Bible Dictionary: Poplar

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Poplar

This is the rendering of the Hebrew word libneh , which occurs in (Genesis 30:37) and Hose 4:13 Several authorities are in favor of the rendering of the Authorized Version and think that "white poplar" (Populus alba) is the tree denoted: others understand the "storax tree" (Styrax officinale , Linn.). Both poplars and storax or styrax trees are common in Palestine, and either would suit the passages where the Hebrew term occurs. Storax is mentioned in Ecclus. 24:15, together with other aromatic substances. The Styrax officinale is a shrub from nine to twelve feet high, with ovate leaves, which are white underneath; the flowers are in racemes, and are white or cream-colored.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hebrews libneh, "white", (Genesis 30:37; Hosea 4:13), in all probability the storax tree (Styrax officinalis) or white poplar, distinguished by its white blossoms and pale leaves. It is common in the Anti-Libanus. Other species of the poplar are found in Palestine, such as the white poplar (P. alba) of our own country, the black poplar (P. nigra), and the aspen (P. tremula). (see WILLOW.)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Any tree of the genus Populus; also, the timber, which is soft, and capable of many uses.

2. (n.) The timber of the tulip tree; -- called also white poplar.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

POPLAR

pop'-lar (libhneh, "whiteness"; sturakinos, "storax" (Genesis 30:37), leuke, "poplar" (Hosea 4:13) (libhneh is so similar to the Arabic libna, the storax, that the latter certainly has the first claim to be the true translation)): "Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar," margin "storax tree" (Genesis 30:37). "They.... burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good" (Hosea 4:13). In the latter reference the conjunction of the shrub, storax, with two great trees like the oak and terebinth-even though they all grow in the mountains-is strange. The storax cannot give a shade comparable with these trees. Had we other evidence of the storax being a sacred tree among the Hebrews, it might explain the difficulty.

The storax, Styrax officinalis (Natural Order Styraceae), is a very common shrub in Palestine which occasionally attains the height of 20 feet. The under surfaces of its oval leaves are covered with whitish hairs, and it has many beautiful pure-white flowers like orange blossoms-hence, its name "whiteness."

The poplar, the traditional translation in Hosea 4:13, flourishes in many parts of Palestine. The white poplar, Populus alba, Arabic Haur, is common everywhere; Euphratica occurs especially in the Jordan valley; the black poplar, P. nigra, and the Lombardy poplar, P. pyramidalis-probably an importation-are both plentiful in the plain of Coele-Syria, around Damascus and along the river banks of Syria.

E. W. G. Masterman

Strong's Hebrew

3839. libneh -- poplar
... poplar. Transliteration: libneh Phonetic Spelling: (lib-neh') Short Definition:
poplar. Word Origin from laben Definition poplar NASB Word Usage poplar (2). ...
/hebrew/3839.htm - 6k

6155. arab -- (a kind of tree) perhaps poplar, also a wadi in Moab
... (a kind of tree) perhaps poplar, also a wadi in Moab. Transliteration: arab or
arabah Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rawb') Short Definition: willows. ...
/hebrew/6155.htm - 6k

Library

The Germination of the Earth.
... The black poplar, the willow, the elm, the white poplar, all the trees of this family,
do not produce any apparent fruit; however, an attentive observer finds ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily v the germination of.htm

Let These Dealers in Crowns Then Recognize in the Meantime the ...
... her two step-sons. Hercules displays upon his head sometimes poplar, sometimes
wild-olive, sometimes parsley. You have the tragedy ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter vii let these dealers.htm

All the Bells were Ringing the Angelus. ...
... in the light, looped and garlanded the time-honoured old city as with festal knots
of rosy ribbon, up to the trembling tops of the tall poplar trees fringing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/i all the bells were.htm

Ode on the Installation of the Duke of Devonshire, Chancellor of ...
... Granta greets them, gliding down On by park and spire and town; Humming mills and
golden meadows, Barred with elm and poplar shadows; Giant groves, and learned ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/ode on the installation of.htm

Memories
... In Thee I have the springs, the rills,. The mignonette, the daffodils,. The Eglantine,
the harebell on the hills,. The trembling poplar, sighing low. And slow. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/memories.htm

That Christ is the Hand and Arm of God.
... I will establish in the land of drought the cedar-tree and the box-tree, and the
myrtle and the cypress, and the elm [3953] and the poplar, that they may see ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/4 that christ is the.htm

Visits Midway. Attends the Missouri State Convention. Reflections. ...
... In November I went to Poplar Plains and held the last protracted meeting of my life.
It was a pleasant one, and attended with some good results. ...
/.../chapter xvii visits midway attends.htm

The Exercises Suited to a Good Life.
... Laertius, Plutarch. [1665] Genesis 30:37. Not "poplar," as in AV [See Abp.
Leighton on "Laban's lambs," Comm. on St. Peter, part ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter x the exercises suited to.htm

A Strain of Sodom.
... Transformed his sisters. Let Eridanus. See to it, if one poplar on his banks. 155
Whitens, or any bird dons plumage there. Whose note old age makes mellow! [1232 ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/2 a strain of sodom.htm

On the Morning of Christ's Nativity
... The lonely mountains o'er, And the resounding shore, A voice of weeping heard, and
loud lament; From haunted spring and dale Edg'd with poplar pale, The ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/on the morning of christs.htm

Thesaurus

Poplar (4 Occurrences)
... Hebrews libneh, "white", (Genesis 30:37; Hosea 4:13), in all probability the storax
tree (Styrax officinalis) or white poplar, distinguished by its white ...
/p/poplar.htm - 10k

Mulberry (6 Occurrences)
... The tree here alluded to was probably the aspen or trembling poplar. "We
know with certainty that the black poplar, the aspen, and ...
/m/mulberry.htm - 11k

Almond (7 Occurrences)
... 2. A Rod of Almond: A rod of almond is referred to Genesis 30:37, where "Jacob took
him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond (luz) and of the plane-tree ...
/a/almond.htm - 14k

Rod (138 Occurrences)
... Little distinction can be drawn between the Hebrew words used for "rod" and "staff."
Maqqel is the word used in Genesis 30:37; for the twigs of poplar put by ...
/r/rod.htm - 42k

Uncovering (13 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:37 And Jacob took fresh rods of white poplar, almond-tree, and maple;
and peeled off white stripes in them, uncovering the white which was on the ...
/u/uncovering.htm - 10k

Green (72 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut
tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which ...
/g/green.htm - 31k

Willows (5 Occurrences)
... it cultivated there. Some are of opinion that the tree intended is the
tamarisk or poplar. (2.) Hebrews tzaphtzaphah (Ezek. 17:5 ...
/w/willows.htm - 11k

Inner (141 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:37 Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled
white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. ...
/i/inner.htm - 37k

Fresh (41 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:37 Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled
white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. ...
/f/fresh.htm - 21k

Fresh-cut (1 Occurrence)
... Genesis 30:37 And Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond and of
the plane-tree; and peeled white streaks in them, making the white appear which ...
/f/fresh-cut.htm - 6k

Bible Concordance

Poplar (4 Occurrences)

Genesis 30:37 Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 44:4 And they will come up like grass in a well-watered field, like water-plants by the streams.
(See NAS NIV)

Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Poplar

Poplar: A Tree

Related Terms

Mulberry (6 Occurrences)

Almond (7 Occurrences)

Rod (138 Occurrences)

Uncovering (13 Occurrences)

Green (72 Occurrences)

Willows (5 Occurrences)

Inner (141 Occurrences)