Rush

Rush - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

The papyrus (Job 8:11). (See [542]BULRUSH.) The expression "branch and rush" in Isa. 9:14; 19:15 means "utterly."

Rush - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

RUSH, n. [Heb. usually rendered sea-weed, and applied to the Arabic gulf, Deu 1:1 Num 21:14. This correspondence deserves notice, as illustrating certain passages in the Scriptures.]

1. A plant of the genus Juncus of many species. The pith of the rush is used in some places for wicks to lamps and rush lights.

2. Any thing proverbially worthless or of trivial value.

John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.

RUSH, v.i.

1. To move or drive forward with impetuosity, violence and tumultuous rapidity; as, armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice; winds rush through the forest. We ought never to rush into company, much less into a religious assembly.

2. To enter with undue eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation; as, to rush into business or speculation; to rush into the ministry.

RUSH, v.t. To push forward with violence. [Not used.]

RUSH, n. A driving forward with eagerness and haste; a violent motion or course; as a rush of troops; a rush of winds.

(1) (gome'; papuros, "bulrushes," margin "papyrus" (Ex 2:3); "rush," margin "papyrus" (Job 8:11); "papyrus," the King James Version "rush" (Isa 18:2); "rushes" (Isa 35:7)): This is almost certainly the famous papyrus, Cyperus papyrus (Natural Order, Cyperaceae), known in Arabic as babir (whence comes our word "paper"). This plant, the finest of the sedges, flourishes plentifully in Upper Egypt; in Palestine there is a great mass of it growing in the marsh to the North of Lake Huleh, and it also occurs on the Lake of Galilee and the Jordan. Light boats of plaited papyrus have been used on the Nile from ancient times and are mentioned by many writers (compare Ex 2:3; Isa 18:2).

(2) ('aghmon, "rope," margin "Hebrew `a rope of rushes,' " the King James Version "hook" (Job 41:2): "(burning) rushes," the King James Version "caldron" (Job 41:20); "rush," the King James Version "bulrush" (Isa 58:5); "rush" in Isa 9:14; 19:15, used of the humble and lowly folk as contrasted with the "palm branch," the highest class): The word 'aghmon comes from 'agham, meaning a marsh (see POOL), being transferred from the place of the things growing there. The word doubtless includes not only the rushes--of which there are several kinds in Palestine--but also members of the sedge family, the Cyperaceae.

See also REED.

E. W. G. Masterman