Hemlock

Hemlock [N] [S]

  • Heb. rosh ( Hosea 10:4 ; rendered "gall" in Deuteronomy 29:18 ; 32:32 ; Psalms 69:21 ; Jeremiah 9:15 ; 23:15 ; "poison," Job 20:16 ; "venom," Deuteronomy 32:33 ). "Rosh is the name of some poisonous plant which grows quickly and luxuriantly; of a bitter taste, and therefore coupled with wormwood ( Deuteronomy 29:18 ; Lamentations 3:19 ). Hence it would seem to be not the hemlock cicuta, nor the colocynth or wild gourd, nor lolium darnel, but the poppy so called from its heads" (Gesenius, Lex.).

  • Heb. la'anah, generally rendered "wormwood" (q.v.), Deuteronomy 29:18 , Text 17; Proverbs 5:4 ; Jeremiah 9:15 ; 23:15 . Once it is rendered "hemlock" ( Amos 6:12 ; RSV, "wormwood"). This Hebrew word is from a root meaning "to curse," hence the accursed.

    These dictionary topics are from
    M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
    published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.

    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary

    Bibliography Information

    Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Hemlock". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .