Topical Encyclopedia
The term "pine" in the context of the Bible is often associated with the broader category of evergreen trees, which are noted for their enduring foliage and symbolic representation of eternal life. While the specific mention of "pine" as we understand it today is not prevalent in the biblical text, the concept of evergreen trees is present and holds significant theological and symbolic meaning.
Biblical References and SymbolismIn the Bible, trees are frequently used as symbols of life, strength, and prosperity. Although the Berean Standard Bible does not specifically mention "pine" trees, the broader category of evergreen trees, which includes pines, is often implied in passages that speak of the beauty and majesty of God's creation. For example, in
Isaiah 41:19 , God speaks of planting trees in the wilderness: "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set the juniper in the desert, the cypress, and the pine together." This verse highlights the transformative power of God, turning barren places into lush landscapes, symbolizing hope and renewal.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near East, evergreen trees like the pine were valued for their wood and resin. The wood was used in construction and for making various tools and implements, while the resin was often used for medicinal purposes and as a sealant. The durability and resilience of pine wood made it a valuable resource in biblical times.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, the imagery of evergreen trees, including pines, can be seen as a representation of God's eternal nature and the promise of everlasting life for believers. The enduring green of these trees throughout the seasons serves as a reminder of God's unchanging love and faithfulness. In the context of biblical prophecy and eschatology, the planting of trees in desolate places, as mentioned in Isaiah, can be interpreted as a metaphor for the restoration and renewal that comes through God's intervention in the world.
Modern ReflectionsToday, the pine tree continues to hold symbolic significance for many Christians. It is often associated with the Christmas season, representing the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ. The use of pine trees in Christmas celebrations can be seen as a reflection of the hope and joy that comes with the birth of the Savior, echoing the themes of renewal and life found in the biblical text.
In summary, while the specific mention of "pine" trees is limited in the Bible, the broader symbolism of evergreen trees plays a significant role in conveying themes of life, renewal, and divine promise. These themes resonate with the enduring nature of God's covenant with His people and the hope of eternal life through faith.
ATS Bible Dictionary
PineInNehemiah 8:15, denotes some tree of a resinous nature. A different word inIsaiah 41:19 60:13, probably indicates the pine; a noble emblem of the promised prosperity of the church. Several varieties of pines abound upon Mount Lebanon, the largest of which is the sunobar kubar; also found on several sandy plains of Palestine. Its wood is much used for beams and rafters.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Pine tree
Hebrews tidhar, mentioned along with the fir-tree in Isaiah 41:19; 60:13. This is probably the cypress; or it may be the stone-pine, which is common on the northern slopes of Lebanon. Some suppose that the elm, others that the oak, or holm, or ilex, is meant by the Hebrew word. InNehemiah 8:15 the Revised Version has "wild olive" instead of "pine." (seeFIR.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Woe; torment; pain.
2. (v.) To inflict pain upon; to torment; to torture; to afflict.
3. (v.) To grieve or mourn for.
4. (v. i.) To suffer; to be afflicted.
5. (v. i.) To languish; to lose flesh or wear away, under any distress or anxiety of mind; to droop; -- often used with away.
6. (v. i.) To languish with desire; to waste away with longing for something; -- usually followed by for.
7. (n.) Any tree of the coniferous genus Pinus. See Pinus.
8. (n.) The wood of the pine tree.
9. (n.) A pineapple.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PINE TREEpin tre: (1) `ets shemen, translated the Revised Version (British and American) "wild olive," the King James Version "pine" (Nehemiah 8:15); the Revised Version (British and American) "oil-tree," m "oleaster" (Isaiah 41:19); "olive-wood" (1 Kings 6:23, 31-33). SeeOIL TREE. (2) tidhhar (Isaiah 41:19, margin "plane";Isaiah 60:13); peuke, "fir." Lagarde, from similarity of tidhhar to the Syriac deddar, usually the "elm," considers this the best translation. Symmachus also translated tidhhar (Isaiah 41:19) by ptelea, the "elm." The elm, Ulmus campestris, is rare in Palestine and the Lebanon, though it is found today N. of Aleppo. Post (HDB, III, 592-93) considers that
(1) should be translated as "pine," which he describes as a "fat wood tree"; it is perhaps as probably a correct translation for
(2), but great uncertainty remains.
Two species of pine are plentiful in the Lebanon and flourish in most parts of Palestine when given a chance. These are the stone pine, Pinus pinea, and the Aleppo pine, P. halepensis; all the highlands looking toward the sea are suited to their growth.
E. W. G. Masterman
PINE
pin.
SeePINING SICKNESS.
Greek
3983. peinao -- to hunger, be hungry... From the same as penes (through the idea of pinching toil; "
pine"); to famish
(absolutely or comparatively); figuratively, to crave -- be an hungered.
...5351. phtheiro -- to destroy, corrupt, spoil
... Probably strengthened from phthio (topine or waste); properly, to shrivel or wither,
ie To spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially...
3583. xeraino -- to dry up, waste away
... dry up, wither away. From xeros; to desiccate; by implication, to shrivel, to mature --
dry up,pine away, be ripe, wither (away). see GREEK xeros....
4095. pino -- to drink
... (pinein) -- 4 Occurrences. (pinete) -- 2 Occurrences. (pineto) -- 2 Occurrences.
(pine) -- 2 Occurrences. (pinete) -- 3 Occurrences. (pinontes) -- 2 Occurrences...
Strong's Hebrew
1727. dub -- topine away... dub. 1728 . to
pine away. Transliteration: dub Phonetic Spelling: (doob) Short
Definition: away.
