Lexical Summary oren: fir Original Word: אֹרֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ash From the same as 'Aran (in the sense of strength); the ash tree (from its toughness) -- ash. see HEBREW 'Aran NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as Aran Definition fir, cedar NASB Translation fir (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. אֹ֫רֶן noun [masculine] fir or cedar (Assyrian êrinu COTGloss, Mishna plural ארנים) Isaiah 44:14 ("" אֶרֶז, תִּרְזָה, אַוֺן, עֲצֵי יַעַר). Topical Lexicon Botanical Identification and Habitat The Hebrew word describes the pine, a conifer distinguished by evergreen needles, upright stature, and durable resin-rich wood. Native stands of pine grew on the higher elevations of ancient Israel, especially the Lebanon range and the hills of Galilee and Carmel, thriving where rainfall and soil depth permitted larger timber to mature. Biblical Context of Isaiah 44:14 Isaiah 44 portrays a craftsman who “plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it” (Isaiah 44:14). In the prophet’s satire the very tree that God causes to grow becomes material for an idol that the same man later bows before (Isaiah 44:15–17). The pine therefore functions as a silent witness to human folly and to the gracious providence of the Creator who supplies all wood in the first place (Isaiah 44:13). Symbolic and Theological Themes 1. Dependence on God’s Provision—The growth of the pine is attributed to rain that God sends, underscoring divine sovereignty over nature (Job 38:25–27; Psalm 104:13). Historical and Cultural Insights In the wider ancient Near East, pine wood was valued for construction, paneling, and shipbuilding because of its straight grain and resistance to decay. In Phoenician territory pines were harvested for masts and beams, explaining why a craftsman in Judah could realistically “choose” such a tree for carving (Isaiah 44:14). Resin from pines also served as a sealant and perfume base, linking the tree to both practical and cultic life. Geographical and Prophetic Resonances Pines feature in later prophetic visions of restored fertility: “The pine, the fir, and the cypress together” are promised for the renewed land (Isaiah 60:13). Though the word in that verse is different, the inclusion of evergreens creates an echo: what once supplied idols will adorn the Lord’s sanctuary. The pine thus anticipates redemption—wood once misused will ultimately display divine glory. Applications for Preaching and Ministry • Illustrate the absurdity of idolatry by comparing modern substitutes for God with the handmade idol of Isaiah 44. Key Reference Forms and Transliterations אֹ֖רֶ seg type='small'>ן seg> ארן ’ō·ren ’ōren OrenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 44:14 HEB: יָ֑עַר נָטַ֥ע אֹ֖רֶ seg type='small'>ן seg> וְגֶ֥שֶׁם יְגַדֵּֽל׃ NAS: He plants a fir, and the rain KJV: he planteth an ash, and the rain INT: of the forest plants A fir and the rain makes |
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