Acacia (shittim)
Acacia raddiana
Family: Fabaceae
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shittah
(7848)
(Heb)
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Ex 36:20, 37:1
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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There are many different species of acacia growing in Egypt, Sinai and Israel, so it is difficult to identify the species with certainty. The acacia is a large thorny tree with a rough gnarled bark. Acacia produce fragrant clusters of yellow flowers which turn into long pods containing the seeds. The wood is hard grained and of an orange-brown colour and is resistant to wood-boring insects.
Wood from the acacia (or shittim - KJV) was used to build the tabernacle (Ex 36:20) and the ark of the covenant (Ex 37:1) .
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Almond
Amygdalus communis
Family: Rosaceae
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shaqed
(8247)
(Heb)
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Gen 30:37, 43:11, Ex 25:33, Num 17:8, Jer 1:11, Heb 9:4
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The almond is a large tree which blossom with pinkish-white flowers early in the spring. Almond nuts were used for making cooking oil, and as medicine. There are at least three different species of almond growing in Israel
Almond was one of the rods Jacob used to influence the breeding of sheep (Gen 30:37). Almond nuts were one of the mixed nuts which Jacob sent as a gift to his son Joseph in Egypt (Gen 43:11). The lampstand was decorated with three cups shaped like almond blossoms (Ex 25:33). Aaron's rod which blossomed was made from almond and was kept in the ark of the covenant (Num 17:8, Heb 9:4).
A rod of almond was the first vision God gave Jeremiah at his call to be a prophet to the nations. Both in Jeremiah's time, and today, starting in late January, Anathoth is covered with almond blossom. It is the first tree to flower in the springtime. The Hebrew word for almond is 'shaqed', which means 'early awakening' or 'watching'. The root of the Hebrew word for almond is 'sqd', so the word for almond 'shaqed' uses the the same consonants as the word for watching, 'shoqed'.
In this passage God uses a play on these two words, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Jeremiah, what do you see?' And I said, 'I see a branch of an almond tree (shaqed).' Then Yahweh said to me, 'You have seen well, for I am watching (shoqed) over my word to perform it'" (1:11-12). It is very difficult to communicate the play on words when the passage is translated into other languages.
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Aloe (Agarwood)
Aquilaria malaccensis
Family: Thymelaeaceae
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’ahalîm
(174)
(Heb)
aloe
(250)
(Gk)
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Num 24:6, Ps 45:8, Prov 7:17, Song 4:14, John 19:39
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Wikipedia
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Agarwood or aloes is a dark fragrant resinous wood used for incense or perfume. It is found in the heartwood of trees of the genus Aquilaria when the tree becomes infected with a fungal mold. The tree secretes the resin in order to combat the infection. The heartwood then become very dense, dark coloured and saturated with resin.
The agarwood is highly valued as a cosmetic, used for incense and perfumes. The aloe is mentioned in the third oracle of Balaam (Num 24:6). The fragrance of the aloe and other forms of incense are mentioned in the Psalms, "your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia" (Ps 45:8), and in Proverbs, where the loose woman says, "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon (Prov 7:17), and one of the many incenses mentioned in the Song of Solomon (4:14). In the NT, the body of Jesus was wrapped with a mixture of myrrh and aloes (Jn 19:39).
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Apple
Pyrus malus
Family: Rosaceae
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tappuah
(8598)
(Heb)
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Song 2:3, 7:8, 8:5, Joel 1:12
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The apple tree can grow up to 9m (30 ft) having rough bark and pink blossoms, producing the familiar fruit. However, it is not certain whether the Hebrew word describes an apple tree. Other suggestions include other fruit trees like the apricot, quince, peach or orange. The beloved is described as being like an apple in the Song of Solomon. The phrase 'the apple of the eye' is used a few times in the OT (Deut 21:10, Ps 17:8, Zech 2:8) referring to the pupil of the eye uses a different Hebrew word.
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Barley
Hordeum vulgare
Family: Poaceae
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se‘orah
(8194)
(Heb)
krithe
(2915)
(Gk)
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Ex 9:31, Ruth 1:22, 1 Kg 4:28, Jn 6:5
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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Barley is an important cereal crop. It will grow in a variety of different climates. It ripens quickly so it was harvested before wheat. Barley was thought to be suitable food for slaves and the poor. Barley was grown in Egypt (Ex 9:31), and was part of the offering for an unfaithful wife (Num 5:15). Ruth met Boaz during the barley harvest (Ruth 1:22). Barley was used to make bread (1 Kg 4:28). Jesus fed the 5000 with five barley loaves (Jn 6:5). It was also used to feed horses (1 Kg 4:28).
