הֲדַס (ha.das)
ha.das
myrtle
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun hadas refers to the myrtle tree, a common evergreen shrub in the ancient Near East known for its fragrant leaves and berries. In the biblical text, it appears only in later writings, with six occurrences spread across Isaiah, Zechariah, and Nehemiah. The sources identify it simply as a tree or shrub, grounding the word in the physical landscape of Israel.
This plant carries significant symbolic weight in post-exilic narratives. In Nehemiah 8:15, the myrtle branches are specifically commanded for building booths during the Feast of Tabernacles, linking the tree to joy and communal worship. Similarly, Zechariah 1:8 places the prophet among myrtle trees in a valley, using the setting to frame a vision of divine reassurance. The word itself is rare in earlier Scripture, appearing only in these later contexts.
Translators consistently render hadas as "myrtle," preserving the specific botanical reference rather than generalizing it to "tree" or "plant." This precision matters because the myrtle’s evergreen nature and pleasant scent made it a fitting symbol for life and celebration in a land often marked by drought. The text uses the tree not just as scenery but as an active element in ritual and vision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The myrtle tree appears in Scripture as a symbol of enduring life and divine comfort. Its evergreen nature offered hope in a dry land, reminding readers that God provides stability even when circumstances feel barren. This plant was not just scenery but an active part of worship and vision, connecting the physical world to spiritual realities.
In Nehemiah, myrtle branches were used to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, linking the tree to joy and communal faith. In Zechariah’s visions, myrtle trees framed messages of reassurance from God. These occurrences show how everyday nature can carry profound meaning for those who seek understanding.
When you encounter references to myrtle in your reading, consider how it points to God’s provision and presence. It invites reflection on the beauty and resilience found in faith, offering a quiet reminder of hope that persists through seasons of change.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ myrtle trees3×
- myrtle1×
- and/ myrtle tree[s]1×
- a myrtle tree1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/הֲדַ֖ס1×
- הַ/הַדַסִּ֖ים1×
- הַ/הֲדַסִּ֖ים1×
- הַ/הֲדַסִּ֔ים1×
- הֲדַס֙1×
- הֲדַ֑ס1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 8:15
and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written.”
This verse commands the use of myrtle branches for building booths during the Feast of Tabernacles, directly linking the tree to communal joy and obedience to Scripture.
-
Zechariah 1:8
“I had a vision in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in a ravine; and behind him there were red, brown, and white horses.
The prophet’s vision places a rider among myrtle trees in a ravine, using the setting to frame a moment of divine reassurance and revelation.
-
Isaiah 55:13
Instead of the thorn the cypress tree will come up; and instead of the brier the myrtle tree will come up. It will make a name for Yahweh, for an everlasting sign that will not be cut off.”
Here, myrtle replaces thorns as an everlasting sign of Yahweh’s name, symbolizing transformation and enduring blessing in place of hardship.