תִּרְזָה (tir.zah)
tir.zah
cypress
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tirzah refers to a specific type of tree, though its exact botanical identity remains one of the more uncertain details in Old Testament botany. Translations typically render it as "cypress" or "holm-tree," reflecting the long-standing scholarly debate over which evergreen species the ancient Israelites had in mind.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 41:19. There, God promises to plant various trees in the wilderness to demonstrate His power, listing cypresses alongside pines, myrtles, and elms. The uncertainty of identification does not diminish the verse’s imagery; rather, it highlights the richness of the landscape God creates, using a tree that signifies durability and beauty even if its precise species is lost to history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tirzah appears only once in Scripture, nestled within God’s promise to transform barren places into gardens of beauty. In Isaiah 41:19, He declares that He will plant cypresses alongside pines and myrtles in the wilderness. This image reminds us that even in our most desolate seasons, God is actively working to bring life and stability where there was once only dryness.
While scholars debate the exact species of this tree, its presence in the text points to durability and enduring strength. Just as these trees withstand harsh conditions, God’s promises provide a foundation that remains firm despite changing circumstances. We can trust that He cultivates growth in our lives, even when we cannot see the roots forming beneath the surface.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a cypress1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּרְזָה֙1×