Reference: Reed
American
Sometimes a stalk or rod of any plant, as of the hyssop, Mt 27:48; Joh 19:29. Usually, however, the word reed denotes a reed or cane growing in marshy grounds, Job 40:21; Isa 19:6; slender and fragile, and hence taken as an emblem of weakness, 1Ki 18:21; Isa 36:6; Eze 29:6; and of instability, Mt 11:7. "A bruised reed," Isa 42:3; Mt 12:20, is an emblem of a soul crushed and ready to sink in despair under a sense of its guilty and lost condition. Such a soul the Saviour will graciously sustain and strengthen. The reed of spice, or good reed, (English version, "sweet calamus," Ex 30:23, sweet cane" Jer 6:20,) also called simply reed, (English version, "calamus" or "sweet cane,") Isa 43:24; Song 4:14; Eze 27:19, is the sweet flag of India, calamus odoratus. Reeds were anciently used as pens and as measuring-rods, Eze 40:5; 42:16. The Hebrew "reed" is supposed to have been about ten feet long.
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"Take principal spices: of pure myrrh five hundred sicles, of sweet cinnamon half so much, two hundred and fifty sicles:
And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word.
as Cypress, Nardus, Saffron, Calamus, and all the trees of Lebanon: Myrrh, Aloes, and all the best spices.
The rivers also shall be drawn out, the wells shall decrease and dry away.
Lo, thou puttest thy trust in a broken staff of reed: I mean Egypt, which he that leaneth upon, it goeth into his hand and shooteth him through. Even so is Pharaoh the king of Egypt, unto all them that trust in him.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: but faithfully and truly shall he give judgment.
But thou hast laden me with thy sins, and wearied me with thine ungodliness.
Wherefore bring ye me incense from Sheba, and sweet smelling Calamus from far countries? Your burnt offerings displease me, and I rejoice not in your sacrifices.
Dan, Javan, and Mevsall have brought unto thy markets, iron ready made, with Cassia, and Calamus, according to thine occupying.
that all they which dwell in Egypt, may know, that I am the LORD: because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
Behold, there was a wall on the outside round about the house: the measuring rod that he had in his hand, was six cubits long and a span. So he measured the breadth of the building, which was one measuring rod, and the height also one measuring rod.
He measured the east side with the measuring rod, which round about contained five hundred measuring rods.
And as they departed, Jesus began to speak unto the people, of John, "What for to see went ye out into the wilderness? Went ye to see a reed shaken in the wind?
A bruised reed shall he not break, and flax that beginneth to burn he shall not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
There stood a vessel full of vinegar by. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and wound it about with hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Easton
(1.) "Paper reeds" (Isa 19:7; R.V., "reeds"). Heb 'aroth, properly green herbage growing in marshy places.
(2.) Heb kaneh (1Ki 14:15; Job 40:21; Isa 19:6), whence the Gr. kanna, a "cane," a generic name for a reed of any kind.
The reed of Egypt and Palestine is the Arundo donax, which grows to the height of 12 feet, its stalk jointed like the bamboo, "with a magnificent panicle of blossom at the top, and so slender and yielding that it will lie perfectly flat under a gust of wind, and immediately resume its upright position." It is used to illustrate weakness (2Ki 18:21; Eze 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Mt 11:7; comp. Eph 4:14).
A "bruised reed" (Isa 42:3; Mt 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord's hands in derision (Mt 27:29); and "they took the reed and smote him on the head" (30). The "reed" on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Mt 27:48) was, according to John (Joh 19:29), a hyssop stalk, which must have been of some length, or perhaps a bunch of hyssop twigs fastened to a rod with the sponge. (See Cane.)
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And the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed that groweth in the water is shaken, and will weed Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond Euphrates, because they have made them groves to anger the LORD.
Dost thou trust to the staff of this broken reed Egypt, on which if a man lean it will run into his hand and pierce it? For even so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
The rivers also shall be drawn out, the wells shall decrease and dry away. Reed and rush shall fail, the grass by the waterside or upon the river bank, yea and whatsoever is sown by the waters, shall be withered, destroyed, and brought to naught.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: but faithfully and truly shall he give judgment.
that all they which dwell in Egypt, may know, that I am the LORD: because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
And as they departed, Jesus began to speak unto the people, of John, "What for to see went ye out into the wilderness? Went ye to see a reed shaken in the wind?
