A small tree or shrub with white flowers and oval leaves that are green on top and white underneath.
About Styrax
The livneh tree mentioned along with the oak (’allon) and the terebinth (’elah) in Hosea’s account of Israel’s idolatry has traditionally been identified as the poplar, on the basis of its occurrence in GEN 30:37. However, as Zohary observes, it is likely that the Hebrew word livneh actually refers to two different white trees and should be translated according to the context. In Hosea the geographical context is the oak and terebinth forests of the Judean hills. Here livneh most likely refers to the Styrax Styrax officinalis, whereas the same word livneh in GEN 30:37 (Jacob’s goat-breeding scheme) probably refers to the White Poplar Populus alba (see Poplar).
Key References
They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
All Scripture References (1)
Hosea (1)
They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.