Bible Dictionaries
Reed

Reed (see also Cane). Phragmites. קנה‎ qâneh - Strongs: H7070, אבה‎ ’êḇeh - Strongs: H16; κάλαμος kalamos - Strongs: G2563.

From Easton: Reed - (1.) "Paper reeds" (Isaiah 19:7; R.V., "reeds"). Heb. 'aroth, properly green herbage growing in marshy places.

(2.) Heb. kaneh (1 Kings 14:15; Job 40:21; Isaiah 19:6), whence the Gr. kanna, a "cane," a generic name for a reed of any kind.

The reed of Egypt and Palestine is the Arundo donax, which grows to the height of 12 feet, its stalk jointed like the bamboo, "with a magnificent panicle of blossom at the top, and so slender and yielding that it will lie perfectly flat under a gust of wind, and immediately resume its upright position." It is used to illustrate weakness (2 Kings 18:21; Ezekiel 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Matthew 11:7; comp. Ephesians 4:14).

A "bruised reed" (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord's hands in derision (Matthew 27:29); and "they took the reed and smote him on the head" (30). The "reed" on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Matthew 27:48) was, according to John (John 19:29), a hyssop stalk, which must have been of some length, or perhaps a bunch of hyssop twigs fastened to a rod with the sponge. (See CANE)

Verses:

• Exodus 30:23
• 1 Kings 14:15
• 2 Kings 18:21
• Job 9:26
• Job 40:21
• Song of Solomon 4:14
• Isaiah 19:6
• Isaiah 35:7
• Isaiah 36:6
• Isaiah 42:3
• Isaiah 43:24
• Jeremiah 6:20
• Ezekiel 27:19
• Ezekiel 29:6
• Ezekiel 40:3
• Matthew 11:7
• Matthew 12:20
• Matthew 27:29
• Matthew 27:30
• Matthew 27:48
• Mark 15:19
• Mark 15:36
• Luke 7:24
• 3 John 1:13
• Revelation 11:1
• Revelation 21:15
• Revelation 21:16