eRhema Explore

Things, customs and measures

Plants, animals and things people made, from the United Bible Societies’ handbooks.

642 things

Plants and Trees in the Bible

Wild Trees and Shrubs28 things

28 verses

3 verses

4 verses

4 verses

67 verses

12 verses

1 verse

1 verse

11 verses

2 verses

Juniper

Grecian juniper (eastern savin)

9 verses

Phoenician juniper (coastal juniper)

9 verses

Laurel (bay tree)

2 verses

Laurustinus (laurestinus)

2 verses

2 verses

6 verses

18 verses

Pine

1 verse

6 verses

3 verses

10 verses

Sandalwood (red saunders)

5 verses

1 verse

3 verses

29 verses

Thyine (sandarac)

1 verse

4 verses

Domestic trees and shrubs13 things

9 verses

6 verses

1 verse

1 verse

40 verses

58 verses

3 verses

55 verses

1 verse

26 verses

8 verses

418 verses

1 verse

Food Plants, Grown and Gathered24 things

Grain

36 verses

2 verses

Sorghum (durra)

1 verse

56 verses

Leafy vegetables

3 verses

1 verse

1 verse

1 verse

Pulses

2 verses

1 verse

4 verses

Melon

Muskmelon (cantaloupe)

3 verses

1 verse

Condiments

Caper (caper bush, caper berry)

1 verse

2 verses

3 verses

1 verse

Dove’s dung (Star of Bethlehem)

1 verse

2 verses

2 verses

5 verses

Nigella (kalonji, black cumin, black seed, charnushka, nutmeg flower)

2 verses

Orache (saltwort)

1 verse

1 verse

Incense and Ointment16 things

Trees and plants yielding incense and perfume

Agarwood (eaglewood, aloeswood, lignaloes)

4 verses

Calamus (sweet flag, aromatic cane, sweet cane, ginger grass)

5 verses

3 verses

5 verses

Fennel (galbanum)

2 verses

29 verses

2 verses

16 verses

Spikenard (nard)

5 verses

Ointment and balm (medicinal plants)

Aloe (bitter aloe)

1 verse

Castor oil plant (castor bean plant)

4 verses

Liquidambar (Oriental sweetgum, storax)

8 verses

Opobalsamum (balsam, balm)

26 verses

Rock rose (ladanum)

2 verses

1 verse

Tragacanth (gum tragacanth)

2 verses

Plants for Everyday Use14 things

Plants for weaving and building

Cattail (reed-mace)

4 verses

100 verses

5 verses

Reed (common reed, giant reed)

34 verses

Rush (bulrush, sedge)

4 verses

2 verses

104 verses

Other useful plants

2 verses

Hammada (Salsola, Salicornia)

4 verses

Mandrake (“love apple”)

4 verses

12 verses

Poison hemlock (black henbane, gall)

12 verses

Wild gourd (colocynth, egusi, bitter apple)

2 verses

9 verses

Flowers, Thorns, and Weeds9 things

Flowers

4 verses

Lily (white lily, Madonna lily)

17 verses

Narcissus (daffodil)

1 verse

Rose (Phoenician rose)

4 verses

Tulip (mountain tulip, “rose of Sharon”)

1 verse

Thorns, thistles, brambles, and briers

14 verses

7 verses

Other thorny plants (thorns, brambles, briers)

50 verses

Weeds

Weed (tare, darnel)

9 verses

Animals in the Bible

Animals, general3 things

Domestic animals, cattle, livestock, animal, living being

79 verses

Animals that are ridden or made to carry loads

7 verses

Wild or dangerous animals

81 verses

Mammals38 things

Clean animals (Deut 14:4-6)

1 verse

Apes

2 verses

2 verses

140 verses

3 verses

16 verses

Bubal hartebeest (roe deer)

2 verses

Camel, dromedary

62 verses

Cattle, cow, ox, bull

432 verses

22 verses

44 verses

14 verses

40 verses

16 verses

128 verses

Young goat, kid

24 verses

2 verses

191 verses

9 verses

Hyrax, rock badger

4 verses

Ibex, wild goat, mountain goat

5 verses

27 verses

Leopard, cheetah

9 verses

131 verses

1 verse

Mongoose, weasel

1 verse

6 verses

18 verses

2 verses

25 verses

319 verses

317 verses

12 verses

1 verse

9 verses

13 verses

Birds30 things

145 verses

Birds, clean and unclean

Chicken, rooster, hen

16 verses

2 verses

2 verses

11 verses

47 verses

39 verses

1 verse

6 verses

2 verses

2 verses

5 verses

3 verses

4 verses

2 verses

Owl

8 verses

3 verses

3 verses

1 verse

3 verses

1 verse

2 verses

2 verses

3 verses

6 verses

2 verses

35 verses

6 verses

5 verses

Snakes and lizards10 things

Introduction to snakes and lizards

Reptiles (crawling and creeping things)

