Reed

(1.) “Paper reeds” (Isa. 19:7; R.V., “reeds”). Heb. ‘aroth, properly green herbage growing in marshy places. (2.) Heb. kaneh (1 Kings 14:15; Job 40:21; Isa. 19:6), whence the Gr. kanna, a “cane,” a generic name for a reed of any kind. The reed of Egypt and Palestine is the Arundo donax, which grows to the height of 12 feet, its stalk jointed like the bamboo, “with a magnificent panicle of blossom at the top, and so slender and yielding that it will lie perfectly flat under a gust of wind, and immediately resume its upright position.” It is used to illustrate weakness (2 Kings 18:21; Ezek. 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Matt. 11:7; comp. Eph. 4:14). A “bruised reed” (Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord’s hands in derision (Matt. 27:29); and “they took the reed and smote him on the head” (30). The “reed” on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Matt. 27:48) was, according to John (19:29), a hyssop stalk, which must have been of some length, or perhaps a bunch of hyssop twigs fastened to a rod with the sponge. (See CANE.)

Under this name may be noticed the following Hebrew words:

REED, used generically for various tall plants of the grass or sedge order. See Bulrush, Flag, Rush. Fishpoles, canes, and rods, Matt 27:29, are formed of it. These plants flourish in marshes or in the vicinity of water-courses; hence the allusion, Job 40:21. It is often used by the sacred writers to illustrate weakness and fragility. 2 Kgs 18:21; Isa 36:6; Isa 42:3; Eze 29:6; Matt 12:20. Reeds were also used to make pens of (see Pen), and also as measuring-rods. Eze 40:5. See Measures. From their height and slender shape, plants of this kind are moved by the slightest breath of wind, 1 Kgs 14:15, and hence nothing could be more unimportant in itself than such a motion, and nothing more strikingly illustrative of fickleness and instability. Comp. Matt 11:7 and Eph 4:14. The true reed of Egypt and Palestine (Arundo donax) has a slender jointed stalk like bamboo, about 12 feet in height, with a fine large brush of bloom at the top. This flexible stalk often lies prostrate before the wind, ready to rise again at the first lull. About the perennial waters of the Holy Land there are often dense canebrakes of this plant, in the midst of which wild beasts find their lairs. With one or more hollow tubes of reed, musical instruments are constructed by the youth of the country, and it is likely that David first learned to play on a similar primitive reed-organ.

REED, MEASURING. Eze 40:5. See Measures.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The fourth stomach of a ruminant; rennet. [Prov. Eng. or Scot.]

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A name given to many tall and coarse grasses or grasslike plants, and their slender, often jointed, stems, such as the various kinds of bamboo, and especially the common reed of Europe and North America (Phragmites communis).

2. A musical instrument made of the hollow joint of some plant; a rustic or pastoral pipe. Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed Of Hermes. Milton.

3. An arrow, as made of a reed. Prior.

4. Straw prepared for thatching a roof. [Prov. Eng.]

5. A small piece of cane or wood attached to the mouthpiece of certain instruments, and set in vibration by the breath. In the clarinet it is a single fiat reed; in the oboe and bassoon it is double, forming a compressed tube.

6. One of the thin pieces of metal, the vibration of which produce the tones of a melodeon, accordeon, harmonium, or seraphine; also attached to certain sets or registers of pipes in an organ.

7. A frame having parallel flat stripe of metal or reed, between which the warp threads pass, set in the swinging lathe or batten of a loom for beating up the weft; a sley. See Batten.

8. A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.

9. Same as Reeding. Egyptian reed (Bot.), the papyrus. -- Free reed (Mus.), a reed whose edges do not overlap the wind passage, -- used in the harmonium, concertina, etc. It is distinguished from the beating or striking reed of the organ and clarinet. -- Meadow reed grass (Bot.), the Glyceria aquatica, a tall grass found in wet places. -- Reed babbler. See Reedbird. -- Reed bunting (Zoöl.) A European sparrow (Emberiza schoeniclus) which frequents marshy places; -- called also reed sparrow, ring bunting. (b) Reedling. -- Reed canary grass (Bot.), a tall wild grass (Phalaris arundinacea). -- Reed grass. (Bot.) (a) The common reed. See Reed, 1. (b) A plant of the genus Sparganium; bur reed. See under Bur. -- Reed organ (Mus.), an organ in which the wind acts on a set of free reeds, as the harmonium, melodeon, concertina, etc. -- Reed pipe (Mus.), a pipe of an organ furnished with a reed. -- Reed sparrow. (Zoöl.) See Reed bunting, above. -- Reed stop (Mus.), a set of pipes in an organ furnished with reeds. -- Reed warbler. (Zoöl.) (a) A small European warbler (Acrocephalus streperus); -- called also reed wren. (b) Any one of several species of Indian and Australian warblers of the genera Acrocephalus, Calamoherpe, and Arundinax. They are excellent singers. -- Sea-sand reed (Bot.), a kind of coarse grass (Ammophila arundinacea). See Beach grass, under Beach. -- Wood reed grass (Bot.), a tall, elegant grass (Cinna arundinacea), common in moist woods.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

Same as Rede. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

Red. [Obs.] Chaucer.