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אֶרֶז

𐤀𐤓𐤆

ʼerez

H730 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A large, evergreen coniferous tree, specifically the cedar (Cedrus libani), native to the mountains of the Levant. In the Hebrew Bible, אֶרֶז primarily denotes the cedar tree known for its durable, fragrant wood, valued for construction, decoration, and ritual use. The semantic range includes the living tree, the wood derived from it, and metaphorical uses symbolizing strength, durability, majesty, or prominence.

Semantic Range

cedar tree, cedar wood, the living cedar as a symbol of strength or prominence, processed wood for construction or ritual use, metaphor for grandeur, strength or beauty

Root / Etymology

From the root אָרַז, meaning 'to be firm, strong.' The noun אֶרֶז is derived as the name for the cedar tree, presumably based on its robust, enduring nature—particularly the tenacity of its wood and roots. However, the precise relationship between root meaning and the tree designation is somewhat speculative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is referenced throughout the Hebrew Bible as a symbol of quality, strength, and grandeur. Cedar wood was especially prized in antiquity for its resistance to decay, pleasant fragrance, and the great height and girth of the trees. This made it a preferred material for royal palaces, temples (including the First Temple built by Solomon), and luxury items. Use of אֶרֶז spans patriarchal narratives (Gen 6:14, the ark), royal architecture (1 Kgs 5–6), and prophetic literature where the cedar often serves as a metaphor for majesty or lofty status (Ezekiel 17:22–24, Amos 2:9). Later terminology (especially in the Septuagint and English translations) sometimes renders אֶרֶז as 'cedar,' but care should be taken, as some translations broaden the referent or use 'cedar' symbolically. There is both literal usage (the tree/wood) and metaphorical usage (prominence, beauty, or endurance). In post-exilic, Second Temple, and later Rabbinic usage, אֶרֶז becomes further entrenched as the standard term for cedar, with cultural associations of purity and ritual, e.g., Numbers 19:6 (cedar wood in ritual purification).

Translation Consistency

primary "cedar" 49 occurrences

אֶרֶז denotes the cedar tree or cedar wood and is used both literally and metaphorically. The natural, simple English noun 'cedar' covers the living tree, its timber, and metaphorical senses (strength, majesty). Using the singular lemma 'cedar' allows consistent inflection to 'cedars' or 'cedar wood' where needed while remaining natural and accurate.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"cedar-tree" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָרַז; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots); cedar (tree).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ארז (ʼâraz) — to be made of cedar, to be constructed from cedar wood

Root ארז to be firm, to be strong
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H729 אָרַז cedar-built ones
H731 אַרְזָה cedar paneling

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H730-03 אֲרָזִ֔ים arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars 27
H730-10 אֶ֔רֶז erez HNcmsa cedar cedar tree cedar tree 8
H730-13 הָ/אֶ֨רֶז֙ haerez HTd/Ncmsa the cedar the cedar the cedar 7
H730-05 אַרְזֵ֣י arezey HNcmpc the cedars cedars of cedars of 6
H730-11 הָֽ/אֲרָזִ֔ים haarazim HTd/Ncmpa the cedars the cedars the cedars 4
H730-04 אָֽרֶז arez HNcmsa a cedar cedar tree cedar tree 3
H730-01 אֲרָזָי/ו֙ arazayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms cedar trees his cedars his cedars 2
H730-07 בָּ/אֲרָזִֽים baarazim HRd/Ncmpa in the cedars cedars in cedars 2
H730-09 בָּ/אֶ֗רֶז baerez HRd/Ncmsa with-cedar in the cedar with cedar 2
H730-14 כַּ/אֲרָזִ֖ים kaarazim HR/Ncmpa as the cedars like cedars like cedars 2

