Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Bulrush (2)
Subjects in this Topic:
is used synonymously with “RUSH” in the A. V. as the rendering of two Hebrew words.' SEE REED.
1. AGMON', àִâְîåֹï , in Isa_9:13; Isa_19:15, in the proverbial expression “branch and rush,” equivalent to high and low alike (the Sept. has ìÝãáí êáὶ ìéêñüí in one passage, ἀñ÷ὴí êáὶ ôÝëïò in the other), and in Isa_58:6, the Hebrew term is rendered “bulrush.” The word is derived from àָâָí , agan', a marsh, because the bulrush grows in marshy ground. The bulrush was platted into ropes (A. V. “hook”), as appears from Job_41:2 (see Bochart, Hieroz. 2, 772; comp. Plin. Nat. Hist. 19, 2). The Sept. has êñßêïò in the latter passages. SEE RUSH.
2. GOME', âֹּîֶà (from âָּîָà , to drink up, referring to the porous nature of the plant, as absorbing moisture: hence the Latin name biblus; comp. “bibula papyrus” in Lucan, 4:136), occurs Exo_2:3 (where Sept. omits); Isa_18:2 (Sept. âßâëïò ); 35, 7 (Sept. ἕëïò ); Job_8:11 (Sept. ðÜðõñïò ); in the first two of which passages it is translated in our version by “bulrush,” and in the last two by “rush,” and is undoubtedly the Egyptian papyrus (papyrus Nilotica), so famous in the history of writing, and from which the word paper is derived. It is the Cyperus papyrus of modern botany. It was anciently very abundant in Egypt, but is now very scarce there. It is found in great abundance, however, in Syria and Abyssinia. The Egyptians used this plant for garments, shoes, baskets, various kinds of utensils, and especially for boats. It was the material of the ark (q.v.) in which Moses was exposed, and of it the vessels mentioned in Isa_18:2 were formed. This practice is referred to by Lucan (4. 136) and by Pliny (13. 11, s. 22). (Comp. Celsius, Hierob. 2, 137-152.) SEE PAPYRUS.