is not peculiar to mount Lebanon, but grows also upon mounts Amanus and Taurus in Asia Minor, and in other parts of the Levant, but does not elsewhere reach the size and height of those on Lebanon. It has also been cultivated in the gardens of Europe; two venerable individuals of this species exist at Chiswick in England; and…
לְבָנוֹן (le.van.on) refers to Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine known for its whiteness, likely due to its snow-capped peaks. The term is derived from a root meaning 'white' and is associated with various geographical features, including valleys and houses in the region. It appears in contexts describing the northern border of Israel.
לְבָנוֹן 71 n.pr.mont. Lebanon
base
H3844 לְבָנוֹן Lebanon
3844 Lbanown leb-aw-nohn'
from 3825; (the) white mountain (from its snow); Lebanon, a
mountain range in Palestine:--Lebanon.
see HEBREW for 03825
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — Lebanon.
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — (Mount) Lebanon.
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — (Valley of) Lebanon.
Combined with biq.ah (בִּקְעָה " Valley" H1237I)
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
לְבָנוֹן (le.va.non) — (House of the Forest of) Lebanon.
Combined with ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת "House" H1004K)
§ Lebanon = "whiteness"
a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHRd/Npl
leb'-a-non (lebanon; Septuagint Libanos; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) Libanus):
1. Name:
Derived from the root labhen, "to be white," probably from the snow which covers its summits the greater part of the year. "White mountains" are found in almost every country. The light color of the upper limestone may, however, form a sufficient reason for the name. In prose the article is usually connected with the name. In poetry it is more often without the article. In the Septuagint, however, the article is generally present both in prose and poetry.
2. General Description:
The Lebanon range proper borders the east coast of the Mediterranean, for a distance of 100 miles, running North-Northeast and South-Southwest from the mouth of the Litany river, the classic Leontes (which enters the sea a little North of Tyre), to the mouth of the Eleuthurus (Nahr el-Kebir), a few miles North of…
Lebanon
White, “the white mountain of Syria,” is the loftiest and most celebrated mountain range in Syria. It is a branch running southward from the Caucasus, and at its lower end forking into two parallel ranges, the eastern or Anti-Lebanon, and the western or Lebanon proper. They enclose a long valley (Josh. 11:17) of from 5 to 8 miles in width, called by Roman writers Coele-Syria, now called el-Buka’a, “the valley,” a prolongation of the valley of the Jordan.
Lebanon proper, Jebel es-Sharki, commences at its southern extremity in the gorge of the Leontes, the ancient Litany, and extends north-east, parallel to the Mediterranean coast, as far as the river Eleutherus, at the plain of Emesa, “the entering of Hamath” (Num. 34:8;
a mountain range in the north of Palestine. The name Lebanon signifies white, and was applied either on account of snow which, during a great part of the year, cover its whole summit, or on account of the white color of its limestone cliffs and peaks. It is the "white mountain" --the Mont Blane of Palestine. Lebanon is represented in Scripture as lying upon the northern border of the land of Israel. (1:7; 11:24; Joshua 1:4) Two distinct ranges bear this name. They run in parallel lines from southwest to northeast for about 90 geographical miles, enclosing between them a long, fertile valley from five to eight miles wide, anciently called Coele-Syria . The western range is the "Libanus" of the old geographers and the Lebanon of Scripture. The eastern range was called "Anti-Libanus" by geographers, and "Lebanon toward the sunrising" by…
White, a long chain of mountains on the north of Palestine, so named from the whitish limestone of which they are composed and in part perhaps from their snowy whiteness in winter. It consists of two main ridges running northeast and southwest, nearly parallel with each other and with the coast of the Mediterranean. See view in SIDON. The western ridge was called Libanus by the Greeks, and the eastern AntiLibanus. Between them lies a long valley called Coele-Syria, that is, Hollow Syria, and the "valley of Lebanon," Jos 11:17, at present Bukkah. It opens towards the north, but is exceedingly narrow towards the south, where the river Litany, anciently Orontes, issues form the valley and flows west to the sea, north of Tyre. The western ridge is generally higher than the eastern, and several of its peaks are thought to be towards…
The Hebrew word יָפֶה (yapheh) means 'fair' or 'beautiful,' and can describe something that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive. It is derived from the root word יָפָה (yafah). The entries consistently emphasize its use in both literal and figurative contexts.
יָפֶה adj. fair, beautiful
base
H3303 יָפֶה fair, beautiful
3303 yapheh yaw-feh'
from 3302; beautiful (literally or figuratively):--+
beautiful, beauty, comely, fair(-est, one), + goodly,
pleasant, well.
see HEBREW for 03302
יָפֶה (ya.pheh) — beautiful.
fair, beautiful, handsome
Adj — AdjHAamsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
עָנָף (anaph) refers to branches or boughs. It is derived from an unused root meaning to cover, suggesting a connection to twigs that cover limbs. The word is straightforwardly defined across entries, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
עָנָף n.[m.] branch(es), bough(s)
base
H6057 עָנָף branch(es), bough(s)
6057 `anaph aw-nawf'
from an unused root meaning to cover; a twig (as covering the
limbs):--bough, branch.
עָנָף (a.naph) — branch.
bough, branch
Aramaic equivalent: a.naph (עֲנַף "bough" H6056)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
חֹ֫רֶשׁ (choresh) refers to wood or a wooded area, suggesting a connection to forests. It is derived from a root that implies material for fabric, and its meanings include forest, bough, and shroud. The entries consistently describe it as relating to wooded heights or areas.
חֹ֫רֶשׁ n.m. wood, wooded height
base
H2793 חֹ֫רֶשׁ wood, wooded height
2793 choresh kho'-resh
from 2790; a forest (perhaps as furnishing the material for
fabric):--bough, forest, shroud, wood.
see HEBREW for 02790
חֹ֫רֶשׁ (cho.resh) — Horesh.
