the Second Week of Advent
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Reed (2)
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
REED (κάλαμος).—This represents the Heb. kaneh, probably Arundo donax, a plant which grows in great abundance in the marshes of the Jordan Valley and along the river sides. The stem is tall and straight, and the head bends gracefully with a great feathery brush, sensitive to the slightest breath of air (Matthew 11:7, Luke 7:24). The wood is put to many uses. It forms the frames of the rush mats with which the Arabs of el-Hûleh make their slender houses. It serves as a walking-stick. When bruised, it is not only useless but dangerous; because, giving way when one leans upon it, the splinters are apt to pierce the hand (Matthew 12:20). As a mock-sceptre, a reed was put into Christ’s hand (Matthew 27:29), and with this He was smitten (Matthew 27:30). On a reed the sponge with vinegar was raised to His lips on the cross (Matthew 27:48). Pens are made from the smaller stems, the Gr. κάλαμος (3 John 1:13) again corresponding to the Arab. [Note: Arabic.] ̣kalam and the Lat. calamus. The ancients made the shafts of their arrows from the κάλαμος, and the divining arrow of the Arab. [Note: Arabic.] is also Kalam. The flute and pipes played on all occasions of festivity are made from the reed (Matthew 11:17, Luke 7:32). Measuring-rods were so uniformly of reed that they came to be known generally by this term (Ezekiel 40:3, Revelation 21:15 etc.).
W. Ewing.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Hastings, James. Entry for 'Reed (2)'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hdn/​r/reed-2.html. 1906-1918.