Flag

(Heb., or rather Egyptian, ahu, Job 8:11 ), rendered "meadow" in Genesis 41:2 Genesis 41:18 ; probably the Cyperus esculentus, a species of rush eaten by cattle, the Nile reed. It also grows in Palestine.

In Exodus 2:3 Exodus 2:5 , Isaiah 19:6 , it is the rendering of the Hebrew suph_, a word which occurs frequently in connection with _yam ; as yam suph , to denote the "Red Sea" (q.v.) or the sea of weeds (as this word is rendered, Jonah 2:5 ). It denotes some kind of sedge or reed which grows in marshy places. (See PAPER, REED .)

Type of marsh grass or reed

Can the rush grow up without mire? can the FLAG grow without water? Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish. ( Job 8:11-13 )

There are two Hebrew words rendered "flag" in our Bible:

1. A word of Egyptian origin, and denoting "any green and course herbage, such as rushes and reeds, which grows in marshy places." ( Genesis 41:2 Genesis 41:18 ) (here translated meadow). It is perhaps the Cyperus esculentus .
2. A word which appears to be used in a very wide sense to denote "weeds of any kind." ( Exodus 2:3 Exodus 2:5 ; Isaiah 19:6 )

FLAG

Two Hebrew words:

(1) cuph (Exodus 2:3,1, "flags"; Isaiah 19:6, "flags"; Jonah 2:5, "weeds"). This is apparently a general name which includes both the fresh-water weeds growing along a river bank and "seaweeds." The Red Sea was known as Yam cuph.

(2) 'achu (Genesis 41:2,18, the King James Version "meadow," the Revised Version (British and American) "reed-grass"; Job 8:11, "Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag (margin "reed-grass") grow without water?"). Some such general term as "sedges" or "fens" would better meet the requirements.