International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Rush

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Rush


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(1) (גּמא, gōme'; πάπυρος, pápuros, “bulrushes,” margin “papyrus” (); “rush,” margin “papyrus” (); “papyrus,” the King James Version “rush” (); “rushes” ()): This is almost certainly the famous papyrus, Cyperus papyrus (Natural Order, Cyperaceae), known in Arabic as babir (whence comes our word “paper”). This plant, the finest of the sedges, flourishes plentifully in Upper Egypt; in Palestine there is a great mass of it growing in the marsh to the North of Lake Huleh, and it also occurs on the Lake of Galilee and the Jordan. Light boats of plaited papyrus have been used on the Nile from ancient times and are mentioned by many writers (compare ; ).

(2) (אגמון, 'aghmōn, “rope,” margin “Hebrew 'a rope of rushes,' “ the King James Version “hook” (): “(burning) rushes,” the King James Version “caldron” (); “rush,” the King James Version “bulrush” (); “rush” in ; , used of the humble and lowly folk as contrasted with the “palm branch,” the highest class): The word 'aghmōn comes from אגם, 'ăgham, meaning a marsh (see POOLS), being transferred from the place of the things growing there. The word doubtless includes not only the rushes - of which there are several kinds in Palestine - but also members of the sedge family, the Cyperaceae. See also REED.