Myrtle
“Myrtle, perhaps from its rapid growth”
Summary
The myrtle is an aromatic evergreen shrub native to Palestine, valued for its fragrant dark-green leaves and white starry flowers, and used for constructing booths at the Feast of Tabernacles.
☩Description
The myrtle (Myrtus communis) is a common indigenous shrub throughout Palestine that grows as a low bush on bare hillsides but attains considerable height under favorable conditions of moisture. It has smooth, dark green, scented evergreen leaves and delicate starry white flowers that emit a perfume more exquisite than that of the rose. The dark-colored berries are edible and were formerly used in Italy as a spice substitute and to prepare a wine called myrtidanum. The branches, particularly the broad-leaved variety, are flexible and furnish beautiful garlands.
☩Distribution in Palestine
The myrtle grows on both hills and in valleys but attains its greatest perfection in the latter. Formerly it grew on the hills about Jerusalem including the Mount of Olives, though now it is not common there. Hasselquist and Burckhardt observed it on the hills around Jerusalem, and it still abounds in the valley of Lebanon and on riverbanks in Samaria and Galilee, sometimes forming thickets ten feet high. Travelers describe Lebanese valleys abounding with myrtles in full bloom spreading their fragrance around.
☩Biblical and Symbolic Usage
When the returned exiles celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, the people were instructed to gather myrtle branches along with olive, pine, and palm branches to construct booths. Modern Jews still adorn their booths with myrtle at this feast, using myrtle twigs together with palm and willow in the ritual. Isaiah prophesied that in the coming golden age the Lord would plant the myrtle in the wilderness, and 'instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.' In Zechariah's vision, the Angel of the Lord stood among the myrtle trees—symbolizing the lowly but fragrant Jewish church whose safety God guarantees despite her depressed condition.
☩The Name Hadassah
The name Hadassah, meaning 'myrtle,' was the original Hebrew name of Queen Esther. Among the Jews, the myrtle served as an emblem of justice—the Chaldee Targum notes that 'those that are just are compared to myrtles.' The myrtle was likely imported into Palestine from Persia, explaining how Esther received her myrtle-name in the Persian court.
Related Verses6 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Myrtle," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Myrtle," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Myrtle," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Myrtle," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).