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הֲדַס

𐤄𐤃𐤎

hădaç

H1918 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain

Definition

Evergreen shrub or small tree, Myrtus communis, characterized by aromatic leaves and white flowers; primarily denotes the myrtle plant known for its pleasant fragrance and ceremonial use.

Semantic Range

myrtle shrub, myrtle tree, (ceremonial) myrtle branch

Root / Etymology

Uncertain etymology. The word is not transparently derived from a common Semitic root in Biblical Hebrew, and no cognate forms are attested elsewhere in Semitic languages. The relationship between 'הֲדַס' and the plant's characteristics or function is unclear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

הֲדַס appears in the Hebrew Bible mainly in post-exilic and Second Temple contexts—most prominently in Nehemiah 8:15 and Zechariah 1:8,10-11—where the myrtle is one of several tree branches commanded for ritual use during the Festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles). Its presence among other leafy branches may indicate a symbolic association with life, renewal, or rejoicing. In Zechariah the myrtle serves as a location in the prophet's vision, indicating a setting rather than a ritual function. Later, in rabbinic and post-biblical literature, הֲדַס acquired particular ritual status as one of the Four Species used in Sukkot observance. English translations render הֲדַס simply as 'myrtle,' which accurately captures the botanical referent, but later translations sometimes use 'Jew' or 'Judean' to translate related terms in naming, which is not relevant to this plant name. No evidence connects הֲדַס with ethnic or religious designations in biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; the myrtle; myrtle (tree).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

הדס (h-d-s) — myrtle plant, evergreen shrub

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1919 הֲדַסָּה Hadassah

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1918-02 הַ/הֲדַסִּ֖ים hahadasim HTd/Ncmpa the myrtle trees the myrtle trees 3
H1918-01 הֲדַ֑ס hadas HNcmsa myrtle myrtle tree 2
H1918-03 וַ/הֲדַ֖ס vahadas HC/Ncmsa and myrtle and myrtle tree 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1918-03 Isaiah 41:19 וַ/הֲדַ֖ס vahadas HC/Ncmsa and myrtle and myrtle tree
H1918-01 Isaiah 55:13 הֲדַ֑ס hadas HNcmsa myrtle myrtle tree
H1918-02 Zechariah 1:8 הַ/הֲדַסִּ֖ים hahadasim HTd/Ncmpa the myrtle trees the myrtle trees
H1918-02 Zechariah 1:10 הַ/הַדַסִּ֖ים hahadasim HTd/Ncmpa the myrtle trees the myrtle trees
H1918-02 Zechariah 1:11 הַ/הֲדַסִּ֔ים hahadasim HTd/Ncmpa the myrtles the myrtle trees
H1918-01 Nehemiah 8:15 הֲדַס֙ hadas HNcmsa myrtle myrtle tree
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