עֵץ (Etz): Tree, Wood, and Life

Reformed Thinking · Mar 25, 2026 · 28m · transcript

Deep Dive into עֵץThe Hebrew word ʿēṣ, occurring approximately 330 times in the Old Testament, is a masculine noun primarily translated as tree or wood. Originating from a common Semitic root associated with firmness, it has cognates in several ancient languages, including Akkadian, Ugaritic, Aramaic, and Arabic.The term encompasses a wide semantic range. In its natural context, ʿēṣ refers to individual living trees, specific tree species like the olive or cedar, fruit-bearing trees, and collective forests or thickets. Beyond living plants, the word frequently denotes wood as a raw or worked…