| Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews libneh, "white", (Genesis 30:37; Hosea 4:13), in all probability the storax tree (Styrax officinalis) or white poplar, distinguished by its white blossoms and pale leaves. It is common in the Anti-Libanus. Other species of the poplar are found in Palestine, such as the white poplar (P. alba) of our own country, the black poplar (P. nigra), and the aspen (P. tremula). (see WILLOW.) Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Any tree of the genus Populus; also, the timber, which is soft, and capable of many uses. 2. (n.) The timber of the tulip tree; -- called also white poplar. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia POPLAR pop'-lar (libhneh, "whiteness"; sturakinos, "storax" (Genesis 30:37), leuke, "poplar" (Hosea 4:13) (libhneh is so similar to the Arabic libna, the storax, that the latter certainly has the first claim to be the true translation)): "Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar," margin "storax tree" (Genesis 30:37). "They.... burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good" (Hosea 4:13). In the latter reference the conjunction of the shrub, storax, with two great trees like the oak and terebinth-even though they all grow in the mountains-is strange. The storax cannot give a shade comparable with these trees. Had we other evidence of the storax being a sacred tree among the Hebrews, it might explain the difficulty.
The storax, Styrax officinalis (Natural Order Styraceae), is a very common shrub in Palestine which occasionally attains the height of 20 feet. The under surfaces of its oval leaves are covered with whitish hairs, and it has many beautiful pure-white flowers like orange blossoms-hence, its name "whiteness."
The poplar, the traditional translation in Hosea 4:13, flourishes in many parts of Palestine. The white poplar, Populus alba, Arabic Haur, is common everywhere; Euphratica occurs especially in the Jordan valley; the black poplar, P. nigra, and the Lombardy poplar, P. pyramidalis-probably an importation-are both plentiful in the plain of Coele-Syria, around Damascus and along the river banks of Syria.
E. W. G. Masterman |  | Multi-Version Concordance Poplar (4 Occurrences) Genesis 30:37 Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 44:4 And they will come up like grass in a well-watered field, like water-plants by the streams. (See NAS NIV) Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Hosea 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon. (See RSV) |
