Quick Definition
branch
Strong's Definition
a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard)
Derivation: from H7069 (קָנָה);
KJV Usage: balance, bone, branch, calamus, cane, reed, [idiom] spearman, stalk.
TWOT Reference: 2040a
Outline of Biblical Usage
Septuagint (LXX) Greek Equivalents
This Hebrew word is translated by the following Greek words in the Septuagint:
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
קָנֶה (qa.neh) — branch. : branch 1) reed, stalk, bone, balances 1a) stalk 1b) water-plant, reed 1c) calamus (aromatic reed) 1d) derived meanings 1d1) measuring-rod 1d2) reed (as unit of measure-6 cubits) 1d3) beam (of scales-for scales themselves) 1d4) shaft (of lampstand) 1d5) branches (of lampstand) 1d6) shoulder-joint
קָנֶה (qa.neh) — branch: stem. : stem/reed 1) reed, stalk, bone, balances 1a) stalk 1b) water-plant, reed 1c) calamus (aromatic reed) 1d) derived meanings 1d1) measuring-rod 1d2) reed (as unit of measure-6 cubits) 1d3) beam (of scales-for scales themselves) 1d4) shaft (of lampstand) 1d5) branches (of lampstand) 1d6) shoulder-joint
קָנֶה (qa.neh) — branch: measuring rod. : measuring_rod 1) reed, stalk, bone, balances 1a) stalk 1b) water-plant, reed 1c) calamus (aromatic reed) 1d) derived meanings 1d1) measuring-rod 1d2) reed (as unit of measure-6 cubits) 1d3) beam (of scales-for scales themselves) 1d4) shaft (of lampstand) 1d5) branches (of lampstand) 1d6) shoulder-joint
קָנֶה (qa.neh) — branch: shoulder. : shoulder 1) reed, stalk, bone, balances 1a) stalk 1b) water-plant, reed 1c) calamus (aromatic reed) 1d) derived meanings 1d1) measuring-rod 1d2) reed (as unit of measure-6 cubits) 1d3) beam (of scales-for scales themselves) 1d4) shaft (of lampstand) 1d5) branches (of lampstand) 1d6) shoulder-joint
קָנֶה (qa.neh) — branch: scales. : scales 1) reed, stalk, bone, balances 1a) stalk 1b) water-plant, reed 1c) calamus (aromatic reed) 1d) derived meanings 1d1) measuring-rod 1d2) reed (as unit of measure-6 cubits) 1d3) beam (of scales-for scales themselves) 1d4) shaft (of lampstand) 1d5) branches (of lampstand) 1d6) shoulder-joint
קָנֶה (qa.neh) — branch: calamus. : calamus 1) reed, stalk, bone, balances 1a) stalk 1b) water-plant, reed 1c) calamus (aromatic reed) 1d) derived meanings 1d1) measuring-rod 1d2) reed (as unit of measure-6 cubits) 1d3) beam (of scales-for scales themselves) 1d4) shaft (of lampstand) 1d5) branches (of lampstand) 1d6) shoulder-joint
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
noun m · קנה
Plants
reed = a tall grass with stiff, sharply-pointed leaves and a plume-like flower head that reaches to more than 2 m; it grows in lakes and streams, the roots creeping across the bottom of the lake to produce new leaves and stalks; or on riverbanks; ◄ Phragmites australis (Common reed) or Arundo donax (Giant reed); ► used for baskets, mats, flutes, pens, arrows, and roof-coverings; ≈ symbol of weakness and undependability, but also flexibility
1KI 14:15 · 2KI 18:21 · JOB 40:21 · PSA 68:31 · ISA 19:6 · ISA 35:7 · ISA 36:6 · ISA 42:3 · EZK 29:6
Plants | Spices
fragrant grass, calamus, sweet flag meaning unsure; either: (1) = type of grass that grows in clumps to more than a meter high and has stiff leaves like sword grass and has a sweet smell; ◄ Cymbopogon; ► oil is extracted by boiling and distilling the leaves; used in the oil for anointing priests; or (2) = a type of reed with stiff leaves, distinguished by its green flower head that grows on a stalk to about 50 cm high; ◄ Acorus calamus or Calamus; ► the scented leaves and more strongly scented tubers have traditionally been used medicinally and to make fragrances, and the dried and powdered tubers have been used as a substitute for ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg
Tools
Collocation: קְנֵה מִדָּה
measuring reed, measuring stick = reed used as a linear measure of six royal cubits, i.e. of 3.1 meters
EZK 40:3 · EZK 40:5 · EZK 40:5 · EZK 40:5 · EZK 40:6 · EZK 40:6 · EZK 40:7 · EZK 40:7 · EZK 40:7 · EZK 40:8 · EZK 41:8 · EZK 42:16 · EZK 42:16 · EZK 42:16 · EZK 42:17 · EZK 42:17 · EZK 42:18 · EZK 42:18 · EZK 42:19 · EZK 42:19
Tools
balance, scales = contraption consisting of rod held by a cord in the middle and with pans attached to both ends; ► used for weighing objects
Artifacts
branch (of lampstand), arm (of lampstand) = curved branch or arm; ◄ springing from the shaft of a golden lampstand; ► location for oil lamp
EXO 25:31 · EXO 25:32 · EXO 25:32 · EXO 25:32 · EXO 25:33 · EXO 25:33 · EXO 25:33 · EXO 25:35 · EXO 25:35 · EXO 25:35 · EXO 25:35 · EXO 25:36 · EXO 37:17 · EXO 37:18 · EXO 37:18 · EXO 37:18 · EXO 37:19 · EXO 37:19 · EXO 37:19 · EXO 37:21 · EXO 37:21 · EXO 37:21 · EXO 37:21 · EXO 37:22
1 EXO 25:31 · EXO 37:17 REB קניה "its branches"; RSV NIV NJPS NJB NRSV GNT "shaft", "stem"; HOTTP-B CEV read this as the totality of the six branches
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
קָנֶה 62 n.m. stalk, reed stalk of grain
water-plant, reed
calamus, aromatic reed
derived meanings: measuring-rod
unit of measure, reed (of 6 cubits)
beam of scales, for scales themselves
shaft of lamp-stand
branches thereof
shoulder-joint
base