Fir

(Isaiah 14:8; Ezekiel 27:5) etc. As the term "cedar" is in all probability applicable to more than one tree, so also "fir" in the Authorized Version represents probably one or other of the following trees:

1. Pinus sylvestris , or Scotch fir;
2. Larch;
3. Cupressus sempervirens , or cypress, all which are at this day found in the Lebanon. The wood of the fir was used for ship-building, (Ezekiel 27:5) for musical instruments, (2 Samuel 6:5) for beams and rafters of houses, (1 Kings 5:8,10; 2 Chronicles 2:8) It was a tall evergreen tree of vigorous growth.

Fir

An evergreen tree, of beautiful appearance, whose lofty height and dense foliage afford a spacious shelter and shade. The Hebrew word often seems to mean the CYPRESS, which see. It was used for shipbuilding, Ezekiel 27:5; for musical instruments, 2 Samuel 6:5; for beams and rafters of houses, 1 Kings 5:8,10 9:11 So 1:17.

The uniform rendering in the Authorized Version (marg. R.V., "cypress") of berosh (2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 5:8, 10; 6:15, 34; 9:11, etc.), a lofty tree (Isaiah 55:13) growing on Lebanon (37:24). Its wood was used in making musical instruments and doors of houses, and for ceilings (2 Chronicles 3:5), the decks of ships (Ezek. 27:5), floorings and spear-shafts (Nahum 2:3, R.V.). The true fir (abies) is not found in Palestine, but the pine tree, of which there are four species, is common.

The precise kind of tree meant by the "green fir tree" (Hosea 14:8) is uncertain. Some regard it as the sherbin tree, a cypress resembling the cedar; others, the Aleppo or maritime pine (Pinus halepensis), which resembles the Scotch fir; while others think that the "stone-pine" (Pinus pinea) is probably meant. (see PINE.)

(n.) A genus (Abies) of coniferous trees, often of large size and elegant shape, some of them valued for their timber and others for their resin. The species are distinguished as the balsam fir, the silver fir, the red fir, etc. The Scotch fir is a Pinus.FIR; FIR-TREE

fur, (the Revised Version, margin "cypress"; berosh, 2 Samuel 6:5 1 Kings 5:8, 10, etc.; (berothem (plural only), an Aramaic form, Songs 1:17):

1. Old Testament References:

This tree was one of the chief trees of Lebanon (Isaiah 60:13); one of usefulness (Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 55:13); associated with the cedar (2 Kings 19:23 Psalm 104:17 Isaiah 14:8 Zechariah 11:2); its boughs were wide and great (Ezekiel 31:8); it was evergreen (Hosea 14:8); it could supply boards and timber for doors (1 Kings 6:15, 24); beams for roofing the temple (2 Chronicles 3:5); planks for shipbuilding (Ezekiel 27:5). In 2 Samuel 6:5 we read: "David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of instruments made of fir-wood," etc. It is practically certain that the reading in the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 13:8 is more correct: "David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs," etc. This view is supported by the Septuagint translation (en pase dunamei). There is therefore no necessity to suppose that berosh was a wood used for musical instruments.

2. The Identity of "Berosh":

The identity of berosh is uncertain. It was a name applied either to several of the Coniferae in common or to one or more outstanding species. If the latter is the case we can only seek for the most suited to Old Testament requirements. The Aleppo pine, Pinus Halepensis, is a fine tree which flourishes in the Lebanon, but its wood is not of special excellence and durability. A better tree (or couple of trees) is the sherbin of the Syrians; this name includes two distinct varieties in the suborder Cypressineae, the fine tall juniper, Juniperis excelsa and the cypress, Cypressus sempervirens. They both still occur in considerable numbers in the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon; they are magnificent trees and produce excellent wood-resinous, fragrant, durable. If these trees were not classed locally, as now, under one name, then the cypress is of the two more probably the berosh. The coffins of Egyptian mummies were made of cypress; a compact variety of this cypress is cultivated all over the Turkish empire by the Moslems as an ornament in cemeteries. From early times the cypress has been connected with mourning.

In the Apocrypha there are two definite references to the cypress (kuparissos). In APC Sirach 24:13, Wisdom says:

"I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus,

And as a cypress tree on the mountains of Hermon."

And in Sirach 50:10 the high priest Simon is said to be

"As an olive tree budding forth fruits,

And as a cypress growing high among the clouds."

These passages, especially the former, certainly favor the idea that berosh was the cypress; the name may, however, have included allied trees.

