King James Bible Dictionary

PALM, noun p'am.. [Latin palma.]

1. The inner part of the hand.

2. A hand or hand's breadth; a lineal measure of three inches.

3. The broad triangular part of an anchor at the end of the arms.

4. The name of many species of plants, but particularly of the date-tree or great palm a native of Asia and Africa.

The palms constitute a natural order of monocotyledonous plants, with a simple cylindric stem, terminating in a crown of leaves or fronds, within which rises a tuft of flowers and fruits; all natives of warm climates. They vary in size from 2 to more than 100 feet in highth.

5. Branches of the palm being worn in token of victory, hence the word signifies superiority, victory, triumph. The palm was adopted as an emblem of victory, it is said, because the tree is so elastic as when pressed, to rise and recover its correct position.

Namur subdued is England's palm alone.

6. Among seamen, an instrument used in sewing canvas instead of a thimble.

PALM, verb transitive p'am. To conceal in the palm of the hand.

They palmed the trick that lost the game.

1. To impose by fraud.

For you may palm upon us new for old.

2. To handle.

3. To stroke with the hand.

(Heb. tamar), the date-palm characteristic of Palestine. It is described as "flourishing" (Psalms 92:12), tall (Song of Solomon 7:7), "upright" (Jeremiah 10:5). Its branches are a symbol of victory (Revelation 7:9). "Rising with slender stem 40 or 50, at times even 80, feet aloft, its only branches, the feathery, snow-like, pale-green fronds from 6 to 12 feet long, bending from its top, the palm attracts the eye wherever it is seen." The whole land of Palestine was called by the Greeks and Romans Phoenicia, i.e., "the land of palms." Tadmor in the desert was called by the Greeks and Romans Palmyra, i.e., "the city of palms." The finest specimens of this tree grew at Jericho (Deuteronomy 34:3) and Engedi and along the banks of the Jordan. Branches of the palm tree were carried at the feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:40). At our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem the crowds took palm branches, and went forth to meet him, crying, "Hosanna- Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 21:8; John 12:13). (See DATE.)

Deborah judged Israel under
Judges 4:5

Wood of, used in the temple
1 Kings 6:29; 1 Kings 6:32; 1 Kings 6:35; 2 Chronicles 3:5

In the temple seen in the vision of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 40:16; Ezekiel 41:18

Branches of, thrown in the way when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem
John 12:13

Jericho was called the City of Palm Trees
Deuteronomy 34:3

Figurative:

Of the prosperity of the righteous
Psalms 92:12

A symbol of victory
Revelation 7:9

(Heb. tamar). Under this generic term many species are botanically included; but we have here only to do with the date palm, the Phoenix dactylifera of Linn'us. While this tree was abundant generally in the Levant, it was regarded by the ancients as peculiarly characteristic of Palestine and the neighboring regions, though now it is rare. ("The palm tree frequently attains a height of eighty feet, but more commonly forty to fifty. It begins to bear fruit after it has been planted six or eight years, and continues to be productive for a century. Its trunk is straight, tall and unbroken, terminating in a crown of emerald-green plumes, like a diadem of gigantic ostrich-feathers; these leaves are frequently twenty feet in length, droop slightly at the ends, and whisper musically in the breeze. The palm is, in truth, a beautiful and most useful tree. Its fruit is the daily food of millions; its sap furnishes an agreeable wine; the fibres of the base of its leaves are woven into ropes and rigging; its tall stem supplies a valuable timber; its leaves are manufactured into brushes, mats, bags, couches and baskets. This one tree supplies almost all the wants of the Arab or Egyptian."

