Modern Hebrew is rich with many expressions referring to trees. As the following chart shows, many of these are rooted in our Biblical heritage.

Hebrew expression

Literal translation

Source

Modern usage


Etz ha-da'at

Tree of knowledge

Genesis 2:9

Source of wisdom and knowledge


Etz ha-hayyim

Tree of life

Genesis 3:22

The Torah


Etz hadar

Beautiful tree

Leviticus 23:40

Citrus tree


Etz-yaveish

Dry tree

Ezekiel 17:24; Isaiah 56:3

Infertile person


Etz ya'ar

Forest tree

Ezekiel 15:2

Non-fruit bearing tree


Etz ma'achal

Food tree

Deut. 20:20

Fruit-bearing tree


Etz tirosh

Wine tree Nehemiah 10:38

Grape vine


Etz avot

Thick tree

Leviticus 23:40

Myrtle


Bul etz

Tree stump

Isaiah 44:19

Dense person who has trouble understanding


Daber el ha-etzim

Talk to the trees

I Kings 5:13

Speaking to someone who isn't listening


Al ha-etzim v'al ha-avanim

About the trees and the rocks

Talmud - Yevamot 60:b

Talking about anything and everything


Meirov etzim lo yir'eh et ha-ya'ar.

The forest cannot be seen because there are so many trees.

Too much attention to detail makes it difficult to understand the overall situation


Hatapuakh eino nofel rahok me'ha-etz

The apple does not fall far from the tree.

Tobias 3:4 (Apocrypha)

The children are similar to their parents.


TREES Table of Contents

 

 

   
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