Biology:List of plants in the Bible
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This article lists plants referenced in the Bible, ordered alphabetically by English common/colloquial name. For plants whose identities are unconfirmed or debated the most probable species is listed first. Plants named in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible or Tenakh) are given with their Hebrew name, while those mentioned in the New Testament are given with their Greek names.
A
| Name in Bible | Plant name | Scientific name | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| סנה səneh | Abraham's Bush or Blackberry |
Vitex agnus-castus, Rubus sanctus or Loranthus acaciae | Exodus 3:2 |
| שטה šiṭṭāh | Acacia, Spirale | Acacia raddiana | Exodus 25:10 |
| אלמגים ’almuggîm | Almug tree; traditionally thought to denominate Red Sandalwood and/or White Sandalwood, but a few claim it is Juniper |
Pterocarpus santalinus Santalum album Juniperus excelsa |
2 Chronicles 2:8; 9:10, 11; 1 Kings 10:11, 12 |
| שקד šāqêḏ | Almond | Amygdalus communis | Genesis 43:11 |
| אהלים ’ăhālîm | Agarwood ("Aloe") | Aquilaria malaccensis | Proverbs 7:17 |
| κρίνον, krinon | Anemone | Anemone coronaria | Matthew 6:28 |
| ἄνηθον, anēthon | Anise or Dill | Pimpinella anisum, Anethum graveolens | Matthew 23:23 |
| תפוחי tappūaḥ | Apple[lower-alpha 1] or citron | Malus domestica or Citrus medica | Genesis 2:7; Job 31:39; Jeremiah 15:9 |
B–E
| Name in Bible | Plant name | Scientific name | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| בשם bōśem, בכא bəḵā’îm | Balsam | Commiphora gileadensis[1] | Exodus, Songs |
| שערה śə‘ōrāh | Barley | Hordeum vulgare | Numbers 5:15; Ezekiel 4:9 |
| אזרח bā’ezrāḥ | Bay | Laurus nobilis | Psalm 37:35 |
| בדלח bəḏōlaḥ | Bdellium | Commiphora africana | Genesis 2:12; Numbers 11:7 |
| פול p̄ōl | Bean | Vicia faba | Ezekiel 4:9 |
| תאשור ṯə’aššūr | Box | Buxus sempervirens | Isaiah 41:19 |
| צנ tsin | Boxthorn | Lycium europaeum | Proverbs 22:5 |
| אטד ’āṭāḏ | Bramble | Rubus ulmifolius | Judges 9:15 |
| רתם rōṯem | Broom | Calycotome villosa, Retama raetam or Spartium junceum | Psalm 120:4, 1 Kings 19:4 |
| גמא gōme | Bulrush or Papyrus |
Typha spp. Cyperus papyrus |
Exodus 2:3, Job 40:21 (ABP and NETS) |
| אביונה ’ăḇîyōnāh | Caper, Desire | Capparis spinosa | Ecclesiastes 12:5 |
| κεράτιον, keration | Carob and Locust | Ceratonia siliqua | Luke 15:16, Matthew 3:1 |
| קדה qiddāh | Cassia | Cinnamomum iners | Exodus 30:24, Psalm 45:8, Job 42:14 |
| קיקיון qîqōnāh | Castor Oil Tree ("Jonah's gourd") | Ricinus communis | Jonah 4:9 |
| ארז ’ārez | Cedar of Lebanon | Cedrus libani | 1 Kings 5:10, 2 Kings 19:23 |
| קנמון qinnāmōn | Cinnamon | Cinnamomum zeylanicum | Proverbs 7:17 |
| באשה ḇā’əšāh | Cockle or Stinkweed | Agrostemma githago | Job 31:40 |
| גד gad | Coriander | Coriandrum sativum | Exodus 16:31 |
| כרפס karpas | Cotton | Gossypium herbaceum | Esther 1:6 |
| חבצלת ḥăḇatseleṯ | Crocus | Crocus sativus | Song of Solomon 2:1, Isaiah 35:1 |
| קשא qiššu’a | Cucumber | Cucumis melo | Numbers 11:5 |
| כמן kammōn; κύμινον, kuminon | Cumin | Cuminum cyminum | Isaiah 28:27 |
| קצח qetsaḥ | Cumin, Black | Nigella sativa | Isaiah 44:14 |
| תרזה tirzāh | Cypress | Cupressus sempervirens | Isaiah 44:14 |
| ברוש bərōš | Cypress or fir | Cupressus sempervirens | Isaiah 44:14 |
| תמר tāmār φοίνιξ, phoinix |
Date Palm | Phoenix dactylifera | Song of Solomon 5:11; 7:7, 8, John 12:13 |
| דביונים diḇyōnîm | Dove's Dung | Ornithogalum narbonense | 2 Kings 6:25 |
| תדהר tiḏhār | Elm | Ulmus minor subsp. canescens | Song of Solomon 5:11; 7:7, 8, John 12:13 |
F–I
| Name in Bible | Plant name | Scientific name | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| תאנ ṯə’ênāh | Fig | Ficus carica | Joel 1:7 |
| ארן ’ōren | Fir | Abies cilicica | 1 Kings etc. |
| פשתה pešeth | Flax | Linum usitatissimum | Proverbs 31:13 |
| פרח peraḥ | Flowers, unidentified | 1 Kings 7:26 | |
| לבונה ləḇōnāh | Frankincense | Boswellia thurifera | Matthew 2:10, 11 |
| שום šūm | Garlic | Allium sativum | Numbers 11:5 |
| ענב ‘ănāḇ | Grape | Vitis vinifera | Genesis 40:10 etc. |
| חציר ḥătsîr | Grass | Numbers 11:5 | |
| כמשכת חדק kimśuḵaṯ ḥāḏeq | Hedge of Thorns | Solanum incanum | Proverbs 15:19[2] |
| ראש rōš | Hemlock or gall | Conium maculatum, Papaver somniferum | Amos 6:12 |
| כפר kōp̄er | Henna | Lawsonia inermis | Song of Solomon 1:14 |
| אזוב ’êzōḇ ὕσσωπος, hysōpos |
Hyssop | Hyssopus officinalis | Leviticus 14:52 |
| קטרת qaṭṭərāh | Incense | Boswellia sacra | Hosea 4:13 |
| שושנ šōšannāh | Iris (then denominated "Lily") | Iris palaestina | 1 Kings 7:22 |
J–M
| Name in Bible | Plant name | Scientific name | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | Judas Tree | Cercis siliquastrum | Matthew 27:5 |
| ערוער ‘ărō‘êr | Juniper | Juniperus excelsa | Jeremiah 17:6, 48:6 |
| ἄκανθα, akantha | Jujube | Ziziphus spina-christi | Matthew 27:29 |
| חציר ḥātsîr | Leek | Allium porrum | Numbers 11:5 |
| עדש ‘ăḏāša | Lentil | Lens esculenta | 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9 |
| שושנת העמקים šōwōšannaṯ hā-‘ămāqîm | Lily-of-the-valley | Convallaria majalis | Song of Solomon 2:1 |
| שש šêš | Linen | Linum usitatissimum | Exodus 35:25 |
| צאל tse’ĕlîm | Lotus | Nelumbo nucifera | Job 40:21–22 |
| מלוח mallūaḥ | Mallow | Atriplex halimus | Job 30:4 |
| מלוח ḏūḏā’î | Mandrake | Mandragora autumnalis | Genesis 30:15 |
| מן man | Manna | Alhagi camelorum | Numbers 11:7 |
| ἡδύοσμον, hēduosmon | Mint | Mentha spp. | Matthew 23:23 |
| σίναπι, sinapi | Mustard | Brassica nigra | Matthew 13:31 |
| לט lōṭ | Myrrh | Commiphora guidotti | Genesis 37:25, 43:11 |
| הדס hăḏas | Myrtle | Myrtus communis | Isaiah 55:13 |
N–R
| Name in Bible | Plant name | Scientific name | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| סרפד sirpaḏ | Nettle | Acanthus spinosus | Isaiah 55:13 |
| בטנ beten | Pistachio | Pistacia vera | Song of Solomon 6:11 |
| אלונ ’allōn | Oak | Quercus calliprinos | Joshua 24:26 |
| זית zāyiṯ | Olive | Olea europaea | Judges 9:9 |
| בצל bətsāl | Onion | Allium cepa | Numbers 11:5 |
| ערמון ‘armōn | Plane | Platanus orientalis | Ezekiel 31:8, Genesis 30:37 |
| רמונ rimmōn | Pomegranate | Punica granatum | Song of Solomon 7:12 |
| לבנה liḇneh | Poplar species | Populus spp. | Isaiah 44:4 |
| חלמות ḥallāmūṯ | Purslane | Portulaca oleracea | Job 6:6 |
| אבה ’êḇeh | Reed (see also Cane) | Phragmites | Ezekiel 40:vv., Job 40:21 |
| πήγανον, pēganon | Rue | Ruta graveolens | Luke 11:42 |
| אגמון ’aḡmōn | Rush | Juncus spp. | Isaiah 9:14 |
S
| Name in Bible | Plant name | Scientific name | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| כרכם karkōmn | Saffron | Crocus sativus | Song of Solomon 4:14[lower-alpha 2] |
| כסמת kussemeṯ | Spelt | Triticum spelta | Isaiah 28:25; Ezekiel 4:9 |
| נרד nêrəd | Spikenard | Nardostachys jatamansi | Song of Solomon 4:14 |
| נטפ nāṭāf | Stacte or Storax | Styrax officinalis, Liquidambar orientalis | Exodus 30:34 |
| συκάμινος, sykaminos | Sycamine Fig-mulberry or Mulberry | Ficus sycomorus, Morus nigra or Morus alba | Luke 17:6 |
T–Z
| Name in Bible | Plant name | Scientific name | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| אשל ’ešel | Tamarisk | Tamarix aphylla | Genesis 21:33 |
| ζιζάνιον, zizanion | "Tares", Darnel[3][4] | Lolium temulentum | Matthew 13:25–40 |
| אלה ’êlāh | Terebinth | Pistacia terebinthus | 2 Samuel 18:9 |
| חוח ḥōwaḥ | Thistle | Cardueae | Job 31:40, 2 Chronicles 25:18 |
| קוצ qōts | Thorn, thornbush | Vachellia tortilis or similar | Jeremiah 4:3 |
| θύϊνος, thyinos | Thyine Wood | Tetraclinis articulata | Revelation 18:12 |
| עצ ‘êts | Timber | 2 Kings 12:12 | |
| השרון שושנת hă-ḇatseleṯ ha-Šārōn | Tulip Sharon | Tulipa agenensis | Song of Solomon 2:1 |
| אגוז ’ĕḡōz | Walnut | Juglans regia | Song of Solomon 6:11,[5] Genesis 43:11 |
| אבטיח ’ăḇaṭṭiḥ | Watermelon | Citrullus lanatus | Numbers 11:5 |
| חטה ḥiṭṭāh חנטא ḥinṭa’ |
Wheat | Triticum aestivum | Ezra 7:22; Ezekiel 4:9 |
| ערב ‘ărāḇ | Willow | Salix alba | Job 40:22 |
| ἄψινθος, apsinthos לענה la‘ănāh |
Wormwood | Artemisia absinthium | Revelation 8:11 |
Notes
- ↑ To change a "p" to "f" in Hebrew a dot is changed; the word indicates that which is distinguished by its fragrance; it derives from the root "na·phach?" denoting "blow, pant, struggle for breath" (see Genesis 2:7; Job 31:39; Jeremiah 15:9); regarding this, M. C. Fisher wrote that "relationship [to na·phach?] seems at first semantically strained, but the ideas of 'breathe' and 'exhale an odor' are related. The by-form puah means both 'blow' (of wind) and 'exhale a pleasant odor, be fragrant.'" (see Proverbs 25:11)
- ↑ referenced as the plant or the product consisting of its stigmas?
References
- ↑ Amar, Zohar; Iluz, David. "Balsam: the most expensive perfume plant in the ancient world". in Ferziger, A. S.. The Paths of Daniel: Studies in Judaism and Jewish Culture in Honor of Rabbi Professor Daniel Sperber. Bar-Ilan University press. pp. 15–27. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316620663. Quote: "Botanical synonyms: Amyris gileadensis L., Amyris opoBalsamum L., Balsamodendrum ehrenbergianum O. Berg, Balsamodendrum gileadense Kunth, Balsamodendrum opobalsamum Kunth, Commiphora opobalsamum (L.) Engl."
- ↑ Zohar Amar, Flora of the Bible: A New Investigation Aimed at Identifying All of the Plants of the Bible in Light of Jewish Sources and Scientific Research, Jerusalem, 2012, p. 220 (s. v. חדק)
- ↑ H. G. Liddell and R. Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1843–1996, under "ζιζάνια". The plural form "Zizania" has modernly denominated in botany wild rice.
- ↑ Thayer's Lexicon: ζιζάνια
- ↑ *Longman, Tremper (2001). Songs of Songs. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. 26. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 184. ISBN 9780802825438. https://books.google.com/books?id=PDnMuOcIUjEC.
Sources
- Hepper, F. Nigel (2000). Planting a Bible Garden (illustrated ed.). Lion Hudson PLC. ISBN 9781859851869. https://books.google.com/books?id=IuU3HQAACAAJ.
- Post, G.E. Bible Dictionary Contributions
- Zohary, Michael (1982) Plants of the Bible. New York: Cambridge University Press.
External links
- All of the Plants of the Bible
- Biblical Gardens
- Plants of the Bible, Missouri Botanical Garden
- Project "Bibelgarten im Karton" (biblical garden in a cardboard box) of a social and therapeutic horticultural group (handicapped persons) named "Flowerpower" from Germany
- List of biblical gardens in Europe
Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Plants in the Bible". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.- Biblical Botanical Gardens Society USA
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