English · KJV
H1266

בְּרוֹת

bᵉrôwth /ber-oth'/ Ask about this word
Roota variation of בְּרוֹשׁ
Meaninglemma בֻּרוֹת first vowel, corrected to class="strongs-hebrew-text">בְּרוֹת; the cypress (or some elastic tree)
KJV usagefir.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of bᵉrôwth — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word bᵉrôwth, represented by H1266, is a variation of a word for the cypress or fir tree. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, making its meaning highly dependent on its specific context. The base definition suggests it refers to an elastic or resilient type of wood.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single use of H1266 occurs in the descriptive poetry of the Song of Solomon. It is used to describe the rafters of a house being built or shared by lovers, stating, "The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir" Song of Solomon 1:17. In this context, fir is presented alongside cedar as a fine material used to construct a beautiful and intimate dwelling.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from its only appearance help to clarify its meaning and context:

  • H1004 bayith (house): This word, used for the structure being built, often extends beyond a physical dwelling to mean family, a household, or even the people of God (Joshua 24:15, Jeremiah 31:33).
  • H6982 qôwrâh (beam, roof): This term refers to the primary structural supports of the house mentioned in Song of Solomon 1:17. In the verse, these beams are made of cedar.
  • H730 ʼerez (cedar tree): Paired directly with fir, cedar is renowned in scripture for its strength, majesty, and value, often symbolizing flourishing and permanence (Psalms 92:12, Amos 2:9).
  • H7351 rᵉchîyṭ (rafter): This is the specific architectural element for which the fir wood H1266 is used in Song of Solomon 1:17, indicating its role in completing the protective roof of the house.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1266 is derived entirely from its symbolic role in its single context.

  • Constructing a Sacred Dwelling: The use of fir alongside cedar H730 to build a "house" H1004 points to the creation of a special, protected space. This imagery speaks to the value and beauty of the relationship being celebrated.
  • Endurance and Value: By being selected as a building material with the highly-prized cedar, fir is depicted as a wood of quality and durability, suitable for a lasting structure.
  • Metaphor for Relationship: Since the "house" H1004 is frequently a metaphor for God's people or a place of fellowship with Him (Psalms 27:4, Psalms 127:1), the use of fir in its construction suggests contributing to the foundation of a strong and beautiful spiritual relationship.

Summary

In summary, H1266 is a specific term for fir wood whose significance is drawn from one powerful image. Its singular mention in Song of Solomon 1:17 embeds it in a scene of constructing an intimate and beautiful dwelling. Paired with cedar, it represents a valuable and durable material, contributing to a structure that can be understood both as a physical home and a metaphor for a cherished and lasting relationship.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • בְּרוֹתִים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1004 בַּיִת probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, d H6982 קוֹרָה or קֹרָה; from קוּר; a rafter (forming trenches as it were); by implication, a roof; beam, roof. H730 אֶרֶז from אָרַז; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots); cedar (tree). H7351 רְחִיט from the same as רַהַט; a panel (as resembling a trough); rafter.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Song of Solomon — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.