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Bible Dictionaries
Bulrush
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or גמא , Exodus 2:3; Job 8:11; Isaiah 18:2; Isaiah 35:7 . A plant growing on the banks of the Nile, and in marshy grounds. The stalk rises to the height of six or seven cubits, beside two under water. This stalk is triangular, and terminates in a crown of small filaments resembling hair, which the ancients used to compare to a thyrsus. This reed, the Cyperus papyrus of Linnaeus, commonly called "the Egyptian reed," was of the greatest use to the inhabitants of the country where it grew; the pith contained in the stock served them for food, and the woody part for building vessels, figures of which are to be seen on the engraven stones and other monuments of Egyptian antiquity. For this purpose they made it up, like rushes, into bundles; and, by tying these bundles together, gave their vessels the necessary shape and solidity. "The vessels of bulrushes," or papyrus, "that are mentioned in sacred and profane history," says Dr.
Shaw, "were no other than large fabrics of the same kind with that of Moses, Exodus 2:3; which, from the late introduction of plank and stronger materials, are now laid aside." Thus Pliny takes notice of the "naves papyraceas armamentaque Nili," " ships made of papyrus, and the equipments of the Nile; and he observes, "ex ipsa quidem papyro navigia texunt," "of the papyrus itself they construct sailing vessels." Herodotus and Diodorus have recorded the same fact; and among the poets, Lucan, "Conseritur bibula Memphitis cymba papyro," "the Memphian" or Egyptian "boat is made of the thirsty papyrus;" where the epithet bibula, "drinking," "soaking," "thirsty," is particularly remarkable, as corresponding with great exactness to the nature of the plant, and to its Hebrew name, which signifies to soak or drink up. These vegetables require much water for their growth; when, therefore, the river on whose banks they grew was reduced, they perished sooner than other plants. This explains Job 8:11 , where the circumstance is referred to as an image of transient prosperity: "Can the flag grow without water? Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb."
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Bulrush'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/b/bulrush.html. 1831-2.