38 verses

1 verse

11 verses

2 verses

2 verses

1 verse

1 verse

63 verses

14 verses

Fish, frogs, and mollusks4 things

62 verses

15 verses

1 verse

1 verse

Insects, spiders, and worms13 things

2 verses

6 verses

2 verses

14 verses

1 verse

Gnat, mosquito, louse

7 verses

4 verses

1 verse

Locust, grasshopper, cricket

40 verses

12 verses

17 verses

2 verses

21 verses

Mythical monsters3 things

1 verse

Dragon, sea monster

32 verses

5 verses

Human-made Things in the Bible

Occupations92 things

Agriculture and farming

61 verses

7 verses

45 verses

7 verses

Plow and plowshare

26 verses

11 verses

14 verses

Threshing and winnowing

Threshing floor

36 verses

Threshing board, sledge

7 verses

11 verses

Sieve, winnowing basket

4 verses

Iron tools

3 verses

1 verse

15 verses

4 verses

27 verses

7 verses

Irrigation channel, canal

5 verses

Animal husbandry

Sheep pen, sheepfold

17 verses

Animal pen, stall

11 verses

Manger, feed trough, feedbox

6 verses

Rod, club, shepherd’s staff

107 verses

Shepherd’s bag/pouch

2 verses

12 verses

Fishing

Nets

10 verses

8 verses

Net, trammel net

11 verses

2 verses

Fishing spear, harpoon

13 verses

Hunting

74 verses

36 verses

2 verses

Artisans

Potter

Potter’s wheel

2 verses

1 verse

Engraver, woodcarver

Engraving, carving

29 verses

Cloth manufacture

Thread, string, yarn

16 verses

2 verses

Weaver’s beam

5 verses

2 verses

Beater, batten, pin

Woven or knitted material

16 verses

89 verses

7 verses

3 verses

96 verses

Embroidered cloth, needlework

16 verses

4 verses

Linen cloth, sheet

2 verses

7 verses

Commerce

26 verses

10 verses

363 verses

4 verses

Scribes

257 verses

4 verses

4 verses

3 verses

3 verses

Writing tablet, tablet of brass/bronze

34 verses

2 verses

1 verse

Builders

Brick mold, brickkiln

2 verses

10 verses

Plaster, stucco, whitewash

19 verses

Squared stones for building

15 verses

Stone plane, saw

3 verses

5 verses

Measuring rod, measuring line

32 verses

Barber

9 verses

Royalty

195 verses

56 verses

24 verses

Anointing horn, anointing flask

6 verses

24 verses

Blacksmith

Smelting furnace, kiln

40 verses

2 verses

2 verses

Carpenter

20 verses

6 verses

1 verse

2 verses

1 verse

1 verse

Compass, circle instrument

1 verse

88 verses

57 verses

Doctors and medicine

4 verses

Poultice, fig cake

3 verses

1 verse

4 verses

Drugged wine, myrrhed wine

1 verse

Fuller, laundryman

2 verses

Warfare32 things

57 verses

15 verses

462 verses

Sheath, scabbard

9 verses

68 verses

2 verses

10 verses

Club, war club, mace, shattering weapon

10 verses

1 verse

14 verses

Shields

32 verses

Small shield, buckler

66 verses

Leg armor, leg protectors

1 verse

Breastplate, chest protector

12 verses

Scale armor, coat of mail

5 verses

Archery

89 verses

69 verses

8 verses

165 verses

Scythe (chariot weapon)

1 verse

Wooden tower on elephant

1 verse

Standard, ensign, banner

38 verses

Barrier, barricade, roadblock

1 verse

Siege instruments

12 verses

Siege ramp, siege mound

11 verses

Firing platform, siege tower

4 verses

1 verse

1 verse

Catapult, ballista

3 verses

6 verses

1 verse

Buildings and Structures98 things

House, permanent dwelling

22 verses

20 verses

Cornerstone, keystone, capstone

12 verses

176 verses

14 verses

9 verses

3 verses

20 verses

3 verses

Threshold, doorsill

16 verses

Gate or gateway to house or building complex

54 verses

24 verses

41 verses

Parapet, retaining wall

1 verse

1 verse

Crossbeam, rafter

9 verses

77 verses

2 verses

4 verses

24 verses

Upper room, roof chamber

29 verses

1 verse

9 verses

12 verses

Bridal chamber (marriage bed)

