Bulrush

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

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."

Easton's Bible Dictionary

In Exodus 2:3 , Isaiah 18:2 (RSV, "papyrus") this word is the translation of the Hebrew Gome , Which designates the plant as absorbing moisture. In Isaiah 35:7 and Job 8:11 it is rendered "rush." This was the Egyptian papyrus (papyrus Nilotica). It was anciently very abundant in Egypt. The Egyptians made garments and shoes and various utensils of it. It was used for the construction of the ark of Moses ( Exodus 2:3,5 ). The root portions of the stem were used for food. The inside bark was cut into strips, which were sewed together and dried in the sun, forming the papyrus used for writing. It is no longer found in Egypt, but grows luxuriantly in Palestine, in the marshes of the Huleh, and in the swamps at the north end of the Lake of Gennesaret. (See Cane .)

Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Bulrush'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/b/bulrush.html. 1897.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

'Αgmon , from 'aagam , a marsh. "The head or tail, branch or rush," i.e. high or low; the lofty palm branch, or the humble reed (Isaiah 9:14-15; Isaiah 19:15). It used to be platted into rope; Job 41:2," canst thou put an hook (rather a rope of rushes) into his nose?" Moses' ark was woven of it (gomeh ): Exodus 2:3; Isaiah 18:2. "Vessels of bulrushes," light canoes of papyrus of the Nile, daubed over with pitch; derived from gaamah , "to absorb."

The Egyptians used it for making also garments, shoes, and baskets. In Exodus 2:3; Isaiah 18:2, it means the papyrus of which the Egyptians made light boats for the Nile; the same Hebrew (gomeh ) is translated rush (Job 8:11; Isaiah 35:7). The Egyptian kam is related. This papyrus is no longer found below Nubia. It is a strong bamboo-like rush, as thick as a finger, three grainered, from 10 to 15 feet high. It is represented on the tomb of Tel, of the sixth dynasty, and other oldest Egyptian monuments.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Bulrush. Isaiah 18:2, A. V.; "papyrus" in R. V. A species of reed found on the marshes of the Nile, and grows to the height of twelve or fifteen feet. The stalks are pliable, and capable of being interwoven very closely, as is evident from its being used in the construction of the "ark" or boat-cradle in which Moses was hid by his mother. Exodus 2:3; Exodus 2:5. It was from this vegetable that the papyrus was derived, which was used for writing. It was made of the inside bark, which was cut into strips, and the edges cemented together, and dried in the sun. The fact that the papyrus was used for food when prepared in one way, and for writing when prepared in another way, explains the passages in which the eating of books, etc., is mentioned. Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 3:1; Ezekiel 3:3; Revelation 10:8-10.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Or papyrus, a reed growing on the banks of the Nile, in marshy ground, Job 8:11 , to the height of twelve or fifteen feet, Isaiah 35:7 . The stalks are pliable, and capable of being interwoven very closely, as is evident from their being used in the construction of arks, Exodus 2:3,5; and also vessels of larger dimensions, Isaiah 18:2 . Boats of this material were very common in Egypt. Being exceedingly light and small, they sailed with great velocity, and might easily be borne on the shoulders around rapids and falls. The inner bark of this plant, platted and cemented together, furnished a writing material; and the pith was sometimes used for food. See Book .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Bulrush. (or papyrus). A reed growing, in the shallow water, on the banks of the Nile. It grows to the height of 12 or 15 feet, with a stal, two or three inches in diameter. The stalks are very pliable and can be very closely interwoven, as is evident from their having been used in the construction of arks. Exodus 2:3; Exodus 2:5). Paper was made from this plant, from which it derives its name.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

In Exodus 2:3; Isaiah 18:2 , the papyrus is referred to, a reed of which anciently paper was made. It was of this that the ark was made in which the infant Moses was put, Exodus 2:3 , and the smaller boats on the Nile. Isaiah 18:2 . In Isaiah 58:5 it is a different word, and is used for any kind of 'rush.' Both words are also translated 'rushes.'

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

Isaiah 58:5 (a) This is a type which describes the bowed head, the heavy heart, and the distressed spirit of one who has been crushed by his circumstances.

King James Dictionary

BUL'RUSH, n. bole, or boll, and rush. A large kind of rush, growing in wet land or water, and without knots, says Johnson, but Dryden calls it, the knotty bulrush. It is not a technical word.

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A kind of large rush, growing in wet land or in water.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Exodus 2:3

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BULRUSH . See Reed.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is used synonymously with "RUSH" in the A. V. as the rendering of two Hebrew words.' (See Reed).

1. AGMON', אִגְמוֹן, in Isaiah 9:13; Isaiah 19:15, in the proverbial expression "branch and rush," equivalent to high and low alike (the Sept. has μέγαν καὶ μικρόν in one passage, ἀρχὴν καὶ τέλος in the other), and in Isaiah 58:6, the Hebrew term is rendered "bulrush." The word is derived from אָגָם, agan', a marsh, because the bulrush grows in marshy ground. The bulrush was platted into ropes (A. V. "hook"), as appears from Job 41:2 (see Bochart, Hieroz. 2, 772; comp. Plin. Nat. Hist. 19, 2). The Sept. has κρίκος in the latter passages. (See Rush).

2. GOME', גֹּמֶא (from גָּמָא, to drink up, referring to the porous nature of the plant, as absorbing moisture: hence the Latin name biblus; comp. "bibula papyrus" in Lucan, 4:136), occurs Exodus 2:3 (where Sept. omits); Isaiah 18:2 (Sept. βίβλος ); 35, 7 (Sept. ἕλος ); Job 8:11 (Sept. πάπυρος ); in the first two of which passages it is translated in our version by "bulrush," and in the last two by "rush," and is undoubtedly the Egyptian papyrus (papyrus Nilotica), so famous in the history of writing, and from which the word paper is derived. It is the Cyperus papyrus of modern botany. It was anciently very abundant in Egypt, but is now very scarce there. It is found in great abundance, however, in Syria and Abyssinia. The Egyptians used this plant for garments, shoes, baskets, various kinds of utensils, and especially for boats. It was the material of the ark (q.v.) in which Moses was exposed, and of it the vessels mentioned in Isaiah 18:2 were formed. This practice is referred to by Lucan (4. 136) and by Pliny (13. 11, s. 22). (Comp. Celsius, Hierob. 2, 137-152.) (See Papyrus).