Topical Bible: Cedars

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The cedar tree, particularly the Cedars of Lebanon, holds significant symbolic and practical importance throughout the Bible. Known for their majestic height, durability, and aromatic wood, cedars are frequently mentioned in Scripture, often symbolizing strength, beauty, and longevity.

Biblical References and Symbolism

1. Strength and Majesty: Cedars are often used metaphorically to represent strength and majesty. In Psalm 92:12, the righteous are compared to the cedar: "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon." This comparison highlights the enduring and robust nature of those who live in accordance with God's will.

2. Construction and Craftsmanship: The wood of the cedar tree was highly prized for construction due to its resistance to decay and insects. King Solomon used cedar wood extensively in the building of the Temple and his palace. In 1 Kings 6:9-10, it is recorded, "So he built the temple and finished it, and he paneled the temple with beams and boards of cedar." The use of cedar in these sacred structures underscores its value and the desire for permanence and beauty in places of worship.

3. Symbol of Pride and Downfall: While cedars symbolize strength, they are also used to illustrate pride and the subsequent downfall of nations or individuals. In Ezekiel 31:3, Assyria is likened to a cedar: "Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest, towering on high, its top above the thick foliage." This imagery serves as a warning against hubris, as even the mightiest can be brought low by God's judgment.

4. Divine Planting and Blessing: Cedars are also depicted as part of God's creation, planted by His hand. In Psalm 104:16, it is written, "The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted." This verse reflects the divine care and provision for creation, emphasizing the cedar's role in the natural order established by God.

5. Cultural and Economic Significance: Beyond their symbolic meanings, cedars were economically significant in the ancient Near East. The Phoenicians, who inhabited the region of Lebanon, were renowned for their cedar timber, which was exported to various parts of the ancient world. This trade is evidenced in the alliance between Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre, as described in 1 Kings 5:6: "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with yours, and I will pay you for your servants whatever wages you set."

Conclusion

The cedar tree, particularly the Cedars of Lebanon, is a powerful biblical symbol of strength, beauty, and divine blessing. Its wood was used in the construction of sacred spaces, and its imagery serves as a reminder of both the blessings of righteousness and the perils of pride. Through its various mentions in Scripture, the cedar continues to be a testament to God's creation and the enduring qualities He desires in His people.

Strong's Hebrew

730. erez -- a cedar
... Definition: cedar. Word Origin from an unused word (729) Definition a cedar
NASB Word Usage cedar (48), cedars (25). cedar tree. From ...
/hebrew/730.htm - 6k

Library

The Cedars of Lebanon.
... SERMON XVI. THE CEDARS OF LEBANON. PSALM CIV.16. The trees of the Lord are
full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted. ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xvi the cedars of.htm

His Legs are as Pillars of Marble, Set Upon Sockets of Fine Gold ...
... CHAPTER V. 15. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine
gold; his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/15 his legs are as.htm

Continued.
... Jehovah (is) on many waters. The voice of Jehovah in strength! The voice of Jehovah
in majesty! b. The voice of Jehovah rending the cedars! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/iii early dayscontinued.htm

By the Wayside
... Above them were bold summits with groves of cedars, and in one of these the Maccabee
made out a thin curl of smoke dimly illuminated by a moon-drowned fire. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter v by the wayside.htm

Mount Olivet. The Mount of Olives, 2 Samuel 15:30
... Among other trees, two cedars are mentioned, or rather two monsters of
cedars. "Two cedars (they say) were in the mount of Olivet ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 40 mount olivet the.htm

Psalm LXXX.
... But in the mean time what? "She hath covered the mountains with her shadow,
and with her branch the cedars of God" (ver.10). "Thou ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxx.htm

On Earthly Things
... [Ps.91(92):13(12)]. The cedars are men of the highest power; in the psalm:
that they may grow as the cedars of Lebanon. And in a ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iii on earthly things.htm

Psalm XXIX.
... 5. "The Voice of the Lord breaking the cedars" (ver.5). The Voice of the
Lord humbling the proud in brokenness of heart. "The Lord ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xxix.htm

Psalm 29
... of glorious majesty. ^5The voice of the Eternal doth. asunder cedars tear;
Yea, God the Lord doth cedars break. that Lebanon doth bear. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 29.htm

The Last Farewell in the Presence of the one Hundred and Fifty ...
... out to the sea, [4323] and spreads from border to border, and hides the mountains
with the height of its glory and is exalted above the cedars, even the cedars ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xlii the last farewell.htm

