cedar

Everyday

1. A tall evergreen tree with needle-like leaves and cones, such as the cedar of Lebanon. tree →
2. The pleasant-smelling, reddish wood of cedar trees, used for chests, fences and pencils. tree →
3. Some other trees with sweet-smelling wood are also called cedars (for example western red cedar in Canada). tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons cedars are conifers. In the Bible the cedars of Lebanon are symbols of strength and grandeur; Solomon's temple was built with cedar wood. Cedar appears on the flag of Lebanon. In everyday life cedar wood keeps moths away from clothes.

Examples

• A huge cedar stands in the middle of the park. tree →
• The cedar of Lebanon is on Lebanon's flag. tree →
• Grandma keeps her blankets in a cedar chest. tree →
• Cedar wood smells lovely. tree →
• King Solomon built the temple with cedar, the Bible says. tree →
• The fence is made of red cedar. tree →
• At last he came to one of the largest forests in all the world, composed entirely of cedars. tree →

Note

Say «SEE-dur». Do not confuse with «cider» (an apple drink) or «seeder». Countable for trees, uncountable for the wood.

In Jewish tradition

Cedar-wood was a fragrant, durable wood. In the Torah it is burned with hyssop and scarlet wool in the purification rites for the leper, for a house with plague-spots, and for the red heifer. It was also the fine wood for building palaces and the Temple, and the tall cedar stood for strength.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the cedar, a tall and proud tree, as a symbol of pride. Hyssop is lowly, so the pair is taken to teach that the proud must humble themselves to be cleansed. In the psalms even the cedars are called to praise God.

Examples

• And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. (Torah LEV.14.49, JPS 1917) tree →
• As valleys stretched out, as gardens by the river-side; as aloes planted of the LORD, as cedars beside the waters; (Torah NUM.24.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. (Torah NUM.19.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars; (Writings PSA.148.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? (Prophets JER.22.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• The beams of our houses are cedars, and our panels are cypresses. (Writings SNG.1.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Say «SEE-dur». Do not confuse with «cider» (an apple drink) or «seeder». Countable for trees, uncountable for the wood.