Color The Bible: Bible Botanical

Showing posts with label Bible Botanical. Show all posts

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Color Cypress

Cypress. With separate staminate catkin. Click
on the image to download the largest file.

Description of the Botanical Coloring Page: Cypress translation of the Hebrew word tirzah (Isaiah 44: 14), rendered by the revisers holm-tree (Quercus ilex). In other places the revisers have introduced cypress into the margin as the translation of berosh, usually rendered "fir" [q.v.] There seems no ground for introducing the holm-oak into the text in Isaiah. The cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is a common tree in the uplands of the Middle East, producing a compact and very durable wood. A variety of the same species (with the conical appearance of the Irish yew) is planted everywhere in Eastern cemeteries.

Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Friday, February 4, 2022

Color the Spiny Rest-Harrow Plant

Spiny Rest-Harrow. With separate flower and fruit. Click on the image to
download the largest file.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Three species of lycium, shrubs covered with spines, occur in Palestine, and are used for hedges. Several species of rest-harrow (Ononis), some of them spiny like O. pinosa, occur in Palestine. Hasselquist found one, which he referred to this species, covering whole fields there.

Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg. into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Color Christ's Thorn Plant

Christ's Thorn, branch in flower and a separate
flower; branch in fruit - the fruit has a broad thin
brim. Click on image to download the largest file size.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Bramble, Brier, Thistle, Thorn, are represented by nine Hebrew words in the Old Testament, and three Greek words in the NewTestament. Some of these may refer to particular plants ; but they seem rather to be general terms applied to plants that may have no connection with each other, except that they all bear spines. Such plants form a considerable portion of the flora of Palestine. The most frequent of them is a knapweed with great spines proceeding from the involucre of the flower (Centaurea calcitrapa). Another is the Christ's thorn, so called because it is traditionally said to have supplied the materials of the crown of thorns (Pliurau aculeatus), a straggling shrub with prickles at the base of the leaves, common everywhere, and much used for hedges. Two other spiny plants are found in the lower end of the Jordan valley, Solanum Sodomoeum, whose leaves and stems are covered with sliarp prickles, and the most formidable of all, Zisyphus spina Christi. Thisproduces a roundish edible fruit, which has given to it the name of jujube tree. Three species of lycium, shrubs covered with spines, occur in Palestine, and are used for hedges. Several species of rest-harrow (Ononis), some of them spiny like O. pinosa, occur in Palestine. Hasselquist found one, which he referred to this species, covering whole fields there.

Color the Jujube Tree

Jujube Tree, with separate flower and fruits. Click on image to
download the largest size.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Zizyphus sipna Christi, produces a roundish edible fruit, which has given to it the name of Jujube tree.

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Color a Cluster of Figs

With a fruit cut down the center to show the
small flowers in the cavity. Click on the image
to download the largest file.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Fig is frequently mentioned in Scripture. The fig (Ficus carica) is indigenous to the Middle East; several varieties of the wild fig occur, as well as of those under cultivation. The so-called fruit is a hollow, fleshy receptacle, at first containing a great number of minute flowers lining its cavity, which later produce the true fruits (''seeds "). These figs appear in February before the leaves, which do not cover the tree until a month or six weeks later. When the leaves are fully out, the fruits should be ripe (Matthew 21: 19). Several Hebrew words are used for "figs" teenah (Genesis 3: 7) is the name of the tree; pag (Song of Solomon 2: 13) is the unripened autumn fruit which remains on the tree through the winter (Bethphage, the village near Bethanv, is the "house of green figs'"); bikkurah (Hosea 9: 10) is the first ripe fig; and debelah (1. Samuel 25:18) is the dried figs made into cakes, a staple food in Palestine. There are two species of figs found in the Holy Land, the common fig and the sycomore [q.v.].

Color Flax

With separate flower cut down the centre, the two rows of
unequal stamens, the fruit, and a seed. Click on the image to
download the largest file size.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Flax is the earliest material known to have been manufactured for clothing purposes. The mummies of Egypt were always wrapped up in linen; and in the sculptures on Egyptian temples the cultivation of flax, and the processes of preparation, spinning, and weaving linen are represented. Linen was used for the curtains and hangings of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26), and for the ephod, breastplate, coat, breeches, girdle, bonnet, and mitre of the high-priest (Exodus. 27-29). The body of the Lord was wrapped in linen cloths before being laid in the grave (John 19. 40, and 20: 5, 7). Flax is an annual plant, which has a quantity of fine, tough fibers in its stem. It is still cultivated in the Middle East, and the species used for making linen may be found as an escape from cultivation growing on hillsides. It ripened earlier than the wheat, and suffered with the barley in the plague of hail, for it was full-grown, and the flowers were open (Exodus 9. 31).