E. W. G. Masterman

1265. berosh -- cypress or fir
... 1264, 1265. berosh. 1266 . cypress or fir. Transliteration: berosh Phonetic
Spelling: (ber-osh') Short Definition: cypress. Word ...
/hebrew/1265.htm - 6k

766. oren -- fir, cedar
... 765, 766. oren. 767 . fir, cedar. Transliteration: oren Phonetic Spelling:
(o'-ren) Short Definition: fir. Word Origin from the ...
/hebrew/766.htm - 6k

1266. beroth -- cypress or fir
... 1265, 1266. beroth. 1267 . cypress or fir. Transliteration: beroth Phonetic
Spelling: (ber-oth') Short Definition: cypresses. ... fir. ...
/hebrew/1266.htm - 6k

767. Oren -- "fir tree," a descendant of Judah
... 766, 767. Oren. 768 . "fir tree," a descendant of Judah. Transliteration:
Oren Phonetic Spelling: (o'-ren) Short Definition: Oren. ...
/hebrew/767.htm - 6k

December 14. "Instead of the Thorn Shall Come up the Fir Tree" ...
... DECEMBER 14. "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree" (Isa. lv. 13).
"Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree" (Isaiah 55:13). ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /december 14 instead of the.htm

Where to Find Fruit
... The Lord has compared himself, in his condescending mercy, to a green
fir tree in the sentence which precedes the text. The fir ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/where to find fruit.htm

Death and Life from the Ark
... ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.5. And David and all the house of Israel
played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/death and life from the.htm

Assurance of Salvation.
... Mr. Spurgeon says: "I never heard of a stork that when it met with a fir tree demurred
as to its right to build its nest there; and I never heard of a coney ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter vii assurance of salvation.htm

What have I to do with Idols?
... I have heard Him, and observed Him; I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy
fruit found" (xiv:8). ... Thus Ephraim became like a green fir tree. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/what have i to do.htm

The First Trumpet.
... the great and rich, who for oaks of Basan (Isaiah 11:13.) substitutes the princes
of provinces; for cedars, (Isaiah 14:8.) rich men; for fir-trees, sometimes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the first trumpet.htm

Great Preparations for a Great Work
... saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do
all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.9. My ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/great preparations for a great.htm

The Gentle Boy
... It was like the wailing of some one in distress, and it seemed to proceed from beneath
a tall and lonely fir-tree, in the centre of a cleared, but uninclosed ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the gentle boy.htm

Lessons from Nature
... CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "Where the birds make
their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/lessons from nature.htm

Israel Returning
... I have heard Him, and observed Him: I am like a green fir-tree. From me is thy fruit
found.9. Who is wise, and He shall understand these things? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/israel returning.htm

Fir (22 Occurrences)
... The true fir (abies) is not found in Palestine, but the pine tree, of
which there are four species, is common. The precise kind ...
/f/fir.htm - 19k

Fir-trees (11 Occurrences)
Fir-trees. Fir-tree, Fir-trees. Fir-wood . Multi-Version Concordance
Fir-trees (11 Occurrences). 1 Kings 5:10 And Hiram is giving ...
/f/fir-trees.htm - 9k

Fir-tree (5 Occurrences)
Fir-tree. Firtree, Fir-tree. Fir-trees . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia FIR; FIR-TREE. fur, (the Revised Version, margin ...
/f/fir-tree.htm - 11k

Fir-wood (4 Occurrences)
Fir-wood. Fir-trees, Fir-wood. Fish . Multi-Version Concordance
Fir-wood (4 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 6:5 And David and ...
/f/fir-wood.htm - 7k

Fir-pine (1 Occurrence)
Fir-pine. Firmness, Fir-pine. Firs . Multi-Version Concordance
Fir-pine (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 41:19 I give in a wilderness ...
/f/fir-pine.htm - 6k

Pine (28 Occurrences)
... Hebrews tidhar, mentioned along with the fir-tree in Isaiah 41:19; 60:13. ... In Nehemiah
8:15 the Revised Version has "wild olive" instead of "pine." (see FIR.). ...
/p/pine.htm - 17k

Ash (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews o'ren, "tremulous"), mentioned only Isaiah
44:14 (RV, "fir tree"). It is rendered "pine tree" both in the LXX. ...
/a/ash.htm - 9k

Firtree
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia FIR; FIR-TREE. fur, (the Revised Version,
margin "cypress"; berosh, 2 Samuel 6:5 1 Kings 5:8, 10 ...
/f/firtree.htm - 9k

Cedars (37 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/c/cedars.htm - 18k

Plane (5 Occurrences)
... plan'-tre ('armon; platanos (Genesis 30:37), elate ("pine" or "fir") (Ezekiel
31:8); the King James Version chestnut): `Armon is supposed to be derived from ...
/p/plane.htm - 10k

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Fir: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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