... root Definition to
pine away NASB Word Usage
pine away (1).
...4743. maqaq -- to decay, rot, fester,pine away
... to decay, rot, fester,pine away. Transliteration: maqaq Phonetic Spelling:
(maw-kak') Short Definition: rot.... consume away, be corrupt, dissolve,pine away....
2100. zub -- to flow, gush
... Definition to flow, gush NASB Word Usage discharge (14), flow (1), flowed (1), flowing
(19), flows (1), gushed (2), has (1), has a discharge (1),pine away (1...
8081. shemen -- fat, oil
... 1). anointing, fat things, fruitful, oiled, ointment, olive,pine. From
shaman; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often...
6086. ets -- tree, trees, wood
... wooden (6). carpenter, gallows, helve,pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick,.
From atsah; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural...
535. amal -- to be weak, languish
... be weak, languish NASB Word Usage decays (1), fade away (1), fades (1), fails (2),
languish (1), languished (1), languishes (2), languishing (1),pine away (1...
8410. tidhar -- (name of a tree) probably elm
... blow. Apparently from dahar; enduring; a species of hard-wood or lasting tree (perhaps
oak) --pine (tree). see HEBREW dahar. 8409, 8410. tidhar. 8411 ....
8411. tedira -- continuance
... Definition: constantly. Word Origin (Aramaic) from dur Definition continuance
NASB Word Usage constantly (2).pine tree. (Aramaic) from...
3700. kasaph -- to long (for)
... A primitive root; properly, to become pale, ie (by implication) topine after; also
to fear -- (have) desire, be greedy, long, sore. 3699, 3700....
3642. kamah -- to faint
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to faint NASB Word Usage yearns (1). long. A
primitive root; topine after -- long. 3641b, 3642. kamah. 3643 ....
Library
Martin Escapes from a FallingPine-Tree.
... Martin. Chapter XIII. Martin escapes from a FallingPine-tree.... And now thepine-tree
began to totter, and to threaten its [28] own ruin by falling....
After all the Modern Clatter of Calvinism, Therefore, it is Only...
... To be born amongpine-trees might mean lovingpine-trees. It might mean loathing
pine-trees. It might quite seriously mean never having seen apine-tree....
Then Midas, King of Pessinus, Wishing to Withdraw the Youth from...
... them to frenzy; and he, too, now filled with furious passion, raving frantically
and tossed about, throws himself down at last, and under apine tree mutilates...
Tadze.
... 137. But what is it that followeth: "My zeal hath caused me topine"
(ver.139); or, as other copies read, Thy zeal? Others have...
How Solomon Grew Rich, and Fell Desperately in Love with Women and...
... 1. About the same time there were brought to the king from the Aurea Chersonesus,
a country so called, precious stones, andpine trees, and these trees he made...
And yet How Can You Assert the Falsehood of this Story...
... trustworthy? For what is the meaning of thatpine [4375] which on fixed days
you always bring into the sanctuary of the mother of the gods?...
Ranee Khet Mission.
... With the exception of a little land cleared on one side, the country for miles around
was covered with forests ofpine, oak, and rhododendron, over which the...
Christmas Day
... The heath eats up green grass and delicate flowers, Thepine eats up the heath,
the grub thepine, The finch the grub, the hawk the silly finch; And man, the...
The Tide Rock
... So many a wife for cruel man's caresses Must inlypine andpine, yet outward bear
A gallant front to this world's gaudy glare. Ilfracombe, 1849....
'Concerning the Crown'
... One of the most famous of the Greek athletic festivals was held close by Corinth.
Its prize was apine-wreath from the neighbouring sacred grove....
Thesaurus
Pine (28 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary
Pine tree.
... This is probably the cypress; or it may be the
stone-
pine, which is common on the northern slopes of Lebanon.
...Pine-tree (2 Occurrences)
Pine-tree. Pineth,Pine-tree. Pining . Multi-Version Concordance
Pine-tree (2 Occurrences). Isaiah 60:13 The glory of...
Fir-pine (1 Occurrence)
Fir-pine. Firmness, Fir-pine. Firs . Multi-Version Concordance
Fir-pine (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 41:19 I give in a wilderness...
Pining (6 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) ofPine.... In Isaiah 24:16 the reduplicated exclamation, "my leanness," of
the King James Version is changed into "Ipine away," the word being razi....
Fir (22 Occurrences)
... The true fir (abies) is not found in Palestine, but thepine tree, of which there
are four species, is common.... (seePINE.). Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Fir-tree (5 Occurrences)
... The Aleppopine, Pinus Halepensis, is a fine tree which flourishes in the Lebanon,
but its wood is not of special excellence and durability....
Plane (5 Occurrences)
... plan'-tre ('armon; platanos (Genesis 30:37), elate ("pine" or "fir") (Ezekiel
31:8); the King James Version chestnut): `Armon is supposed to be derived from...
Sickness (40 Occurrences)
... In Leviticus 26:16 "pine away" is used in the Revised Version (British and American)
to replace "cause sorrow of heart," and is the translation of the Hebrew...
Rot (15 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 26:39 Those of you who are left willpine away in their iniquity in your
enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall theypine...
Tree (245 Occurrences)
... oil tre ('ets shemen (Isaiah 41:19), margin "oleaster," in Nehemiah 8:15, translated
"wild olive," the King James Version "pine"; 'atse shemen, in 1 Kings 6:23...
Resources
What is gopher wood? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the land of Gilead in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about littering? | GotQuestions.orgPine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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