What are…
reeds in the Bible

  1. arah

    Hebrew: עָרָה —transliteration: arah

    Various translations:

    • “paper reeds” —Isaiah 19:7 KJV
    • “papyrus reeds” —Isaiah 19:7 NKJV
    • “reeds” —Isaiah 19:7 RKJV
    • “bulrushes” —Isaiah 19:7 NASB
    • “plants” —Isaiah 19:7 NIV

  2. qaneh

    Hebrew: קָנֶה —transliteration: qaneh or kaneh —derived from qanah, from whence the Greek kanna, a “cane,” a generic name for a reed of any kind

    For the Lord will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water… —1 Kings 14:15 excerpt

    Under the lotus plants he lies down,
    In the covert of the reeds and the marsh. —Job 40:21

    …The reeds and rushes will rot away. —Isaiah 19:6 excerpt

    The reeds of Egypt and Israel 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; Ezek. 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Matthew 11:7; compare Ephesians 4:14).

    A “bruised reed” or “battered reed” (Isaiah 42:3 KJV; Matthew 12:20) is an symbol of a believer who is weak.

    In mockery, a reed was put into our Lord's hands (Matthew 27:29); and “took the reed and began to beat Him on the head” (Matt. 27:30).

The “reed” on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Matthew 27:48) was, according to John (hyssop stalk, which must have been of some length, or perhaps a bunch of hyssop twigs fastened to a rod with the sponge.

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Article Version: October 30, 2025