A bruised reed shall he not break, and flax that beginneth to burn he shall not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
and plaited a crown of thorns and put upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowed their knees before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews,"
And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
There stood a vessel full of vinegar by. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and wound it about with hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
That we henceforth be no more children, wavering and carried with every wind of doctrine, by the wiliness of men and craftiness, whereby they lay a wait for us to deceive us.
Fausets
agmon. Used to form a rope: Job 41:2, "canst thou put a rush rope ('agmon) into his nose?" in Job 41:20 'agmon is a "caldron" from agam, "to flow." "Branch ("the high") and rush ("the low")" (Isa 9:14; 58:5), "bow down ... head as a bulrush," imply that the head of the 'agmown was pendulous. Some aquatic, reed like, plant, the Arundodonax, or phragmitis, used as a walking stick, but apt to break and pierce the hand leaning on it (2Ki 18:21; Eze 29:6-7). The gomee, of the sedge kind (Cyperaceae), the papyrus or paper reeds of which Moses' ark was formed (Ex 2:3). Used to form boats on the Nile, also garments, shoes, baskets, and paper (Isa 18:2); Job 8:11 "can the papyrus plant grow without mire?" so the godless thrive only in outward prosperity, which soon ends, for they are without God "the fountain of life" (Ps 36:9). Rapid growth at first, like the papyrus; then sudden destruction.
The papyrus is not now found in Egypt; but it has for ages been on the margin of Lake Huleh or Merom and Lake Tiberius and in Syria. Paper was formed by cutting the interior of the stalks into thin slices lengthwise, after removing the rind, and laying them side by side in succession on a flat board; similar ones were laid over them at right angles, and the whole was cemented together by a glue, and pressed and dried. The Egyptians stewed and ate the lower part of the papyrus (Herodotus ii. 92). It grows from three to six feet high; Tristram (Land of Israel, 436) says 16 feet, and the triangular stems three inches in diameter, N. of Lake Tiberias. There are no leaves; the flowers are small spikelets at the tip of the threadlike branchlets which together form a bushy crown on each stem.
Aroth (Isa 19:7) not "paper reeds," but grassy pastures on the banks of the Nile; literally, places bare of wood, from 'aarah "to make bore" (Gesenius). KJV is from 'or the delicate "membrane"; the antithesis to "everything sown by the brooks" is, the aroth were not sown but growing of themselves. In mentioning "the reeds and flags" it is likely the papyrus would not be omitted; however, a different word in the chap. before (Isa 18:2, gomee) expresses the "papyrus". Kaneh "a reed" in general; a measuring reed, six cubits long (Eze 40:5; 41:8; compare Re 11:1; 21:15). The "sweet reed from a far country" is possibly the Andropogon calamus aromaticus of central India; keneh bosem (Ex 30:23 "sweet calamus") or hatob (Jer 6:20); or it may be rather the lemon grass (Andropogon schoenanthus) of India (Isa 43:24; Song 4:14; Eze 27:19).
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And when she could no longer hide him, she took a basket of bulrushes and daubed it with slime and pitch, and laid the child therein, and put it in the flags by the river's brink.
"Take principal spices: of pure myrrh five hundred sicles, of sweet cinnamon half so much, two hundred and fifty sicles:
Dost thou trust to the staff of this broken reed Egypt, on which if a man lean it will run into his hand and pierce it? For even so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
May a rush be green without moisture, or may the grass grow without water?
Canst thou put a ring in the nose of him, or bore his jaw through with an awl?
out of his nostrils there goeth smoke, like as out of a hot seething pot.
For with thee is the well of life; and in thy light shall we see light.
as Cypress, Nardus, Saffron, Calamus, and all the trees of Lebanon: Myrrh, Aloes, and all the best spices.
Therefore the LORD shall root out of Israel both head and tail, branch and twig in one day.
which sendeth her message over the sea in ships of reeds upon the water. Get ye hence, ye speedy messengers, to a nation that is scattered abroad and robbed of that they had: a fearful nation from their beginning hitherto; a nation trodden down by little and little, whose land the floods have spoiled.
which sendeth her message over the sea in ships of reeds upon the water. Get ye hence, ye speedy messengers, to a nation that is scattered abroad and robbed of that they had: a fearful nation from their beginning hitherto; a nation trodden down by little and little, whose land the floods have spoiled.
