Hebrew word · H8561

תִּמֹרָה

vetimorim

palm

A palm-tree figure, i.e. an ornamental palm or palmette, as opposed to an actual date palm (tāmār). It is used only of temple decoration: 1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35; 7:36; 2 Chr 3:5; Ezek 40–41.

Appears 19 times in 16 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

palm tree figure (as ornament)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Kings 6:29

Range of meaning

A palm-tree figure, i.e. an ornamental palm or palmette, as opposed to an actual date palm (tāmār). It is used only of temple decoration: 1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35; 7:36; 2 Chr 3:5; Ezek 40–41.

Against the English

'Palm trees' is accurate, but readers may picture realistic landscape trees. The word means a stylized decorative unit, often shown as a 'sacred tree' with cherubim on either side.

Used elsewhere in the period

The 'sacred tree' with guardian creatures on each side is one of the most common motifs in Assyrian palace reliefs and Phoenician–Syrian ivories. Proto-Aeolic capitals (stone column tops carved with palm-like volutes) from Israelite royal buildings at Samaria, Megiddo and Ramat Rachel come from the same tradition. Ezek 41:18–20 describes a cherub and palm alternating, with each cherub facing a palm.

From the study of Ezekiel 40:16

Range of meaning

A palm-tree design used as a decoration. It is related to tāmār, 'date palm'. In the Bible it appears only in temple settings: 1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35; 7:36; 2 Chr 3:5; Ezek 40–41.

Against the English

All versions say 'palm trees'. BSB rightly makes clear these were decorations. KJV's 'palm trees' could make a reader picture actual trees.

Used elsewhere in the period

Solomon's temple walls carried carved palms, cherubim and open flowers (1 Kgs 6:29). Ezekiel's own temple has cherubim and palms alternating (41:18–20). Across the ancient Near East a stylized palm-like 'sacred tree' was a major motif, prominent for example in Assyrian palace reliefs. Ps 92:12–13 pictures the righteous 'flourishing like the palm, planted in the house of YHWH'. Palm fronds belonged to the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:40).

Where it appears

1 Kings · 5

  1. 1 Kings 6:29 וְתִֽמֹרֹ֔ת and palm trees

    Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.

    Here: 'And palm trees': stylized palm designs, a standard ancient image of fertility, life and a divine garden. In Ezekiel's temple (Ezek 41:18) palms alternate with cherubim, which probably shows how the pattern was laid out here.

  2. 1 Kings 6:32 וְתִמֹר֛וֹת הַתִּֽמֹר֖וֹת and palm trees, the palm trees

    The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.

  3. 1 Kings 6:35 וְתִ֣מֹר֔וֹת and palm trees

    He carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.

  4. 1 Kings 7:36 וְתִמֹרֹ֑ת and palm trees

    He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and panels, wherever each had space, with wreaths all around.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 3:5 תִּמֹרִ֖ים palm trees

    He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains.

Ezekiel · 13

  1. Ezekiel 40:16 תִּמֹרִֽים׃ palm trees

    The gate chambers and their side pillars had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porticos also had windows all around on the inside. Each side pillar was decorated with palm trees.

    Here: Carved palm-tree designs, the same motif carved in Solomon's temple (1 Kgs 6:29). It brings up life, abundance and the garden of God.

  2. Ezekiel 40:22 וְתִ֣מֹרָ֔יו and palm trees its

    Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.

  3. Ezekiel 40:26 וְתִמֹרִ֣ים and palm trees

    Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.

  4. Ezekiel 40:31 וְתִמֹרִ֖ים and palm trees

    Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps led up to it.

  5. Ezekiel 40:34 וְתִמֹרִ֥ים and palm trees

    Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

  6. Ezekiel 40:37 וְתִמֹרִ֥ים and palm trees

    Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

  7. Ezekiel 41:18 וְתִֽמֹרִ֑ים וְתִֽמֹרָה֙ and palm trees, and a palm tree

    were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces:

  8. Ezekiel 41:19 הַתִּֽמֹרָה֙ הַתִּֽמֹרָ֖ה the palm tree

    the face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion was toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all the way around the temple.

  9. Ezekiel 41:20 וְהַתִּֽמֹרִ֖ים and the palm trees

    Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary from the floor to the space above the entrance.

  10. Ezekiel 41:25 וְתִֽמֹרִ֔ים and palm trees

    Cherubim and palm trees like those on the walls were carved on the doors of the outer sanctuary, and there was a wooden canopy outside, on the front of the portico.

  11. Ezekiel 41:26 וְתִֽמֹרִים֙ and palm trees

    There were beveled windows and palm trees on the sidewalls of the portico. The side rooms of the temple also had canopies.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.