עֵץ (ets)
ets
tree: wood
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 238 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ets refers to a tree, but its meaning extends from the living organism to the material wood derived from it. This dual sense reflects the physical reality of trees in the ancient Near East, where they provided both fruit and essential resources. In Genesis 1:11, the term describes living, fruit-bearing plants, while in Exodus 25:10, it denotes the acacia timber used to construct the Ark of the Covenant.
The word appears frequently in contexts involving construction, fuel, or judgment. It describes the wood carried by Isaac for the burnt offering in Genesis 22:6 and the stakes used for hanging criminals in Deuteronomy 21:22. This range highlights how the same substance could signify life-giving growth or a tool of execution, depending on its use.
Etymologically, ets is linked to roots meaning firmness or hardness, emphasizing the solid nature of wood. This connection underscores the material’s durability and utility in a world where metal was scarce and precious. The term captures both the organic vitality of the forest and the practical strength of timber, serving as a bridge between nature and human craft.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ets carries a dual weight that shapes how we understand both creation and sacrifice. It describes the living, fruit-bearing tree in Genesis 1, where God provides food and beauty for humanity. This same root also refers to the timber used for construction or fuel, such as the wood Isaac carried up Mount Moriah. The physical reality of the tree bridges the gap between natural life and human craft, showing how material resources serve divine purposes.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God uses ordinary materials for extraordinary ends. The same substance that provides shade and fruit can also bear the weight of a burden or a cross. When you face trials, remember that your life is rooted in the Creator who designed the forest. You are invited to rest under His provision, trusting that He sustains both the living tree and the wood that supports us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 238 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wood<s> of35×
- wood<s>20×
- wood19×
- tree15×
- the/ tree15×
- the/ wood<s>12×
- the/ trees10×
- a tree8×
- [the] trees of8×
- the/ gallows7×
- tree[s] of5×
- [the] tree[s] of5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲצֵ֣י26×
- עֵ֥ץ23×
- עֵ֣ץ17×
- וְ/עֵ֣ץ8×
- הָ/עֵ֔ץ8×
- עֲצֵי\־7×
- עֲצֵ֥י7×
- עֵ֑ץ6×
- הָ/עֵצִ֖ים6×
- הָ/עֵ֖ץ6×
- עֵצִ֖ים5×
- עֵץ֙5×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:11
God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth;” and it was so.
This verse establishes ets as a source of life and food, highlighting God's provision for humanity.
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Genesis 22:6
Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
Here the word shifts to denote the heavy timber Isaac carried, foreshadowing the burden of sacrifice.
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Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
The tree of life appears here as a guarded object, emphasizing its sacred status in God's plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ets mean in the Bible?
Why is ets significant in Genesis 22?
How is ets different from other words for plant?
Every Occurrence (238 verses across 29 books)
Genesis 25 verses
God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their…
Genesis 1:12The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after…
Genesis 1:29God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree,…
Genesis 2:9Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the…
Genesis 2:16Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;
Genesis 2:17but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely…
Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God…
Genesis 3:2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden,
Genesis 3:3but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall…
Genesis 3:6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be…
Genesis 3:8They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves…
Genesis 3:11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Genesis 3:12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Genesis 3:17To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten from the tree, about which I commanded…
Genesis 3:22Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand,…
Genesis 3:24So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned…
Genesis 6:14Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
Genesis 18:4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
Genesis 18:8He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and…
Genesis 22:3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.…
Genesis 22:6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife.…
Genesis 22:7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and…
Genesis 22:9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound…
Genesis 23:17So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all…
Genesis 40:19Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will…