International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Forest

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Forest


Subjects in this Topic:

for´est:

(1) חרשׁ, ḥōresh (compare proper name Harosheth), . In translated “wood”; in , “wood”; in , “forest-like shade.” Applied to any thick growth of vegetation but not necessarily so extensive as (3).

(2) פרדּס, pardēṣ̌: , margin “park”; , the King James Version “orchards,” the Revised Version (British and American) “parks”; , English Versions of the Bible “orchard,” the Revised Version, margin “paradise.” A word of Persian origin signifying probably an enclosure. See PARADISE.

(3) יער, ya‛ar from root meaning “rugged”; compare Arabic wa‛ar, “a rugged, stony region.” It is sometimes rendered “forest” and sometimes (but less often in the Revised Version (British and American)) “wood.” It is used of certain definite wooded tracts: “the forest in Arabia” (, margin “thickets”); “the forest of Carmel” ( the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) “of his fruitful field”); “the forest of Hereth” (); “the forest of Lebanon” ( f; -21; -20); “the forest of Ephraim,” east of the Jordan (, , ). The word ya‛ar appears also in well-known Kiriath-jearim, “the city of forests,” and Mr. Jearim (). Among numerous other references the following may be cited: ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; .

(4) סבך, ṣebhakh, from root meaning “to interweave.” A “thicket” (; ); “thicket of trees” (); “thickets of the forest” (; ).

(5) עבים, ‛ābhı̄m, “thicket” ().

From many references it is evident that Palestine had in Old Testament times much more extensive forests and woodlands than today. For a discussion of the subject see BOTANY.