עֵץ

𐤏𐤑

ʻêts

H6086 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עץ to be firm, to be strong, to be wood

Definition

Tree; also by extension, wood as a material, or a piece of wood, stick, timber, or log. The term primarily denotes a growing tree, but in many contexts refers to wood in general or to objects made of wood. Its semantic range includes living trees, wooden structures or instruments, carved wooden objects, and the material itself.

Semantic Range

tree, trees; wood (material); piece of wood, stick, staff, log, plank, timber; wooden object; object made of wood; gallows; pole; sometimes metaphorical for idolatry or in allegorical uses

Root / Etymology

From the root עץ (ע-ץ), which in its verbal form (not attested in biblical Hebrew) seems to mean 'to be firm, hard.' The noun עֵץ carries the idea of something firm or strong, hence denoting a tree as a symbol of firmness, and by extension, the material (wood) or objects fashioned from wood. The root is consistent across Semitic languages with similar meanings related to trees or wood.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֵץ regularly refers to trees in both literal and figurative senses. It denotes trees as living plants, significant in genealogical and agricultural contexts, as in the 'tree of life' (עֵץ הַחַיִּים) or 'tree of knowledge' (עֵץ הַדַּעַת). The term is also widely used for wood as a material, either as timber for construction, fuel for burning, or for making tools, staffs, weapons, idols, and ritual objects. In legal and ritual texts, distinctions are sometimes made between different species of trees (fruit-bearing or not), but the generic עֵץ often functions in contrast to other materials such as stone, metal, or earth. In later periods (Second Temple and beyond), עֵץ retains broad usage while more specific terms for types of trees or wood develop. Though the KJV and other English translations often render עֵץ as 'tree' or 'wood,' such renderings may overlook its broader application to anything made from wood, including gallows, staffs, or wooden idols. Notably, in Esther 5–7, עֵץ is used for the structure upon which Haman is hanged—translated as 'gallows,' though literally 'wood' or 'timber.' The term does not indicate a particular tree species unless specified in context. It should not be confused with other terms like לֶבֶן (poplar), אֶרֶז (cedar), or שָׁקֵד (almond tree), which specify types of trees. Some later traditions and translations render it in ways reflecting their own historical contexts, such as 'cross,' 'gallows,' or 'staff,' but the basic sense remains unchanged in biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עץ (ʿ-ṣ) — firmness, strength, wood

Word Forms

34 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6086-07 עֵ֣ץ ets HNcmsc tree wood-tree of 109
H6086-01 עֲצֵי atsey HNcmpc trees of trees of 58
H6086-15 הָ/עֵ֛ץ haets HTd/Ncmsa the tree the tree 31
H6086-16 הָ/עֵצִ֑ים haetsim HTd/Ncmpa the trees the trees 30
H6086-14 עֵצִ֖ים etsim HNcmpa wood trees 28
H6086-31 וְ/עֵ֧ץ veets HC/Ncmsa and tree and tree 15
H6086-02 בַּ/עֲצֵ֥י baatsey HR/Ncmpc among the trees trees of 8
H6086-29 וַ/עֲצֵ֥י vaatsey HC/Ncmpc and trees of and trees of 6
H6086-21 לָ/עֵצִֽים laetsim HRd/Ncmpa for the wood to the trees 4
H6086-33 וְ/עֵצִים֙ veetsim HC/Ncmpa and wood and trees 4

Occurrences in Scripture

330 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6086-07 Genesis 1:11 עֵ֣ץ ets HNcmsc tree wood-tree of
H6086-31 Genesis 1:12 וְ/עֵ֧ץ veets HC/Ncmsa and tree and tree
H6086-15 Genesis 1:29 הָ/עֵ֛ץ haets HTd/Ncmsa tree the tree
H6086-07 Genesis 1:29 עֵ֖ץ ets HNcmsa of a tree wood-tree of
H6086-07 Genesis 2:9 עֵ֛ץ ets HNcmsa tree wood-tree of
H6086-31 Genesis 2:9 וְ/עֵ֤ץ veets HC/Ncmsc and the tree and tree
H6086-31 Genesis 2:9 וְ/עֵ֕ץ veets-2 HC/Ncmsc and the tree and tree
H6086-07 Genesis 2:16 עֵֽץ ets HNcmsc tree wood-tree of
H6086-25 Genesis 2:17 וּ/מֵ/עֵ֗ץ umeets HC/R/Ncmsc but from the tree and from wood of
H6086-07 Genesis 3:1 עֵ֥ץ ets HNcmsc tree wood-tree of