This name means wood, forest
חֹ֫רֶשׁ (cho.resh) — wood.
1) wood, wooded height, forest, wooded area.
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
for'-est:
(1) choresh (compare proper name Harosheth), 2Ch 27:4. In 1Sa 23:15 ff translated "wood"; in Isa 17:9, "wood"; in Eze 31:3, "forest-like shade." Applied to any thick growth of vegetation but not necessarily so extensive as (3).
(2) pardec: Ne 2:8, margin "park"; Ec 2:5, the King James Version "orchards," the Revised Version (British and American) "parks"; So 4:13, English Versions of the Bible "orchard," the Revised Version, margin "paradise." A word of Persian origin signifying probably an enclosure.
Forest
Heb. ya’ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great primeval forests of Syria (Eccl. 2:6; Isa. 44:14; Jer. 5:6; Micah 5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2 Sam. 18:6, 8; Josh. 17:15, 18), which is probably the same as the wood of Ephratah (Ps. 132:6), some part of the great forest of Gilead. It was in this forest that Absalom was slain by Joab. David withdrew to the forest of Hareth in the mountains of Judah to avoid the fury of Saul (
Although Palestine has never been in historical times a woodland country, yet there can be no doubt that there was much more wood formerly than there is a t present, and that the destruction of the forests was one of the chief causes of the present desolation.
צָלַל (tsalal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to shade or grow dark. It can refer to the onset of evening or the act of shadowing, with different forms indicating its use in various contexts. The word appears in descriptions of darkness or shadow, such as in the phrase about the gates of Jerusalem growing dark.
[צָלַל] vb. be or grow dark
Qal the gates of Jerusalem grew dark, i.e. evening came on
Hiph. a shadowing wood
base
H6751 צָלַל
6751 tsalal tsaw-lal'
a primitive root (identical with 6749 through the idea of
hovering over (compare 6754)); to shade, as twilight or an
opaque object:--begin to be dark, shadowing.
see HEBREW for 06749
see HEBREW for 06754
צָלַל (tsa.lal) — to shade.
1) to be or become or grow dark
1a) (Qal) to become or grow dark
1b) (Hiphil) to shadow
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singularHVhrmsa
The Hebrew word גָּבֹהַּ (*gaboah*) means high or exalted, covering meanings such as tall, lofty, and haughty. It can also refer to loftiness as a noun. The word is derived from a root meaning to elevate or be elevated, and it appears in contexts that emphasize height or pride.
גָּבֹהַּ adj. high, exalted
high, lofty, tall
exalted in station
haughty
n.[m.] loftiness
base
H1364 גָּבֹהַּ high, exalted . high, lofty, tall
. exalted in station
. haughty
. n. [m.] loftiness
1364 gaboahh gaw-bo'-ah
or (fully) gabowahh {gaw-bo'-ah}; from 1361; elevated (or
elated), powerful, arrogant:--haughty, height, high(-er),
lofty, proud, X exceeding proudly.
see HEBREW for 01361
גָּבֹהַּ (ga.vo.ah) — high.
adj
1) high, exalted
1a) high, tall
1b) high (in position)
1c) proud, haughty
n m
2) loftiness
Also means: ga.vah (גָּבֹהַּ "high" H1362)
HC/Aamsc — ConjunctionHC/Aamsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
קוֹמָה (qowmah) means 'height' and refers to stature or tallness. It is derived from the root word קוּם (qum), which relates to standing or rising. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to physical height.
קוֹמָה, קֹמָה 45 n.f. height
base
H6967 קוֹמָה, קֹמָה height
6967 qowmah ko-maw'
from 6965; height:--X along, height, high, stature, tall.
see HEBREW for 06965
קוֹמָה (qo.mah) — height.
1) height
1a) height, stature
1b) height
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.
בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between
always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
base
H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
996 beyn bane
(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,
the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a
distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before
each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,
either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +
from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.
see HEBREW for 0995
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.
: between
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.
: among
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)
Conj | Prep — ConjunctionHC/Acmsc
עֲבֹת (aboth) refers to a twisted cord or rope, and can also denote cordage or interwoven foliage. The word is derived from a root meaning something intertwined, and it encompasses various forms such as bands, chains, and thick branches. There is a suggestion of uncertainty regarding the meaning of 'interwoven foliage' in some entries.
עֲבֹת n.m. et f. (twisted) cord, rope; cordage; interwoven foliage (?)
base
H5688 עֲבֹת (twisted) cord, rope; cordage; interwoven foliage (?)
5688 `aboth ab-oth'
or rabowth {ab-oth'}; or (feminine) tabothah {ab- oth-aw'};
the same as 5687; something intwined, i.e. a string, wreath or
foliage:--band, cord, rope, thick bough (branch), wreathen
(chain).
see HEBREW for 05687
עֲבֹת (a.vot) — cord.
1) cord, rope, cordage, foliage, interwoven foliage
1a) cord, rope, cordage, chain
1b) interwoven foliage
N-cp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
צַמֶּ֫רֶת (tsam-meh'-reth) refers to a treetop or the highest branch of a tree, suggesting a fleecy or feathery appearance. It is derived from a related word meaning 'fleeciness' and is noted in the context of foliage.
צַמֶּ֫רֶת n.f. tree-top (poss. from wooly, feathery, appearance)
base
H6788 צַמֶּ֫רֶת
6788 tsammereth tsam-meh'-reth
from the same as 6785; fleeciness, i.e. foliage:--highest
branch, top.
see HEBREW for 06785
צַמֶּ֫רֶת (tsam.me.ret) — treetop.
treetop
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms