Bible Dictionary: Fir

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

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:

Pinus sylvestris , or Scotch fir;
Larch;
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.

ATS Bible Dictionary

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.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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.)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(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.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Strong's Hebrew

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

Library

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

Thesaurus

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

Bible Concordance

Fir (22 Occurrences)

2 Samuel 6:5 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of instruments made of fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS)

1 Kings 5:8 Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Kings 5:10 So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Kings 6:15 He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Kings 6:34 and two doors of fir wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Kings 9:11 (now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire), that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

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 KJV ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon: and behold, my servants shall be with your servants,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 3:5 The greater house he made a ceiling with fir wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Psalms 104:17 where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the fir trees.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Song of Songs 1:17 The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT 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 ASV WBS YLT)

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 ASV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 41:19 I will put cedar, acacia, myrtle, and oil trees in the wilderness. I will set fir trees, pine, and box trees together in the desert;
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT 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 ASV NAS)

Isaiah 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to Yahweh for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT)

Isaiah 60:13 "The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NIV)

Ezekiel 27:5 They have made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV)

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 ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV)

Hosea 14:8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; from me your fruit is found."
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Nahum 2:3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
(KJV JPS BBE WBS YLT)

Zechariah 11:2 Wail, fir tree, for the cedar has fallen, because the stately ones are destroyed. Wail, you oaks of Bashan, for the strong forest has come down.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Fir

Fir Tree: Instruments of Music Made of

Fir Tree: Ships Made of

Fir Tree: Wood of, Used for Building

Related Terms

Fir-trees (11 Occurrences)

Fir-tree (5 Occurrences)

Fir-wood (4 Occurrences)

Fir-pine (1 Occurrence)

Pine (28 Occurrences)

Ash (4 Occurrences)