H0352d H0352d
terebinths, oaks (prominent trees marking sacred or significant sites)
A term for large, prominent trees—likely terebinths or oaks—often associated with idolatrous worship sites in biblical texts. These trees marked locations where Israelites shamefully practiced syncretistic rituals, burning incense under their shade. The prophets invoke these trees as symbols of misplaced devotion and coming judgment. The connection to prominence and height may link this usage to the general sense of 'leaders,' as these trees stood out in the landscape much as chiefs stood out among people.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Isaiah 1:29 warns that Israel will be ashamed of 'the oaks that you desired'—trees under which illicit worship occurred. Isaiah 61:3 transforms the image positively, calling the redeemed 'oaks of righteousness,' strong and enduring. Ezekiel 31:14 may use this term for proud, haughty ones (though the text is uncertain). Across these passages, the multilingual glosses reflect interpretive uncertainty—some read 'oaks,' others 'toward them'—but the dominant sense involves prominent natural markers that became focal points for religious activity, both faithful and faithless. 3×
AR["إِلَيْهَا", "بَلُوطَ", "مِنَ-البُطمِ"]·ben["-ওক-গাছ-থেকে", "তাদের-কাছে", "বৃক্ষ"]·DE["[אילי]", "[אליהם]", "[מאילים]"]·EN["oaks-of", "of-the-oaks", "to-them"]·FR["[אילי]", "[מאילים]", "vers-eux"]·heb["אילי", "אליהם", "מ-אילים"]·HI["उनके-पास", "बांजवृक्षों-से", "महिमा-के-लिए"]·ID["di-dalamnya", "karena-pohon-pohon-terebint", "pohon-pohon-terebint"]·IT["[אילי]", "[אליהם]", "[מאילים]"]·jav["dhateng-piyambakipun", "saking-wit-oak", "wit-terebinth"]·KO["그들에게-", "상수리나무들을", "참나무들이라"]·PT["a-eles", "carvalhos-de", "dos-carvalhos"]·RU["дубами-", "к-ним", "от-дубов"]·ES["a-ellos", "de-las-encinas", "robles-de"]·SW["juu-yao", "kwa-mialoni", "mialoni"]·TR["meseler-", "meşe-agaclarından", "onlara"]·urd["اُن-کی-طرف", "بلوط", "بلوطوں-سے"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† IV. [אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. terebinth (prob. as prominent, lofty tree, v. Di Gn 12:6; 14:6)—cstr. אֵיל only n.pr. אֵיל פָּארָן vid. infr.; pl. אֵילִים Is 1:29; אֵלִים Is 57:5 cstr. אֵילֵי Is 61:3; sf. אֵלֵיהֶם Ez 31:14 (> del. Co vid. 𝔙 𝔄).—terebinth (cf. אֵלָה); as marking idol-shrines Is 1:29; 57:5 (so Che Di etc. > gods); fig. of ransomed ones of Zion אֵילֵי הַצֶּדֶק; 61:3; perhaps of haughty ones Ez 31:14.