Lexical Summary berosh: Cypress, Fir, Pine Original Word: בְּרוֹשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fir tree Of uncertain derivation; a cypress (?) Tree; hence, a lance or a musical instrument (as made of that wood) -- fir (tree). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition cypress or fir NASB Translation cypress (11), cypress trees (1), cypresses (3), fir (1), fir trees (2), juniper (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בְּרוֺשׁ noun masculineHos 14:9 cypress or fir (Assyrian burâšu COTGlossary Aramaic בּרוֺתא,  , compare בְּרוֺת below, see also Greek βράθυ, Latin bratum, cypress, juniper (PS); in favour of cypress, also ᵐ5 ᵑ6 & so Thes; in favour of fir or pine, ᵑ9 Rob in Rob-Ges (because cypress not now indigenous on Lebanon); compare also RSProph. iv. n. 20 who lays stress on Phoenician proper name, of a location אי בשם (= איברושים) = Greek Πιτυοῦσαι i.e. isle of firs; — see further SchroedPhön. Spr. 99 LöwNo. 59 & Brathu as name of Hermon Philo Byblus in EusebPraep. Evang. i. 10) — בְּרוֺשׁ Hosea 14:9 4t.; בִּרוֺשִׁים 2 Samuel 6:5 + 11: t., בְּרשִׁים Nahum 2:4, בְּרוֺשָׁיו Isaiah 37:24, בְּרשָׁיו 2 Kings 19:23; — 1 (literal) a noble tree, usually "" ארז (except 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 6:34; 2Chronicles 3:5; Psalm 104:17; Isaiah 55:13; Hosea 14:9; Nahum 2:4); as standing and growing Isaiah 14:8; Isaiah 37:24 = 2 Kings 19:23; Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 55:13 ("" הֲדַס) Isaiah 60:13 ("" כבוד לבנון = ארז) Psalm 104:17. 2 simile of luxuriance, stateliness Ezekiel 31:8, productiveness Hosea 14:9 (Now thinks cypress), figurative for spear-shafts Nahum 2:4 Hi-St, but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 פרשׁים; figurative for mighty men Zechariah 11:2. 3 as material (always plural), for building temple (׳עצי ב) 1 Kings 5:22; 1 Kings 5:24; 1 Kings 6:34; compare 1 Kings 9:11; 2Chron 2:7; ׳עץ ב (singular) 2 Chronicles 3:5 (compare Baer's note); ׳צלעות ב 1 Kings 6:15; for ships (no עץ) Ezekiel 27:5; — בְּכֹל עֲצֵי ברושׁים 2 Samuel 6:5 apparently = with all musical instruments made of fir, but "" 1 Chronicles 13:8 בְּכָלעֹֿז וּבְשִׁירִים & so here ᵐ5 We Dr. Topical Lexicon Botanical Profile and Cultural Esteem בְּרוֹשׁ designates a stately evergreen that thrives in the highlands of Lebanon and Bashan. Its straight trunk, aromatic wood, and resistance to decay made it a treasured resource in the ancient Near East, ranking alongside cedar in both durability and beauty. Israel’s poets and prophets often grouped it with the “cedars of Lebanon,” underscoring its lofty stature and symbolic value. Material for Sacred Architecture Solomon’s temple complex and royal palace prominently featured this timber. Solomon’s workmen, supplied by Hiram of Tyre, “brought cedar and cypress timber in abundance” (1 Kings 5:10). Walls, floors, and ceiling beams were lined with it (1 Kings 6:15), and the elaborately carved doors were “made of cypress wood” (1 Kings 6:34). After the dedication, the wood’s endurance became an ongoing testimony to the permanence of the worship established there. When Solomon later repaid King Hiram with “twenty towns in Galilee” (1 Kings 9:11), the wood stood as part of the royal exchange, showing its high commercial worth. Instrumentation in Worship When David transported the ark to Jerusalem, “David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood” (2 Samuel 6:5). The choice of this timber for lyres, harps, and tambourines highlighted its acoustic excellence and placed it in the heart of Israel’s liturgical life. Commerce and Maritime Construction Tyre’s