H7574 H7574
broom tree, broom shrub (desert plant)
This noun identifies a desert shrub, likely the white broom (Retama raetam), common in arid regions of the Near East. Famous as Elijah's shelter in the wilderness, it also appears in descriptions of hardship and as fuel for coals. The plant's deep roots, meager shade, and hot-burning wood all feature in biblical imagery.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Designates a desert broom shrub. In 1 Kings 19:4-5, Elijah sits under 'a broom tree' (רֹתֶם אֶחָד/אַחַת) desiring death—the sparse desert shrub emphasizing his desolation. Job 30:4 mentions destitute people eating 'roots of broom' (שֹׁרֶשׁ רְתָמִים) for survival, indicating severe poverty. Psalm 120:4 speaks of 'coals of broom' (גַּחֲלֵי רְתָמִים), which burn especially hot and long. The plant is identified as Retama raetam, a white-flowered desert legume providing minimal shade but excellent charcoal. Multilingual glosses show botanical recognition: Spanish 'retama/retamas,' French 'genêt,' German 'broom-Baum'—though precise botanical equivalents vary by language. 4×
AR["الرَّتمِ", "الرَّتَم", "رَتَمةٍ"]·ben["ঝাউগাছ", "রতম-গাছের", "রেতেম-গাছের"]·DE["[רתמים]", "broom-Baum", "der-broom-Baum"]·EN["broom-tree", "broom-trees", "the-broom-tree"]·FR["broom-arbre", "genêt", "רתמים"]·heb["רותם", "רתמים"]·HI["झाड़ी", "रतम-की", "रतम-के"]·ID["pohon-rotem", "pohon-sapu", "sahabat"]·IT["[רתמים]", "broom-albero", "broom-trees"]·jav["rètèm", "wit-rotem"]·KO["로뎀나무-의", "로뎀나무의", "로떼-나무"]·PT["de-zimbro", "giestas", "zimbro"]·RU["дрока", "дроком"]·ES["retama", "retamas"]·SW["mretemu", "mti-wa-mretemu", "ya-mretemu"]·TR["kömürün", "retem-ağacı", "retem-ağaçlarının"]·urd["جھاڑو کی", "جھاڑو-کے", "جھاڑی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רֹ֫תֶם n.m. 1 K 19:5 a kind of broom-shrub, broom-plant, retem (NH id.; Arabic رَتَمٌ (on form LagBN 152); 𝔗 רִיתְמָא, all = BH);—abs. ר׳ אֶחָד 1 K 19:5, ר׳ אחת v 4 Kt (אֶחָד Qr); pl. שֹׁרֶשׁ רְתָמִים לַחְמָם Jb 30:4 (on text v. Bu Cheinfr.); גַּחֲלֵי רְתָמִים ψ 120:4, RobBR i. 84, 203, 205, 500 LöwNo. 313 PostHastings, DB, ‘Juniper’ CheEncy. Bib. ‘Juniper’.