Reed and rush shall fail, the grass by the waterside or upon the river bank, yea and whatsoever is sown by the waters, shall be withered, destroyed, and brought to naught.
But thou hast laden me with thy sins, and wearied me with thine ungodliness.
Should it be such a manner of fast that I should chose? A day that a man should hurt his soul in? Or to bow down his head like a bulrush? Or to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Shouldest thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable unto the LORD?
Wherefore bring ye me incense from Sheba, and sweet smelling Calamus from far countries? Your burnt offerings displease me, and I rejoice not in your sacrifices.
Dan, Javan, and Mevsall have brought unto thy markets, iron ready made, with Cassia, and Calamus, according to thine occupying.
that all they which dwell in Egypt, may know, that I am the LORD: because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of thee with their hand thou breakest and prickest them on every side: and if they leaned upon thee, thou brakest and hurtest the reins of their backs.
Behold, there was a wall on the outside round about the house: the measuring rod that he had in his hand, was six cubits long and a span. So he measured the breadth of the building, which was one measuring rod, and the height also one measuring rod.
I saw also that the house was very high round about. The foundation of the side chambers was one measuring rod, that is, six cubits broad.
And then was given me a reed, like unto a rod, and it was said unto me, "Rise and mete the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein;
And he that talked with me, had a golden reed to measure the city withal and the gates thereof and the wall thereof.
Hastings
1. q
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And that seven thin ears, blasted with the wind, sprang up after them:
And I saw again in my dream seven ears spring out of one stalk, full and good,
"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure thick gold with his shaft, branches, bowls, knops and flowers proceeding thereout. Six branches shall proceed out of the sides of the candlestick, three out of the one side and three out of the other.
And the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed that groweth in the water is shaken, and will weed Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond Euphrates, because they have made them groves to anger the LORD.
Dost thou trust to the staff of this broken reed Egypt, on which if a man lean it will run into his hand and pierce it? For even so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
May a rush be green without moisture, or may the grass grow without water?
They are passed away, as the ships that be good under sail, and as the Eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder, and mine arm holes be broken from the joints.
Reprove the beasts among the reeds, the heap of bulls with the calves, those that drive for money. O scatter thou the people that delight in war.
as Cypress, Nardus, Saffron, Calamus, and all the trees of Lebanon: Myrrh, Aloes, and all the best spices.
Reed and rush shall fail, the grass by the waterside or upon the river bank, yea and whatsoever is sown by the waters, shall be withered, destroyed, and brought to naught.
Lo, thou puttest thy trust in a broken staff of reed: I mean Egypt, which he that leaneth upon, it goeth into his hand and shooteth him through. Even so is Pharaoh the king of Egypt, unto all them that trust in him.
Now therefore deliver hostages that thou rebel no more against my lord the king of the Assyrians, and I will give thee two thousand horses if thou be able to set men upon them.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: but faithfully and truly shall he give judgment.
But thou hast laden me with thy sins, and wearied me with thine ungodliness.
Ye fools, no doubt, will take out silver and gold out of your purses, and weigh it, and hire a goldsmith to make a god of it, that men may kneel down and worship it.
Wherefore bring ye me incense from Sheba, and sweet smelling Calamus from far countries? Your burnt offerings displease me, and I rejoice not in your sacrifices.
the fords occupied; the fens burnt up; and the soldiers sore afraid.
Dan, Javan, and Mevsall have brought unto thy markets, iron ready made, with Cassia, and Calamus, according to thine occupying.
that all they which dwell in Egypt, may know, that I am the LORD: because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of thee with their hand thou breakest and prickest them on every side: and if they leaned upon thee, thou brakest and hurtest the reins of their backs.
Thither he carried me, and behold, there was a man, whose similitude was like brass, which had a thread of flax in his hand, and a measuring rod also. He stood in the door,
Behold, there was a wall on the outside round about the house: the measuring rod that he had in his hand, was six cubits long and a span. So he measured the breadth of the building, which was one measuring rod, and the height also one measuring rod.
And then was given me a reed, like unto a rod, and it was said unto me, "Rise and mete the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein;
Morish
See WEIGHTS and MEASURES.
Smith
Reed.
