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KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

 

Reeds

The Bible

Bible Usage:

Dictionaries:

  • Included in Eastons: Yes
  • Included in Hitchcocks: No
  • Included in Naves: No
  • Included in Smiths: Yes
  • Included in Websters: Yes
  • Included in Strongs: Yes
  • Included in Thayers: No
  • Included in BDB: Yes

Strongs Concordance:

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Reed

1. "Paper reeds" (Isaiah 19:7; R.V., "reeds"). Heb. aroth, properly green herbage growing in marshy places.

2. Heb. kaneh (1 Kings 14:15; Job 40:21; Isaiah 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 (2 Kings 18:21; Ezekiel 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Matthew 11:7; comp. Ephesians 4:14).

A "bruised reed" (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord's hands in derision (Matthew 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 (Matthew 27:48) was, according to John (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.)


Naves Topical Index
Reed

A water plant
Isaiah 19:6-7; Isaiah 35:7; Jeremiah 51:32

Used as a measuring device of six cubits
Ezekiel 40:3-8; Ezekiel 41:8; Ezekiel 42:16-19; Ezekiel 45:1; Revelation 11:1; Revelation 21:15-16

Mockingly given to Jesus as a symbol of royalty
Matthew 27:29

Jesus smitten with
Matthew 27:30; Mark 15:19

Figurative, of weakness
1 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6; Isaiah 42:3; Ezekiel 29:6; Matthew 11:7; Matthew 12:20


Smith's Bible Dictionary
Reed

Under this name may be noticed the following Hebrew words:

  1. Agmon occurs in (Job 40:12,16; Isaiah 9:14) (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. (Isaiah 58:5)
  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.


Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Reed

REED, noun

1. The common name of many aquatic plants; most of them large grasses, with hollow jointed stems, such as the common reed of the genus Arundo, the bamboo, etc. The bur-reed is of the genus Sparganium; the Indian Flowering reed of the genus Canna.

2. A musical pipe; reeds being anciently used for instruments of music.

3. A little tube through which a hautboy, bassoon or clarinet is blown.

4. An arrow, as made of a reed headed.

5. Thatch.


Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Reeded

REE'DED, adjective

1. Covered with reeds.

2. Formed with channels and ridges like reeds.


Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Reeden

REEDEN, adjective ree'dn. Consisting of a reed or reeds' as reeden pipes.


Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Reedgrass

REE'DGRASS, noun A plant, bur-reed, of the genus Sparganium.


Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Reedless

REE'DLESS, adjective Destitute of reeds; as reedless banks.


Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Reedmace

REE'DMACE, noun A plant of the genus Typha.


Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Reedy

REE'DY, adjective Abounding with reeds; as a reedy pool.