King James Bible Dictionary

1. "Paper reeds" (Isaiah 19:7; R.V., "reeds"). Heb. aroth, properly green herbage growing in marshy places.

2. Heb. kaneh (1 Kings 14:15; Job 40:21; Isaiah 19:6), whence the Gr. kanna, a "cane," a generic name for a reed of any kind.

The reed of Egypt and Palestine is the Arundo donax, which grows to the height of 12 feet, its stalk jointed like the bamboo, "with a magnificent panicle of blossom at the top, and so slender and yielding that it will lie perfectly flat under a gust of wind, and immediately resume its upright position." It is used to illustrate weakness (2 Kings 18:21; Ezekiel 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Matthew 11:7; comp. Ephesians 4:14).

A "bruised reed" (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord's hands in derision (Matthew 27:29); and "they took the reed and smote him on the head" (30). The "reed" on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Matthew 27:48) was, according to John (19:29), a hyssop stalk, which must have been of some length, or perhaps a bunch of hyssop twigs fastened to a rod with the sponge. (See CANE.)

A water plant
Isaiah 19:6-7; Isaiah 35:7; Jeremiah 51:32

Used as a measuring device of six cubits
Ezekiel 40:3-8; Ezekiel 41:8; Ezekiel 42:16-19; Ezekiel 45:1; Revelation 11:1; Revelation 21:15-16

Mockingly given to Jesus as a symbol of royalty
Matthew 27:29

Jesus smitten with
Matthew 27:30; Mark 15:19

Figurative, of weakness
1 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6; Isaiah 42:3; Ezekiel 29:6; Matthew 11:7; Matthew 12:20

Under this name may be noticed the following Hebrew words:

1. Agmon occurs in (Job 40:12,16; Isaiah 9:14) (Authorized Version "rush"). There can be no doubt that it denotes some aquatic reed-like plant, probably the Phragmitis communis , which, if it does not occur in Palestine and Egypt, is represented by a very closely-allied species, viz., the Arundo isiaca of Delisle. The drooping panicle of this plant will answer well to the "bowing down the head" of which Isaiah speaks. (Isaiah 58:5)
2. Gnome , translated "rush" and "bulrush" by the Authorized Version, without doubt denotes the celebrated paper-reed of the ancients, Papyrus antiquorum , which formerly was common in some parts of Egypt. The papyrus reed is not now found in Egypt; it grows however, in Syria. Dr. Hooker saw it on the banks of Lake Tiberias, a few miles north of the town. The papyrus plant has an angular stem from 3 to 6 feet high, though occasionally it grows to the height of 14 feet it has no leaves; the flowers are in very small spikelets, which grow on the thread-like flowering branchlets which form a bushy crown to each stem; (It was used for making paper, shoes, sails, ropes, mattresses, etc. The Greek name is Biblos , from which came our word Bible

   book

   because books were made of the papyrus paper. This paper was always expensive among the Greeks, being worth a dollar a sheet.

   ED.)

3. Kaneh , a reed of any kind. Thus there are in general four kinds of reeds named in the Bible: (1) The water reed; No, 1 above. (2) A stronger reed, Arundo donax , the true reed of Egypt and Palestine, which grows 8 or 10 feet high, and is thicker than a man's thumb. It has a jointed stalk like the bamboo, and is very abundant on the Nile. (3) The writing reed, Arundo scriptoria , was used for making pens. (4) The papyrus; No. 2.

REED, noun

1. The common name of many aquatic plants; most of them large grasses, with hollow jointed stems, such as the common reed of the genus Arundo, the bamboo, etc. The bur-reed is of the genus Sparganium; the Indian Flowering reed of the genus Canna.

2. A musical pipe; reeds being anciently used for instruments of music.

3. A little tube through which a hautboy, bassoon or clarinet is blown.

4. An arrow, as made of a reed headed.

5. Thatch.

REE'DED, adjective

1. Covered with reeds.

2. Formed with channels and ridges like reeds.

REEDEN, adjective ree'dn. Consisting of a reed or reeds' as reeden pipes.

REE'DGRASS, noun A plant, bur-reed, of the genus Sparganium.

REE'DLESS, adjective Destitute of reeds; as reedless banks.

REE'DMACE, noun A plant of the genus Typha.

REE'DY, adjective Abounding with reeds; as a reedy pool.