תִּדְהָר (tid.har)
tid.har
elm
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word tidhar refers to a specific type of hardwood tree, most likely the elm or possibly boxwood. It appears only twice in the entire Old Testament, both times within the book of Isaiah. In these passages, it is listed alongside other notable trees such as the terebinth and oak, helping to paint a picture of the dense, varied vegetation that characterized the landscape.
Because the exact botanical identity remains uncertain, translators often rely on context rather than precision. The sources suggest it was a sturdy, valuable timber, fitting for a region where wood was essential for construction and fuel. Its rare usage means it does not carry heavy theological symbolism in itself; instead, it serves as a concrete detail grounding Isaiah’s poetic imagery in the physical reality of ancient Israel.
Identifying this tree requires looking at how ancient readers understood their environment. While modern botanists debate whether it was an elm or boxwood, the text uses it to evoke a sense of place. The word reminds us that the biblical world was filled with specific, tangible flora, not just generic greenery.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tidhar appears only twice in Scripture, both within Isaiah’s prophecies. It names a sturdy tree, likely an elm or boxwood, that stood among cedars and oaks in ancient Israel. These details ground God’s promises in real soil and real wood, reminding us that faith is not abstract but rooted in the tangible world He created.
In Isaiah 41:19, this tree joins others in a promise of renewal for the barren wilderness. In Isaiah 60:13, it helps adorn the sanctuary, showing how even ordinary materials can participate in God’s glory. When we read these passages, we see that God cares about the specific places and things we encounter daily.
His presence fills not just grand temples but also the quiet woods and gardens of our lives. We can trust that He sees the details of our world and uses them to speak hope into our circumstances.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- elm[s]1×
- elm1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּדְהָ֥ר2×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 41:19
I will put cedar, acacia, myrtle, and oil trees in the wilderness. I will set cypress trees, pine, and box trees together in the desert;
This verse lists tidhar among trees planted in the wilderness, illustrating God's power to bring life and beauty to desolate places.
-
Isaiah 60:13
“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Here, the tree is gathered to beautify the sanctuary, showing how creation participates in honoring God's dwelling place.