shipbuilders “constructed all their paneling of cypress from Senir” (Ezekiel 27:5). The same prophet notes that Egypt’s magnificent Assyrian-like cedar was unmatched even by the “cypresses in the garden of God” (Ezekiel 31:8), reflecting international demand. The Assyrian war machine used its color to describe parade shields: “The shields of his warriors are dyed red; the soldiers are clad in scarlet” (Nahum 2:3), possibly alluding to cypress-sheathed chariots newly stained by battle. Symbol of Royal Splendor and Military Pride Sennacherib boasted of felling “its tallest cedars, its choice cypresses” on his march to Lebanon (2 Kings 19:23; Isaiah 37:24). The prophets answer his arrogance by portraying the trees’ rejoicing at his fall: “Even the cypresses and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you” (Isaiah 14:8). Thus the wood becomes a silent witness—first to human pride, then to divine retribution. Habitat for God’s Creatures Psalm 104:17 portrays creation’s harmony: “The birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the cypress trees.” What humans value for buildings and trade also serves God’s smaller creatures, reminding readers that the LORD sustains all life. Token of Restoration and Messianic Blessing In oracles of hope, the tree marks the reversal of exile’s curse. “I will plant in the wilderness the cypress” (Isaiah 41:19), and “Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress” (Isaiah 55:13). The climax comes in the pilgrimage vision: “The glory of Lebanon will come to you—its cypress, elm, and box—for the adornment of My sanctuary” (Isaiah 60:13). Hosea’s closing promise, “From Me comes your fruit. Your fame will be like the cypress” (Hosea 14:8), ties national restoration to personal fruitfulness in the LORD. Voice in Prophetic Lament Zechariah invites the forests to mourn: “Wail, you cypresses, for the cedars have fallen” (Zechariah 11:2). The tree thus shares in the grief of judgment, its fall echoing Israel’s own. Prophetic literature employs this timber as a barometer—standing tall in times of blessing, toppled or silenced in times of wrath. Theological Reflections for Ministry Today 1. Endurance and Integrity: Its incorruptible grain urges believers toward lives of lasting holiness amid a decaying world. From palace halls and temple courts to prophetic scrolls and songs of praise, בְּרוֹשׁ stands as a living parable of divine provision, judgment, and redemption—rooted in earth yet pointing to the enduring glory of the Lord. Forms and Transliterations בְּר֛וֹשׁ בְּרֹשָׁ֔יו בְּרוֹשִֽׁים׃ בְּרוֹשִׁ֔ים בְּרוֹשִׁ֗ים בְּרוֹשִׁ֛ים בְּרוֹשִׁ֣ים בְּרוֹשִׁ֤ים בְּרוֹשִׁ֥ים בְּרוֹשׁ֙ בְר֔וֹשׁ בְרוֹשִֽׁים׃ בְרוֹשִׁ֑ים בְרוֹשִׁ֖ים בְרוֹשִׁ֛ים ברוש ברושים ברושים׃ ברשיו וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖ים והברשים כִּבְר֣וֹשׁ כברוש bə·rō·šāw bə·rō·wō·šîm ḇə·rō·wō·šîm bə·rō·wōš ḇə·rō·wōš beRoosh bərōšāw beroShav beroShim beroVosh bərōwōš ḇərōwōš bərōwōšîm ḇərōwōšîm kiḇ·rō·wōš kiḇrōwōš kivRoosh vehabberoShim veRoosh veroShim wə·hab·bə·rō·šîm wəhabbərōšîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 6:5 HEB: בְּכֹ֖ל עֲצֵ֣י בְרוֹשִׁ֑ים וּבְכִנֹּר֤וֹת וּבִנְבָלִים֙ NAS: with all kinds of [instruments made of] fir wood, KJV: the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, INT: all wood fir lyres harps 1 Kings 5:8 1 Kings 5:10 1 Kings 6:15 1 Kings 6:34 1 Kings 9:11 2 Kings 19:23 2 Chronicles 2:8 2 Chronicles 3:5 Psalm 104:17 Isaiah 14:8 Isaiah 37:24 Isaiah 41:19 Isaiah 55:13 Isaiah 60:13 Ezekiel 27:5 Ezekiel 31:8 Hosea 14:8 Nahum 2:3 Zechariah 11:2 20 Occurrences |
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