Reed
“Reed or cane”
Summary
The reed was a common aquatic plant in Palestine used for various purposes including measuring rods, walking sticks, and writing pens, and appears symbolically throughout Scripture.
☩Types and Uses
The most common reed in Palestine is the Arundo donax, known in Arabic as the Persian reed, which grows abundantly in the Jordan valley and along river tributaries. It grows to heights of 15-20 feet with a beautiful fresh green color in summer. The Hebrew word kaneh (from which English "cane" derives) is the generic term for reeds of various kinds. Reeds served multiple practical purposes: the tall, straight stems made convenient walking sticks, though they were unreliable as supports. The dry culms were used for fishing rods, and smaller stems were fashioned into writing pens. Measuring rods were commonly made from reeds, leading to "reed" becoming a standard measurement of six cubits, approximately nine feet.
☩Symbolic Usage
The reed appears prominently in Scripture as a symbol of weakness and fragility. Egypt was compared to a staff of reed that breaks and pierces the hand of anyone leaning on it, warning Israel against trusting in Egyptian alliances. Isaiah's prophecy that the Messiah would not break a "bruised reed" signifies His gentle treatment of the weak and humble. During Christ's passion, the soldiers placed a reed in His hand as a mock scepter and then struck Him on the head with it. The reed upon which the vinegar-soaked sponge was raised to Jesus on the cross may have been the tall Arundo donax.
☩Sweet Calamus
Some passages refer to a fragrant or "sweet" reed, called keneh bosem or "sweet calamus," which was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil. This aromatic substance was imported from distant lands, as indicated in Jeremiah 6:20, and was considered rare and costly. Some scholars identify it with Acorus calamus (sweet sedge), while others suggest it was a species of Andropogon from Central India, valued for its remarkable fragrance used in ointments. Whatever its exact identification, this fragrant cane was distinct from the common Palestinian reed.
Related Verses34 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Reed," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Reed," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Reed," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Reed," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Reed," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 6.James Hastings (ed.), "Reed," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).