Color the Mandrake Plant

Mandrake. With separate fruit, and root.
Click directly on the image to download
largest size.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Mandrake occurs in two passages in the Bible (Genesis 30:14; Song of Solomon 7: 13), in connection with its imaginary virtues in love incantations, for which it has been long and widely famous. The mandrake is a stemless plant, with a large and branching root, dark-green leaves, and a yellow fruit about the size of a large plum. Its affinities are with the potato and nightshade. The root, somewhat manipulated, may be made to look a little like the human figure. The revisers have in the margin of Genesis 30: 14 suggested "love-apple," but this is only applied to the tomato, an American plant. The mandrake is common throughout Palestine, especially in deserted fields.

Color a Melon from The Bible Lands

Click directly on the image to
download the largest size

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Melons were lusted after by the Israelites in the wilderness, with other articles of food which they had in Egvpt (Numbers 11: 5). Melons were early cultivated in Egypt. The water-melon, on account of its abundant refreshing juice, was a great favorite there, as it is to-day in most countries that have a hot dry summer. The common melon was also cultivated and supplied a certain amount of food, with a sweeter though less abundant juice. The Hebrew word is abattechem, and this is still retained by the Arabs, who call both melons batteekh.

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Color the Gall Oak

Gall Oak. With figure of the fly that causes the gall. Click directly on the
image to download the largest file

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: The Gall Oak (Quercus infectoria) is found on the hills and mountains in the north of Palestine. It is a small tree, well known for the galls it bears. These are produced by a small fly (cynips), which lays its eggs in the bark of the tender branches. The galls were largely used in the manufacture of ink in ancient times. The second word el, translated "oak" refers, when it means a tree (as in Isaiah 1:29), to the teil tree [q.v.].

Monday, January 31, 2022

Color Mustard that Grows In The Bible Lands

Mustard. With a separate fruit, a fruit in
section, and a seed. Click on image to
download largest size.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Mustard is mentioned only in a parable of the Lord (Mat. 13. 31, 32), where the largeness of the plant grown from the very small seed is used as an illustration of the increase of the kingdom of heaven. It is, no doubt, the annual herb from which is obtained the mustard used as a condiment. This grows in Palestine, and attains a greater height in the East than in more temperate countries. It has been suggested that the small tree Salvadora persica which has a pungent fruit, might be the mustard of Scripture, and it has consequently received the name of "mustard-tree." This tree is found in Palestine only around the Dead Sea, being a native of regions farther east. The common mustard meets all the requirements of the text, while the mustard-tree could not be spoken of as "the greatest among herbs."

The Mustard Tree

Mustard Plant by Busca da Verdade

Color Millet from The Bible Lands

Millet with separate grain, staminate, and
pistillate flowers. Click on image to
download the largest version.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Millet, a name for several small-seeded cereals, which supply a large amount of food in tropical and sub-tropical countries. With wheat, barley, beans, lentils, and spelt, it formed the bread which Ezekiel was ordered to make (Ezekiel 4:9). The species most frequently cultivated is Panicum miliaceum, but the name is given to other species of Panicum. Indian millet belongs to another genus, being Sorghum vulgare.

Color Frankincense

Frankincense Tree. With separate flower and
fruit, and section of a fruit. Click to enlarge
and download file.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: Frankincense is one of the ingredients of the holy oil for anointing priests at their consecration (Exodus 30: 34). It was to be added to the meat offering, and to be burnt on the altar as an offering of sweet savor (Leviticus 2: 2). The tree producing this odoriferous gum-resin was not a native of Palestine. The dromedaries of Midian, Ephah, and Sheba (Jeremiah 6: 20) brought it to the Jews, so that it appears to have come from Arabia. There can be no doubt that it was ontained from trees named Boswellia, which grow in Arabia and in Somali-land --the part of Africa opposite to Arabia. The trees have compound, glossy leaves, and numerous small white, starlike flowers.

Color the Almond Plant

Flower and fruit, and a single fruit with
half the fleshy covering removed to show
the stone which contains the kernel.
Click on the image to download largest file.

