Bible Word Study
בְּרוֹת
bᵉrôwth · the cypress (or some elastic tree)
בְּרוֹת
the cypress (or some elastic tree)
Definition
The Hebrew noun בְּרוֹת (bᵉrôwth) refers to a type of tree, likely the cypress or a similar resilient, evergreen conifer. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Song of Solomon 1:17, where it is used poetically to describe the beams and rafters of a house, suggesting a wood valued for its strength and beauty. The term is a variant of the more common בְּרוֹשׁ (bᵉrôwsh, H1265), which is also translated as 'cypress' or 'fir' in other passages (e.g., Isaiah 55:13, Hosea 14:8). This specific form emphasizes the tree's quality as a fine building material.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Song of Solomon 1:17: 'The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters are cypress (בְּרוֹת).' Its singular occurrence is in a poetic, romantic context, where it contributes to the imagery of a sturdy, fragrant, and beautiful dwelling. Unlike its root word בְּרוֹשׁ, which appears in prophetic and historical books describing forests or symbolic plantings, בְּרוֹת is confined to this metaphorical use describing architectural elegance.
Etymology
בְּרוֹת is a feminine noun derived as a variant of בְּרוֹשׁ (bᵉrôwsh, H1265), meaning 'cypress' or 'fir.' The root likely relates to the tree's characteristic of being 'piercing' or 'pointed,' referring to its needle-like leaves or conical shape. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'burāšu,' confirm it as a term for a specific coniferous tree, indicating a stable meaning across ancient cultures.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, cypress wood was highly prized for construction, shipbuilding, and decorative purposes due to its durability, resistance to decay, and pleasant aroma. Its use in Song of Solomon 1:17 to describe a lover's chamber reflects a cultural appreciation for luxury and permanence in building materials. The modern reader might simply see 'wood,' but the original audience would have recognized it as a premium material, enhancing the poetic imagery of strength and desirability. בְּרוֹשׁ (bᵉrôwsh, H1265) — The more common term for cypress/fir, used in various contexts like Isaiah's prophecies. אֶרֶז (erez, H730) — cedar; another prized, fragrant construction wood, often paired with cypress (e.g., 1 Kings 5:8).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]