8 verses

4 verses

41 verses

109 verses

Door of tent, dividing curtain

9 verses

Tent peg, stake

17 verses

8 verses

103 verses

Column, pillar, capital

99 verses

Boundary wall, fence

52 verses

Boundary marker

6 verses

46 verses

71 verses

21 verses

Water shaft, water tunnel, water channel, water supply

5 verses

19 verses

Grain-store, silo

18 verses

Municipal structures

Street, road, path, way, track

938 verses

Square, marketplace

60 verses

City fortifications

City wall, rampart, battlement

106 verses

Fortress, stronghold, castle, citadel, fort

123 verses

Watchtower, tower

71 verses

1 verse

281 verses

30 verses

11 verses

Armory, arsenal

4 verses

2 verses

5 verses

1 verse

Gymnasium, school

5 verses

Archives, library

5 verses

16 verses

4 verses

Temples

307 verses

Entrance room, entrance hall

42 verses

Colonnade, porch, covered walkway, stoa, portico

4 verses

Rooms for boiling meat from sacrifices, kitchens

1 verse

Treasury, strongroom

70 verses

2 verses

Curtain, veil, drape

31 verses

Additional Temple features

7 verses

Other features of the Temple treated elsewhere in this chapter

Pagan temple, idol’s temple

45 verses

Tower, ziggurat

2 verses

Tent of Meeting and Tabernacle

Tent of Meeting

18 verses

296 verses

115 verses

Holy of Holies, Most Holy Place

56 verses

Tabernacle construction

34 verses

Base, stand, socket, mortise

39 verses

Upright beam, tenon, crosspiece, rung

4 verses

4 verses

13 verses

Coverings

Linen cloth strips

15 verses

Loops and hooks

13 verses

Goat hair cloth strips

10 verses

Outer coverings for the Tabernacle

7 verses

Posts from which curtains were hung in and around the Tabernacle

84 verses

Screen, entrance curtain

17 verses

Hangings, perimeter curtain

22 verses

Band, ring, rod

18 verses

Booth, tabernacle

43 verses

67 verses

Hall, auditorium

1 verse

Judgment seat, tribunal

12 verses

Courtyard, court

141 verses

Pavement, The Pavement

13 verses

Prison and penal activity

Prison, dungeon

108 verses

7 verses

77 verses

46 verses

Shackle, fetter, manacle

19 verses

Rack and other instruments of torture

25 verses

Religion54 things

Covenant Box, Ark of the Covenant

189 verses

Mercy seat, atonement cover, atonement lid

23 verses

Winged creatures, cherubim

69 verses

Altars

126 verses

Horns of the altar

25 verses

Tabernacle altar

138 verses

9 verses

89 verses

34 verses

Furniture of the Tabernacle and Temple

Tabernacle: Washstand, basin, bowl

10 verses

Temple: Sea, tank

17 verses

Temple: Movable stand, cart, stand, base

29 verses

Lampstand, menorah

36 verses

Snuffer, wick trimmer

5 verses

Table for consecrated bread

27 verses

Consecrated bread, bread of the presence, showbread

23 verses

Tables for preparing sacrificial victims

35 verses

Tabernacle and Temple implements

10 verses

7 verses

7 verses

41 verses

Small shovel, firepan

17 verses

Large shovel, scraper

9 verses

8 verses

Incense, frankincense

161 verses

17 verses

23 verses

Jar for the wine offering, libation vessel

5 verses

High Priest’s clothing

Undergarment, breeches, shorts

6 verses

15 verses

35 verses

5 verses

44 verses

Sacred pocket, breastpiece

21 verses

Sash, cloth belt

8 verses

Forehead plate, forehead ornament

4 verses

Turban, headdress

15 verses

137 verses

Teraphim, household idol

14 verses

Graven (stone) image

57 verses

30 verses

32 verses

2 verses

Sacred pillar, sacred stone, memorial stone

35 verses

1 verse

Cult place, high place

72 verses

Burial and mourning

142 verses

Stone for closing a tomb

10 verses

1 verse

Body preparation

5 verses

3 verses

Sackcloth, mourning clothes

58 verses

77 verses

Urim and Thummim

12 verses

Household36 things