Thesaurus

Cedars (37 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Cedars (37 Occurrences). John 18:1 After offering
this prayer Jesus went out with His disciples to a place ...
/c/cedars.htm - 18k

Firs (9 Occurrences)
... In the multitude of my chariots I have come up to a high place of mountains -- The
sides of Lebanon, And I cut down the height of its cedars, The choice of its ...
/f/firs.htm - 9k

Cypresses (6 Occurrences)
... With the multitude of my chariots have I come up To the height of the mountain,
to the recesses of Lebanon, And I will cut down its tall cedars, the choice of ...
/c/cypresses.htm - 8k

Fir-trees (11 Occurrences)
... the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the
innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and ...
/f/fir-trees.htm - 9k

Sycamores (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he
as the sycamores that are in the lowland for abundance. (DBY YLT). ...
/s/sycamores.htm - 8k

Sycamore (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:27 The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made
he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance. ...
/s/sycamore.htm - 10k

Fir (22 Occurrences)
... the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to
the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down its tall cedars, and its ...
/f/fir.htm - 19k

Felled (8 Occurrences)
... the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to
the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down its tall cedars, and its ...
/f/felled.htm - 9k

Foothills (19 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:27 The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made
he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance. ...
/f/foothills.htm - 12k

Plentiful (17 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Kings 10:27 The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars
made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance. ...
/p/plentiful.htm - 11k

Resources

What are the cedars of Lebanon the Bible mentions? | GotQuestions.org

How can I recognize and understand biblical symbolism? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Places in the Bible (All) | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Cedars (37 Occurrences)

John 18:1
After offering this prayer Jesus went out with His disciples to a place on the further side of the Ravine of the Cedars, where there was a garden which He entered--Himself and His disciples.
(WEY)

Numbers 24:6
Like valleys are they spread forth, like gardens by the river side, Like aloe-trees which Jehovah hath planted, like cedars beside the waters.
(DBY JPS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 9:15
"The bramble said to the trees,'If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 5:11
And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
(DBY)

2 Samuel 7:2
that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedars, and the ark of God dwells under curtains.
(DBY YLT)

2 Samuel 7:7
In all my going about with all the children of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye me not a house of cedars?
(DBY YLT)

1 Kings 5:6
And now, command, and they cut down for me cedars out of Lebanon, and my servants are with thy servants, and the hire of thy servants I give to thee according to all that thou sayest, for thou hast known that there is not among us a man acquainted with cutting wood, like the Sidonians.'
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 6:9
And he buildeth the house, and completeth it, and covereth the house 'with' beams and rows of cedars.
(YLT)

1 Kings 7:11
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
(KJV WBS)

1 Kings 10:27
The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

2 Kings 19:23
By your messengers you have defied the Lord, and have said,'With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down its tall cedars, and its choice fir trees; and I will enter into his farthest lodging place, the forest of his fruitful field.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 14:1
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
(KJV DBY WBS)

1 Chronicles 17:1
Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 17:6
Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 1:15
The king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS)

2 Chronicles 2:3
Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house in which to dwell, even so deal with me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

2 Chronicles 9:27
The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS)

Psalms 29:5
The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 72:16
There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.
(See NAS)

Psalms 80:10
The mountains were covered with its shadow. Its boughs were like God's cedars.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 104:16
Yahweh's trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 148:9
mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Song of Songs 1:17
The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Song of Songs 5:15
His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 2:13
For all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, for all the oaks of Bashan,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 9:10
"The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 14:8
Yes, the fir trees rejoice with you, with the cedars of Lebanon, saying, "Since you are humbled, no lumberjack has come up against us."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 37:24
By your servants, have you defied the Lord, and have said, "With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon. I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice fir trees. I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 44:14
He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 22:7
I will prepare destroyers against you, everyone with his weapons; and they shall cut down your choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 22:23
Inhabitant of Lebanon, who makes your nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied you will be when pangs come on you, the pain as of a woman in travail!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 27:5
They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 31:8
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it; the fir trees were not like its boughs, and the plane trees were not as its branches; nor was any tree in the garden of God like it in its beauty.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE 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 NAS)

Hosea 14:6
His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
(See NAS)

Amos 2:9
Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 11:1
Open your doors, Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Cedars

Related Terms

Cedar-trees (11 Occurrences)

Cedars (37 Occurrences)

Pedestals (1 Occurrence)

Boy (94 Occurrences)

Columns (17 Occurrences)

Alabaster (6 Occurrences)

Springeth (12 Occurrences)

Fishes (32 Occurrences)