Thyine Wood

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(ξύλον θύϊνον, the tree being ἡ θυία or θύα, rarely τὸ θύον)

Thyine wood is mentioned among the precious wares of the Apocalyptic Babylon, i.e. Rome ( Revelation 18:12). It was a hard, dark brown, aromatic wood, exported from N. Africa and used for the making of costly furniture (Theophrastus, Hist. Plant . v. iii. 7; Diod. v. 46; Pliny, Historia Naturalis (Pliny) XIII. xxx. 16). It is commonly identified with the Thuia articulata. The Greek name (probably from θύω) refers to the fragrance of the wood, which was burned as a perfume (Hom. Od. v. 60). The Romans called it citrus -probably a mutilation of cedrus -which must not be confounded with the citron. ‘ All thyine wood’ refers, not to different species of the tree, but to the variety of objects made of this precious wood in the luxurious Imperial city.

James Strahan.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Thyine Wood. Thyine Wood occurs in  Revelation 18:12, where the margin has "sweet" (wood). There can be little doubt that the wood here spoken of is that of the Thuya articulata , Desfont, the Callitris quadrivalvis of present botanists. It is a cone bearing tree, and allied to the pine. This tree was much prized by Greeks and Romans, on account of the beauty of its wood, for various ornamental purposes. By the Romans, the tree was called Citrus , and the wood was called Citrum . It is a native of Barbary, and grows to the height of 15 to 25 feet.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 Revelation 18:12, Callitris Quadrivalvis of Mount Atlas in North Africa, allied to the " Arbor Vitro ", Τhuja Occidentalis or Articulata . The Romans prized it highly, and called it citrum; when Roman husbands upbraided ladies with extravagance in pearls, they retorted the men's fondness for thyine tables (Pliny, H. N. 13:15).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The Greek word is θύι>νος, and occurs in  Revelation 18:12 only, as being brought to apostate Babylon. It was doubtless some wood used for decorative purposes, and is supposed to be identified with the callitris quadrivalvis. It was the wood called by the Romans citrum, of which expensive articles were made. It is 'sweet wood' in the margin.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Thyine Wood (  Revelation 18:12 ) is the citrus wood of the Romans, used for the manufacture of costly furniture. The tree Thuia articulata , in appearance like a cypress, about 25 feet high, was the source of this wood.

E. W. G. Masterman.

Webster's Dictionary

The fragrant and beautiful wood of a North African tree (Callitris quadrivalvis), formerly called Thuja articulata. The tree is of the Cedar family, and furnishes a balsamic resin called sandarach.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Revelation 18:12 Thuein

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

thı̄´in ( ξύλον θύΐνον , xúlon thúinon ): An aromatic wood described as sold in "Babylon" (  Revelation 18:12 , the King James Version margin "sweet wood"). It is the wood of the thya (θυΐ́α , thuı́a ) tree, probably identical with Thuia articulata an evergreen tree growing in North Africa, resembling the cypress, which in Roman times was employed for making valuable furniture.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Thyine Wood'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/t/thyine-wood.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.