Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the NT: Herb
Subjects in this Topic:
HERB.—In modern botanical science, ‘herb’ is a well-defined term, and is applied to plants whose stem dies down annually. In the Bible it is used in a popular sense, being employed to translate several Hebrew and Greek words of varying significance. In the NT it is (except in Heb_6:7, where the original has âïôÜíç ) the rendering of ëÜ÷áíá (Mat_13:32, Mar_4:32, Rom_14:2) or ëÜ÷áíïí (Luk_11:42), which denotes garden-herbs or vegetables. Many of these, such as lettuce, parsley, mint, etc., are in constant use to the present day. Delitzsch (Heb. NT) renders this word by éָøָ÷ , which means ‘green herbs’ (cf. Deu_11:10, Pro_15:17). The other term, âïôÜíç , means ‘pasture,’ but is evidently used (.c.) of herbage in general, including cereals. Delitzsch’s translation is òֵùְá , ‘çsebh, which has the same signification. Hugh Duncan.