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Cassia
Cinnamomum iners
Family:
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qiddah
(7102)
(Heb)
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Ps 45:8
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Wikipedia
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The fragrance of the aloe and other forms of incense are mentioned in the Psalms, "your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia" (Ps 45:8).
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Cedar of Lebanon
Cedrus libani
Family: Pinaceae
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’arez
(730)
(Heb)
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2 Sam 5:11, 1 Kg 5, 2 Kg 19:23
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The cedar of Lebanon is a famous tree which appears on the flag of the modern nation of Lebanon. It is an evergreen pine tree which can grow up to 30m (100 ft) tall. Unfortunately, it is now very rare in Lebanon. The wood from the cedar is fragrant, rot-resistant and free of knots, so it is ideal to be used for building, and for ship-building (Ezek 27:5).
The cedar of Lebanon was used by Solomon to build the temple in Jerusalem. He made a treaty with King Hiram of Tyre for the supply of cedar wood (1 Kg 5).
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Cumin (cummin)
Cuminum cyminum
Family: Apiaceae
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kammon
(3646)
(Heb)
kuminon
(2951)
(Gk)
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Is 28:25, 27, Mt 23:23
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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Cumin, or cummin, is a herb growing up to 0.5m (1.5 ft) with finely cut leaves and blue flowers. It produces black seeds which are used as a spice in curries. Jesus criticised the Pharisees for tithing the dill and cumin (Mt 23:23).
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Cypress (holm tree)
Cupressus sempervirens
Family: Cupressaceae
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tirzah
(8645)
(Heb)
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Is 44:14
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The Cypress, or holm tree (KJV) is a tall evergreen tree which has hard and durable wood suitable for building. It is mentioned as one of the trees in the rather sarcastic account of the person who cuts down a tree and uses half of the wood to burn, and the other half to make an idol (Is 44:14).
It is possible that the gopher wood (Gen 6:14) (Strongs 1613) that Noah used to build the ark was the cypress. Otherwise that is wood from a tree which is not possible to identify.
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Dill (anise)
Anethum graveolens
Family: Apiaceae
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qetsach
(7100)
(Heb)
anethon
(432)
(Gk)
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Is 28:25,27, Mt 23:23
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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Dill is an annual herb with yellow flowers and fragrant seeds, used for medicine and cooking. It is not always possible to give an exact identification of these herbs. It is thought that anise in the Bible is dill. Jesus criticised the Pharisees for tithing the dill and cumin (Mt 23:23).
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Fig
Ficus carica
Family: Moraceae
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te’ênah
(8284)
(Heb)
sukon
(4810)
(Gk)
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Gen 3:7, 1 Sam:18, 2 Kg 18:31, Jer 8:13, Mk 11:12-14, 20-21
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The fig is a well-known plant which can grow as a tall tree or a low-spreading shrub depending on its location and soil it is growing in. Flowers appear in the spring before the leaves grow. Figs were eaten fresh (2 Kg 18:31), or pressed into cakes (1 Sam 25:18). Jeremiah referred to the fig tree as an image of desolation (Jer 8:13). Adam and Eve hid their nakedness with fig leaves (Gen 3:7). Jesus cursed the fig-tree because it did not have any fruit (Mk 11:12-14, 20-21).
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Frankincense
Boswellia serrata
Family: Burseraceae
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lebonah
(3828)
(Heb)
libanos
(3030)
(Gk)
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Ex 30:7,34, Lev 2:1, Song 3:6, Matt 2:10-11
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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Frankincense is a resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia. The trees are large, with small white star-shaped flowers. Its leaves resemble those of the mountain ash. To obtain the resin, a cut is made into the bark, from which the resin can be collected. Once hardened it can be used as incense.
Frankincense was one of the ingredients used to make the incense for the tabernacle (Ex 30:34), and added to the grain offerings (Lev 2:1). It was also used as a perfume (Song 3:6). Frankincense was one of the gifts brought by the magi to the infant Jesus (Mt 2:10-11).
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Grape
Vitis vinifera
Family: Vitaceae
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‘anab
(6025)
(Heb)
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Gen 9:20, 40:10, Num 13:23, Mt 26:27-29, John 15:5
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The grape is the familiar fruit cultivated on vines in vineyards. Grapes can be eaten fresh, dried as raisins, or made into wine or vinegar. Grapes have been cultivated in Israel for centuries and are mentioned many times in the Bible.
The spies entering the Promised Land returned with a huge bunch of grapes (Num 13:23). Jesus referred to himself as the vine and his followers the branches (Jn 15:5) and used wine to represent his shed blood (Mt 26:27-29).
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Henna (camphire)
Lawsonia inermis
Family: Lythraceae
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koper
(3724)
(Heb)
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Song 1:14, 4:13
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Wikipedia
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The cenna, or camphire, grows up to 3m (10 feet) high, with fragrant white flowers. It is used to produce a valuable orange-red dye. In the Song of Solomon, the man compares his beloved to a cluster of henna growing in the vineyards (Song 1:14, 4:13).
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Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis
Family: Lamiaceae
Dracocephalum officinale
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’êzob
(231)
(Heb)
hysopos
(5301)
(Gk)
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Ex 12:22, Lev 14:4, 1 Kg 4:33, Ps 51:7, Jn 19:29
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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Hyssop is a herb from the mint family growing up to 1m (3 ft) tall with yellow flowers. It often grows in crevices in the rock (1 Kg 4:33). Bunches of hyssop were used to sprinkle blood on the doorposts at the time of the Passover (Ex 12:22). It was used in the purification rituals for the cleansing of leprosy (Lev 4:4). When Jesus declared that he was thirsty, a bunch of hyssop was dipped in sour wine and given to him on the cross (Jn 19:29).
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Mandrake
Mandragora autumnalis
Family: Solanaceae
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duda’î
(1736)
(Heb)
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Gen 30:14-16
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The mandrake is abundant throughout Israel and around the Mediterranean. It is a plant with dark-green leaves and small purplish flowers. The fruit is small and yellow, with a fragrant sweet taste. It is sometimes known as the 'love-apple' because it is believed to be a love potion, as it was used by Leah and Rachel (Gen 30:14-16).
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Millet (sorghum)
Sorghum vulgare
Family: Poaceae
Sorghum bicolor
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dochan
(1764)
(Heb)
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Ezek 4:9, 27:17
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Kew Gardens
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Millet, or sorghum, is an annual grass which produces many seeds. These are smaller than other cereals. They are used to bake bread (Exek 4:9) or eaten raw, especially by the poor.
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Mustard
Rhamphospermum nigrum
Family: Brassicaceae
Brassica nigra
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sinapi
(4615)
(Gk)
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Mt 13:31–32, Mk 4:31–32, Lk 13:19
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The mustard referred to in the NT is probably the Black Mustard, which is an annual plant with yellow flowers. It is cultivated for its seeds, which are used to make the mustard used as a condiment.
Mustard grew wild in fields, and can reach a height of 4 m (14 ft). It was said to have the smallest of all the seeds (Mt 13:32). Jesus often used the mustard seed in his parables about the Kingdom of God (Mt 13:31-32).
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Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha
Family: Burseraceae
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lot
(4753)
(Heb)
smurna
(4666)
(Gk)
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Ex 30:23, Ps 45:8, Prov 7:17, Song 3:6, Est 2:12, Mt 2:11, Mk 15:23, Jn 19:39
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The myrrh tree has stiff branches, white flowers and fruit like a plum. Myrrh is made from the resin extracted from the wood of a variety of species of trees from the genus 'Commiphora'. A cut is made in the bark out of which the resin exudes, and quickly hardens. Myrrh was one of the ingredients of the oil used for anointing (Ex 20:23). It was also used as a perfume (Ps 45:8, Prov 7:17, Song 3:6). It was also used for embalming dead bodies. Myrrh was given to the infant Jesus by the magi (Mt 2:11). It also acts as a pain-killer, which would explain why the crucified Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh (Mk 15:23).
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Myrtle
Myrtus communis
Family: Myrtaceae
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hadas
(1918)
(Heb)
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Est 2:7, Zech 1:8-11
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Wikipedia
Kew Gardens
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The myrtle is an evergreen tree with white flowers. The leaves, flowers and berries were used for making perfume, and for seasoning food.
The first vision of the prophet Zechariah was of a man riding a red horse standing among the myrtle trees (Zech 1:8-11). The name of Esther in Hebrew is 'hadassah', which means 'myrtle' (Est 2:7).
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