Bible Plants.) Many places are mentioned in the Bible as having connection with palm trees; Elim, where grew three score and ten palm trees, (Exodus 15:27) and Elath. (2:8) Jericho was the city of "palm trees." (31:3) Hazezon-tamar, "the felling of the palm tree," is clear in its derivation. There is also Tamar, "the palm." (Ezekiel 47:19) Bethany means the "house of dates." The word Phoenicia, which occurs twice in the New Testament

(Acts 11:19; 15:3)

is in all probability derived from the Greek word for a palm. The, striking appearance of the tree, its uprightness and beauty, would naturally suggest the giving of Its name occasionally to women. (Genesis 38:6; 2 Samuel 13:1; 14:27) There is in the Psalms, (Psalms 92:12) the familiar comparison, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." which suggests a world of illustration whether respect be had to the orderly and regular aspect of the tree, its fruitfulness, the perpetual greenness of its foliage, or the height at which the foliage grows, as far as possible from earth and as near as possible to heaven. Perhaps no point is more worthy of mention, we wish to pursue the comparison, than the elasticity of the fibre of the palm and its determined growth upward even when loaded with weights. The passage in (Revelation 7:9) where the glorified of all nations are described as "clothed with white robes and palms in their hands," might seem to us a purely classical image; but palm branches were used by the Jews in token of victory and peace. (To these points of comparison may be added, its principle of growth: it is an endogen, and grows from within; its usefulness; the Syrians enumerating 360 different uses to which it may be put; and the statement that it bears its best fruit in old age.

ED.) It is curious that this tree, once so abundant in Judea, is now comparatively rare, except in the Philistine plain and in the old Phoenicia about Beyrout .

The name given to Jericho (q.v.), Deuteronomy 34:3; Judges 1:16; 3:13.

PAL'MAR, adjective [Latin palmaris.] Of the breadth of the hand.

PAL'MATED, adjective [Latin palmatus, from palma, palm.]

1. Having the shape of a hand; resembling a hand with the fingers spread; as palmated leaves or stones.

2. Entirely webbed; as the palmated feet of aquatic fowls.

PALMER, noun p'amer. One that returned from the Holy Land bearing branches of palm; a pilgrim or crusader.

(Heb. gazam). The English word may denote either a caterpillar (as rendered by the LXX.), which wanders like a palmer or pilgrim, or which travels like pilgrims in bands (Joel 1:4; 2:25), the wingless locusts, or the migratory locust in its larva state.

(Heb. gazam) occurs (Joel 1:4; 2:25; Amos 4:9) It is maintained by many that gazam denotes some species of locust. but it is more probably a caterpillar.

Joel 1:4; Joel 2:25; Amos 4:9

PALMER-WORM, noun p'amer-worm. A worm covered with hair; supposed to be so called because he wanders over all plants. Joel 1:1.

PALMET'TO, noun A species of palm-tree, growing in the West Indies, of the genus Chamaerops.

PALMIF'EROUS, adjective [Latin palma and fero, to bear.] Bearing palms.

PAL'MIPED, adjective [Latin palma and pes, foot.] Web-footed; having the toes connected by a membrane; as a water fowl.

PAL'MIPED, noun A fowl that has webbed feet, or the toes connected by a membrane.

PAL'MISTER, noun [Latin palma.] One who deals in palmistry, or pretends to tell fortunes by the palm of the hand.

PAL'MISTRY, noun [Latin palma, palm.] The art or practice of divining or telling fortunes by the lines and marks in the palm of the hand; a trick of imposture, much practiced by gypsies.

1. Addison used it humorously for the action of the hand.

PALM-SUNDAY, noun p'am-sunday. The Sunday next before Easter; so called in commemoration of our Savior's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the multitude strewed palm branches in the way.

PALM-TREE, noun p'am-tree. The date tree, or Phoenix Lactylifera, a native of Asia and Africa, which grows to the highth of 60 and even of 100 feet, with an upright stem, crowned with a cluster of leaves or branches eight or nine feet long, extending all around like an umbrella. The fruit is in shape somewhat like an acorn. This tree transplanted will grow in Europe, but the fruit never ripens.

This name is applied to other species of palms.

PALMY, adjective p'amy. Bearing palms.