Description of the Botanical Coloring Page: The common almond (Amyridalus communis), indigenous in the Mediterranean region, and cultivated in sub-tropical countries, is well known from the early appearance of its flowers, as if they were waiting for the milder weather to open their buds. The leafless branches covered with beautiful pink flowers are among the first harbingers of spring. The Hebrew name shaked, meaning to hasten or watch, is given to the tree on this account. There is a play on the meaning of the word in Jeremiah. 1:11, 12. In answerto God's question, the prophet says, "I see a rod of an almond tree [shaked]; "and the Lord said, "Thou hast well seen, for I watch [shaked] over my word to perform it." The almond grows wild on he higher lands of Palestine, blossoming in January. Many varieties are cultivated - the chief being the bitter and the sweet almond. There are frequent references to this tree in the Bible. Jacob sent almonds as part of his gift to Joseph (Gen. 43. 11). The bowls of the golden candlestick were designed from the flower (Exodus 35: 33-35). When the Israelites rose against Moses and Aaron, the Lord manifested his choice of Aaron by causing his rod miraculously to bear buds and blossoms and fruits before the morning. In nature it is first the bud, then the flower, and afterwards the fruit, and here the miraculous is evident not only in the dry rod showing life, but in the three stages being present at the same time. The rod was preserved as a token against the rebels (Numbers 17). The figurative description of the old man in Ecclesiastes (ch. 12) takes one of its metaphors from this tree. The hoary locks of age suggest the whitish blossom of the almond clothing the leafless branches.

Color the Reeds That Grow in The Bible Lands

With separate spikelet and flower.
Click to download the largest file.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: A Reed, The usual translation of kaneh, a plant which grew in the water in such abundance, and to such a height, that the hippopotamus could conceal itself amongst it (Job 40. 21). The stem was long and straight, and was consequently used for many purposes; and the name was transferred to the objects made of it, as to a cane (this word being derived from the Hebrew kaneh, a measuring rod (Ezekiel 40: 3), a beam of the balance. The plant is, with little doubt, Arundo donax - a tall grass that usually grows in or near water. The ancients made the shafts of their arrows of this grass, and used it also for flutes and pipes. The kalamos. or reed, of the New Testament is the same plant. Reeds (Heb. agham) in Jer. 51:32, rendered "marshes" in the margin of R.V., no doubt refers to the tall marsh plants or reeds that afforded protection to the defenders of the fords.

Color The Pomegranate

Pomegranate. With a separate
fruit, and one in section. Click
to download the largest file.

Description of the Botanical Coloring Page: The pomegranate is one of the favorite fruits of Egypt, and a witness of the goodness of the land to which the Jews were journeying (Deuteronomy 8: 8). It was, and continues to be, extensively cultivated in Palestine. It is a small tree from fifteen to twenty-five feet high, with oblong leaves, scarlet flowers, and round fruit the size of a large apple. A hard rind of a yellowish color encloses the numerous seeds, which are attached to a white membrane that is extremely bitter. Kach seed is enclosed in a cool, delicious, red pulp, which makes the pomegranate a highly-valued fruit in hot countries. The hem of the high -priest's robe was ornamented with figures of pomegranates, executed in blue, purple and scarlet, and alternating with golden bells (Exodus 28: 33, 34). The pomegranate was employed for the decorative carving on the capitals of the columns of the porch of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7: 18). Rimmon, the Hebrew word for "pomegranate," is found in the names of several places in Palestine.

Color the Fruit and Branches of The Olive Tree

The wild olive (Rom. 11. 17) yields but a
small and inferior fruit. It is often used as
a stock on which to engraft the better
kinds. Click directly on the image to
download the largest file.

Description of Botanical Coloring Page: The olive frequently mentioned in Scripture, is Still extensively cultivated in Palestine because of its valuable fruit. The olive is a small tree, seldom being more than twenty feet high. It has oblong smooth leaves, which are whitish underneath, and small white flowers, and a pulpy fruit containing a hard stone. The valuable oil is expressed from the fruit. The tree is very slow in growth, and the wood is finely grained, of a rich amber color, beautifully clouded and veined. The two golden cherubim on the ark of the covenant in the Temple (1 Kings 6. 2.S), the doors of the oracle (ver. 31) and the doorposts of the Temple were made of it (ver. 33).

Color Abraham's Oak

Branch of "Abraham's Oak." Click
directly on the image to download the
largest file.

Description of The Botanical Coloring Page: The famous oak at Mamre, near Hebron, called "Abraham's Oak," which occupies, according to tradition, the site of the oak under which Abraham pitched his tent on his return from Egypt, and where he received the heavenly visitors (Gen. 13: 18; 14. 13; 18. 1), belongs to the species Quercus pseudo-coc-cifera. This was until lately a vigorous tree, with wide-spreading branches, "but now little is left save the three dead trunks. (1896)