Oil lamp and wick

67 verses

13 verses

1 verse

24 verses

Bed, sleeping mat

129 verses

2 verses

Canopy, mosquito net

4 verses

Cushion, pillow

2 verses

Table for eating

84 verses

14 verses

25 verses

Millstones, mill

14 verses

17 verses

Cooking pot, kettle

43 verses

7 verses

6 verses

Wineskin, water bag

22 verses

Basin, washbasin

5 verses

4 verses

Containers, vessels

59 verses

Containers for storage

25 verses

1 verse

6 verses

Alabaster jar, alabaster flask

3 verses

Money box, treasure box

7 verses

66 verses

Closet, cabinet, cupboard

2 verses

Eating utensils

32 verses

9 verses

86 verses

7 verses

Other household items

3 verses

1 verse

Peg (on a wall)

3 verses

1 verse

Clothing21 things

Clothing (generic)

248 verses

Outer garment, cloak, mantle, robe

161 verses

Hem, corner of a garment

13 verses

8 verses

10 verses

Buckle, brooch, clasp

4 verses

44 verses

2 verses

83 verses

Waistband, sash, belt

34 verses

Headdress, turban, hat

11 verses

32 verses

1 verse

1 verse

1 verse

19 verses

40 verses

6 verses

Wristband, magic charm

2 verses

Widow’s clothing

5 verses

Cloth for wrapping a baby

5 verses

Music13 things

Musical instruments (generic)

16 verses

Stringed instruments

Nevel, large lyre, guitar, harp

40 verses

Kinor, small lyre, lute

49 verses

Wind instruments

Horn, ram’s horn

80 verses

69 verses

22 verses

Bagpipe (kettledrum, large drum)

3 verses

Percussion instruments

1 verse

20 verses

1 verse

1 verse

Wooden clappers

1 verse

Drum, hand drum, frame drum

20 verses

Transportation15 things

128 verses

Basket, small boat

2 verses

4 verses

31 verses

3 verses

3 verses

4 verses

3 verses

Steering oar, rudder

3 verses

1 verse

1 verse

3 verses

27 verses

28 verses

Saddle, saddle cloth

15 verses

Food and Drink14 things

268 verses

48 verses

2 verses

10 verses

Strong drink, beer

24 verses

203 verses

376 verses

15 verses

70 verses

8 verses

Unleavened bread

57 verses

Blocks of pressed dried fruit

11 verses

11 verses

10 verses

Personal12 things

Bag, sack, money bag, purse

45 verses

Seal, signet ring, ring

71 verses

Handkerchief, cloth

4 verses

2 verses

Jewelry, ornaments

34 verses

Earring, nose ring

18 verses

Bracelet, armlet, anklet

11 verses

Hair decoration, tiara, ribbon

2 verses

Necklace, chain, cord

17 verses

Cosmetics

19 verses

29 verses

5 verses

Weights, Measures, and Money49 things

Introduction

Symbolic numbers

Weights

5 verses

2 verses

1 verse

2 verses

2 verses

Units that are both weights and monetary values

56 verses

17 verses

64 verses

Measures of volume

Measures of volume in the Old Testament

1 verse

6 verses

29 verses

7 verses

6 verses

6 verses

5 verses

19 verses

8 verses

1 verse

2 verses

Measures of volume in the New Testament and the Deuterocanon

2 verses

3 verses

1 verse

3 verses

1 verse

Measures of length

Measures of length in the Old Testament

1 verse

8 verses

5 verses

134 verses

1 verse

10 verses

Measures of length in the New Testament and the Deuterocanon

10 verses

1 verse

Stadium, furlong

12 verses

Sabbath day’s journey

1 verse

1 verse

1 verse

3 verses

Measure of area

2 verses

Money

3 verses

Greek coins

2 verses

2 verses

3 verses

Adarkon, darkmon

6 verses

15 verses

7 verses

1 verse

1 verse

Sources

Plants and Trees in the Bible, Animals in the Bible and Human-made Things in the Bible © United Bible Societies, 2025 (adapted from Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible by Robert Koops, All Creatures Great and Small: Living Things in the Bible by Edward R. Hope, and The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible by Ray Pritz), CC BY-SA 4.0; adapted for eRhema