Under this name may be noticed the following Hebrew words:
1. Agmon occurs in
(Authorized Version "rush"). There can be no doubt that it denotes some aquatic reed-like plant, probably the Phragmitis communis, which, if it does not occur in Palestine and Egypt, is represented by a very closely-allied species, viz., the Arundo isiaca of Delisle. The drooping panicle of this plant will answer well to the "bowing down the head" of which Isaiah speaks.
2. Gnome, translated "rush" and "bulrush" by the Authorized Version, without doubt denotes the celebrated paper-reed of the ancients, Papyrus antiquorum, which formerly was common in some parts of Egypt. The papyrus reed is not now found in Egypt; it grows however, in Syria. Dr. Hooker saw it on the banks of Lake Tiberias, a few miles north of the town. The papyrus plant has an angular stem from 3 to 6 feet high, though occasionally it grows to the height of 14 feet it has no leaves; the flowers are in very small spikelets, which grow on the thread-like flowering branchlets which form a bushy crown to each stem; (It was used for making paper, shoes, sails, ropes, mattresses, etc. The Greek name is Biblos, from which came our word Bible--book--because books were made of the papyrus paper. This paper was always expensive among the Greeks, being worth a dollar a sheet. --ED.)
3. Kaneh, a reed of any kind. Thus there are in general four kinds of reeds named in the Bible: (1) The water reed; No, 1 above. (2) A stronger reed, Arundo donax, the true reed of Egypt and Palestine, which grows 8 or 10 feet high, and is thicker than a man's thumb. It has a jointed stalk like the bamboo, and is very abundant on the Nile. (3) The writing reed, Arundo scriptoria, was used for making pens. (4) The papyrus; No. 2.
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look well, that thou makest all such as be stubburn, to obey; tread all the ungodly under thy feet,
lo, how strong he is in his loins, and what power he hath in the navel of his body.
Therefore the LORD shall root out of Israel both head and tail, branch and twig in one day.
Watsons
REED, ?????, Job 40:21; 41:2,20; Isa 9:14; 19:15; 58:5; ???????, Mt 11:7; a plant growing in fenny and watery places; very weak and slender, and bending with the least breath of wind, Mt 11:7; Lu 7:24. Thus it is threatened, "The Lord shall smite Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of the good land which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their idol groves, provoking him to anger," 1Ki 14:15. The slenderness and fragility of the reed is mentioned in 2Ki 18:21; Isa 36:6; and is referred to in Mt 12:20, where the remark, illustrating the gentleness of our Saviour, is quoted from the prophecy of Isa 42:3. The Hebrew word in these places is ???, as also in Job 40:21; Isa 19:6; 35:7; Eze 29:6. See BULRUSH.
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And the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed that groweth in the water is shaken, and will weed Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond Euphrates, because they have made them groves to anger the LORD.
Dost thou trust to the staff of this broken reed Egypt, on which if a man lean it will run into his hand and pierce it? For even so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
Canst thou put a ring in the nose of him, or bore his jaw through with an awl?
out of his nostrils there goeth smoke, like as out of a hot seething pot.
Therefore the LORD shall root out of Israel both head and tail, branch and twig in one day.
The rivers also shall be drawn out, the wells shall decrease and dry away.
Neither shall the head or tail, the branch or reed be able to do any work in Egypt.
The dry ground shall turn to rivers, and the thirsty to springs of water. Whereas dragons dwelt afore, there shall grow sweet flowers and green rushes.
Lo, thou puttest thy trust in a broken staff of reed: I mean Egypt, which he that leaneth upon, it goeth into his hand and shooteth him through. Even so is Pharaoh the king of Egypt, unto all them that trust in him.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: but faithfully and truly shall he give judgment.
Should it be such a manner of fast that I should chose? A day that a man should hurt his soul in? Or to bow down his head like a bulrush? Or to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Shouldest thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable unto the LORD?
that all they which dwell in Egypt, may know, that I am the LORD: because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
And as they departed, Jesus began to speak unto the people, of John, "What for to see went ye out into the wilderness? Went ye to see a reed shaken in the wind?
And as they departed, Jesus began to speak unto the people, of John, "What for to see went ye out into the wilderness? Went ye to see a reed shaken in the wind?
A bruised reed shall he not break, and flax that beginneth to burn he shall not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
When the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people of John, "What went ye out for to see into the wilderness? Went ye to see a reed shaken with the wind?