Bible Encyclopedias
Forest

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for´est :

(1) חרשׁ , ḥōresh (compare proper name Harosheth ), 2 Chronicles 27:4 . In 1 Samuel 23:15 translated "wood"; in Isaiah 17:9 , "wood"; in Ezekiel 31:3 , "forest-like shade." Applied to any thick growth of vegetation but not necessarily so extensive as (3).

(2) פרדּס , pardēṣ ̌ : Nehemiah 2:8 , margin "park"; Ecclesiastes 2:5 , the King James Version "orchards," the Revised Version (British and American) "parks"; Song of Solomon 4:13 , 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" (Isaiah 21:13 , margin "thickets"); "the forest of Carmel" (2 Kings 19:23 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "of his fruitful field"); "the forest of Hereth" ( 1 Samuel 22:5 ); "the forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings 7:2 f; 1 Kings 10:17-21; 2 Chronicles 9:16-20 ); "the forest of Ephraim," east of the Jordan (2 Samuel 18:6 , 2 Samuel 18:8 , 2 Samuel 18:17 ). The word ya‛ar appears also in well-known Kiriath-jearim, "the city of forests," and Mr. Jearim (Joshua 15:10 ). Among numerous other references the following may be cited: Deuteronomy 19:5; Joshua 17:15 , Joshua 17:18; 1 Chronicles 16:33; 2 Kings 2:24; Psalm 80:13; Psalm 83:14; Psalm 96:12; Psalm 132:6; Ecclesiastes 2:6; Song of Solomon 2:3; 1 Samuel 7:2; 1 Samuel 14:25 , 1 Samuel 14:26; Jeremiah 4:29; Jeremiah 46:23; Ezekiel 34:29; Micah 3:12; Micah 7:14 .

(4) סבך , ṣebhakh , from root meaning "to interweave." A "thicket" (Genesis 22:13; Jeremiah 4:7 ); "thicket of trees" (Psalm 74:5 ); "thickets of the forest" (Isaiah 9:18; Isaiah 10:34 ).

(5) עבים , ‛ābhı̄m , "thicket" (Jeremiah 4:29 ).

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 .