Original Word: בֻּרוֹת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: browth
Pronunciation: beh-roth'
Phonetic Spelling: (ber-oth')
KJV: fir
NASB: cypresses
Word Origin: [a variation of H1265 (בְּרוֹשׁ - cypress)]

1. the cypress (or some elastic tree)

fir

A variation of browsh; the cypress (or some elastic tree) -- fir.

see HEBREW browsh

Word Origin
an Aramaic form of berosh
Definition
cypress or fir
NASB Translation
cypresses (1).

[בְּרוֺת] noun masculine id. (Aramaic (probably North-Palestinian) form of same) only plural בְּרוֺתִים "" אֲרָזִים Songs 1:17; reference to arbour of trees as their home, compare אֶרֶז.

Occurrence and Translation

בֻּרוֹת (bru·rōṯ, “cypresses/firs”) appears once in the Hebrew Bible, Song of Songs 1:17, where the Berean Standard Bible reads: “The beams of our house are cedars, our rafters are cypresses.”

Natural History

The term points to the evergreen conifers that flourished in the higher elevations of Lebanon and Carmel. Whether rendered “cypresses” or “firs,” the trees share three traits prized in the biblical world: straight trunks, tight grain, and a fragrant resin that resists rot and insects. Their wood was lighter than cedar yet still strong, making it ideal for interior paneling, doorposts, ceilings, and decorative latticework.

Architectural Use in the Ancient Near East

Archaeology confirms extensive employment of coniferous beams in royal and cultic buildings from Phoenicia to Mesopotamia. In Israel the same species provided finishing work for palaces (1 Kings 7:2-3) and, significantly, for the Temple (1 Kings 5:8-10). Song of Songs 1:17 therefore alludes to an upscale house whose frame is cedar and whose interior rafters are lined with costly cypress—materials that speak of stability, fragrance, and beauty.

Symbolism in Scripture

1. Durability and Protection. Cypress timber’s resistance to decay images the enduring security Yahweh provides for His covenant people (compare “everlasting arms” in Deuteronomy 33:27).
2. Fragrance and Delight. The pleasant aroma evokes worship that rises acceptably to God (Philippians 4:18) and the sweet fellowship shared by the Bride and Bridegroom.
3. Elevation of Heart. The tall, upright growth habit mirrors spiritual integrity: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (Psalm 92:12). By extension, the cypress-lined rafters invite believers to lift their gaze from earthly foundations to heavenly realities (Colossians 3:1-2).

Christological and Ecclesiological Layers

Early Christian writers linked Song of Songs 1:17 to the communion between Christ and His Church. The cedar beams stand for the strength of the Bridegroom’s redemptive work; the cypress rafters for the ongoing sanctifying grace that fills the household of faith with life and fragrance (Ephesians 5:25-27). The single occurrence of בֻּרוֹת subtly reinforces that this beauty flows from one unique source—Christ Himself.

Devotional and Pastoral Implications

• Worship Settings: Like cedar and cypress, corporate gatherings should combine strength (sound doctrine) with fragrance (Spirit-empowered love).
• Marriage Counseling: The verse encourages couples to cultivate homes built not merely with durable “beams” (material provision) but also with aromatic “rafters” (spiritual intimacy and joy).
• Leadership: Pastors are reminded to furnish the “household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15) with teaching that preserves (cedar) and with encouragement that refreshes (cypress).

In its lone biblical appearance, בֻּרוֹת opens a window onto the physical elegance of ancient architecture and, more profoundly, onto the spiritual beauty and permanence of the dwelling God prepares for those who love Him.

בְּרוֹתִֽים׃ ברותים׃ bə·rō·w·ṯîm beroTim bərōwṯîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts