H0731 H0731
cedar paneling; collective noun for cedarwood used in construction (Zeph 2:14)
This feminine singular collective denotes cedar panels or woodwork, appearing in Zephaniah's judgment oracle against Nineveh. The prophet envisions the great city's palaces exposed to the elements, their fine cedar paneling laid bare as birds nest in the ruins. Cedar represented luxury construction; its desolation symbolizes complete devastation. The image reverses Assyrian imperial grandeur into wilderness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Zephaniah 2:14 predicts Nineveh's desolation: 'Herds shall lie down in her midst, all kinds of beasts; even the owl and the hedgehog shall lodge in her capitals; a voice shall hoot in the window; devastation on the threshold; for the cedar is laid bare.' The phrase 'the cedar' (collective for cedar paneling) contrasts palace splendor with coming ruin. The unified translation ('the-cedar', 'cedro', 'cèdre') recognizes expensive building material now exposed and decaying—a bitter reversal of Assyrian architectural pride. 1×
AR["الْأَرْزَ"]·ben["দেবদারু"]·DE["[ארזה]"]·EN["the-cedar"]·FR["cèdre"]·heb["ארזה"]·HI["देवदार"]·ID["kayu-aras"]·IT["[ארזה]"]·jav["kajeng-aras"]·KO["백향목이"]·PT["cedro"]·RU["кедр"]·ES["cedro"]·SW["mierezi"]·TR["sedir-ağacını"]·urd["دیودار"]
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H1406 1. roof / rooftop (31×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אַרְזָה n.f.coll. cedar-panels, cedar-work Zp 2:14.