Occurrences in Scripture

73 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H730-10 Leviticus 14:4 אֶ֔רֶז erez HNcmsa cedar cedar tree cedar tree
H730-13 Leviticus 14:6 הָ/אֶ֛רֶז haerez HTd/Ncmsa the cedar the cedar the cedar
H730-10 Leviticus 14:49 אֶ֔רֶז erez HNcmsa wood cedar tree cedar tree
H730-13 Leviticus 14:51 הָ֠/אֶרֶז haerez HTd/Ncmsa the-cedar the cedar the cedar
H730-13 Leviticus 14:52 הָ/אֶ֛רֶז haerez HTd/Ncmsa the cedar the cedar the cedar
H730-10 Numbers 19:6 אֶ֛רֶז erez HNcmsa cedar cedar tree cedar tree
H730-14 Numbers 24:6 כַּ/אֲרָזִ֖ים kaarazim HR/Ncmpa like cedars like cedars like cedars
H730-05 Judges 9:15 אַרְזֵ֥י arezey HNcmpc cedars cedars of cedars of
H730-03 2 Samuel 5:11 אֲרָזִ֔ים arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars
H730-03 2 Samuel 7:2 אֲרָזִ֑ים arazim HNcmpa of cedars cedars cedars
H730-03 2 Samuel 7:7 אֲרָזִֽים arazim HNcmpa of cedars cedars of cedars
H730-13 1 Kings 5:13 הָ/אֶ֨רֶז֙ haerez HTd/Ncmsa the cedar the cedar the cedar
H730-03 1 Kings 5:20 אֲרָזִ֜ים arazim HNcmpa cedar trees cedars cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 5:22 אֲרָזִ֖ים arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 5:24 אֲרָזִ֛ים arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars
H730-07 1 Kings 6:9 בָּ/אֲרָזִֽים baarazim HRd/Ncmpa of cedar cedars in cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 6:10 אֲרָזִֽים arazim HNcmpa cedar cedars cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 6:15 אֲרָזִ֔ים arazim HNcmpa of cedar cedars cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 6:16 אֲרָזִ֔ים arazim HNcmpa of cedar cedars cedars
H730-19 1 Kings 6:18 וְ/אֶ֤רֶז veerez HC/Ncmsa and cedar and cedar-tree and cedar-tree
H730-10 1 Kings 6:18 אֶ֔רֶז erez HNcmsa cedar cedar tree cedar tree
H730-04 1 Kings 6:20 אָֽרֶז arez HNcmsa of cedar cedar tree of cedar
H730-03 1 Kings 6:36 אֲרָזִֽים arazim HNcmpa of cedar cedars cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 7:2 אֲרָזִ֔ים arazim HNcmpa cedar cedars cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 7:2 אֲרָזִ֖ים arazim-2 HNcmpa of cedar cedars cedars
H730-09 1 Kings 7:3 בָּ/אֶ֗רֶז baerez HRd/Ncmsa with-cedar in the cedar with cedar
H730-09 1 Kings 7:7 בָּ/אֶ֔רֶז baerez HRd/Ncmsa with-cedar in the cedar with cedar
H730-18 1 Kings 7:11 וָ/אָֽרֶז vaarez HC/Ncmsa and cedar cedar tree and cedar
H730-03 1 Kings 7:12 אֲרָזִ֑ים arazim HNcmpa beams cedars cedars
H730-03 1 Kings 9:11 אֲרָזִ֨ים arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars
H730-11 1 Kings 10:27 הָ/אֲרָזִ֗ים haarazim HTd/Ncmpa the cedars the cedars the cedars
H730-13 2 Kings 14:9 הָ/אֶ֜רֶז haerez HTd/Ncmsa the cedar the cedar the cedar
H730-01 2 Kings 19:23 אֲרָזָי/ו֙ arazayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms cedar trees his cedars his cedars
H730-05 Isaiah 2:13 אַרְזֵ֣י arezey HNcmpc cedars cedars of cedars of
H730-17 Isaiah 9:9 וַ/אֲרָזִ֖ים vaarazim HC/Ncmpa and cedars and cedars and cedars
H730-05 Isaiah 14:8 אַרְזֵ֣י arezey HNcmpc the cedars cedars of cedars of
H730-01 Isaiah 37:24 אֲרָזָי/ו֙ arazayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms its cedars his cedars his cedars
H730-10 Isaiah 41:19 אֶ֣רֶז erez HNcmsa cedar cedar tree cedar tree
H730-03 Isaiah 44:14 אֲרָזִ֔ים arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars
H730-02 Jeremiah 22:7 אֲרָזֶ֔י/ךָ arazeykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms cedars-of-you your cedars your cedars
H730-08 Jeremiah 22:14 בָּ/אָ֔רֶז baarez HRd/Ncmsa with cedar in the cedar with cedar
H730-18 Jeremiah 22:15 בָ/אָ֑רֶז vaarez HRd/Ncmsa in cedar cedar tree and cedar
H730-07 Jeremiah 22:23 בָּֽ/אֲרָזִ֑ים baarazim HRd/Ncmpa in the cedars cedars in cedars
H730-12 Ezekiel 17:3 הָ/אָֽרֶז haarez HTd/Ncmsa of-the-cedar the cedar the cedar
H730-13 Ezekiel 17:22 הָ/אֶ֛רֶז haerez HTd/Ncmsa of-the-cedar the cedar the cedar
H730-16 Ezekiel 17:23 לְ/אֶ֣רֶז leerez HR/Ncmsa a cedar to a cedar a cedar
H730-10 Ezekiel 27:5 אֶ֤רֶז erez HNcmsa cedar cedar tree cedar tree
H730-10 Ezekiel 31:3 אֶ֣רֶז erez HNcmsa a cedar cedar tree cedar tree
H730-03 Ezekiel 31:8 אֲרָזִ֣ים arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars
H730-03 Amos 2:9 אֲרָזִים֙ arazim HNcmpa cedars cedars cedars
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