English · KJV
H8645

תִּרְזָה

tirzâh /teer-zaw'/ Ask about this word
Rootprobably from רָזָה
Meaninga species of tree (apparently from its slenderness), perhaps the cypress
KJV usagecypress.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tirzâh — 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 tirzâh, represented by H8645, refers to a species of tree, perhaps the cypress. The word appears just 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its definition suggests it is a tree known for its slenderness, and it is mentioned as a type of wood suitable for being worked by man.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H8645 is in Isaiah 44:14. In this passage, it describes a man who "taketh the cypress and the oak" from the forest. The cypress is listed alongside other trees like the cedar H730 and the ash H766. The verse details the process of a man selecting various types of wood, strengthening them for his own purposes, with some trees being planted and nourished by the rain H1653.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from its biblical context illuminate its meaning:

  • H437 'allôwn (an oak or other strong tree): This word for a strong tree appears alongside cypress in the list of trees a man selects for himself from among the trees H6086 of the forest Isaiah 44:14.
  • H3772 kârath (to cut): This verb describes the action of hewing down trees, as when a man "heweth him down cedars" in the same passage as taking the cypress Isaiah 44:14. It is also used to describe making a covenant Genesis 15:18.
  • H5193 nâṭaʻ (to plant): This action is part of the cycle described in the verse. A man "planteth an ash" Isaiah 44:14, illustrating human cultivation alongside the taking of wild trees. God also speaks of how He will plant His people Israel 2 Samuel 7:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8645 is understood entirely through its single context.

  • Component of Creation: The cypress is mentioned as one of God's created resources within the forest H3293, alongside the cedar H730 and the oak H437, available for human use Isaiah 44:14.
  • Subject of Human Action: The verse places the tree in the context of human activity. A man "taketh" H3947 the cypress and "strengtheneth" H553 it, highlighting the role of human agency in utilizing the natural world.
  • Recipient of Divine Nourishment: While humans plant and strengthen, the passage concludes by noting that it is the rain H1653 that ultimately "doth nourish" H1431 the trees, pointing to an underlying dependence on divine provision for growth Isaiah 44:14.

Summary

In summary, H8645 tirzâh is a highly specific term for a tree, likely the cypress, that appears only once in scripture. Its significance is derived entirely from its context in Isaiah 44:14, where it is listed among other trees as a natural resource gathered by man. The passage uses the cypress as part of a larger illustration of the interplay between human effort in working with creation and the ultimate reliance on divine provision for sustenance and growth.

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.

  • תִּרְזָה

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.

H730 אֶרֶז from אָרַז; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots); cedar (tree). H766 אֹרֶן from the same as אֲרָן (in the sense of strength); the ash tree (from its toughness); ash. H1653 גֶּשֶׁם from גָּשַׁם; a shower; rain, shower. H437 אַלּוֹן a variation of אֵלוֹן; {an oak or other strong tree}; oak. H6086 עֵץ from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, H3772 כָּרַת a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e.

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 Isaiah — 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.