BULRUSH (Jewish Encyclopedia)

From BibleWiki

A rush or reed. The term "bulrush" in the Bible occurs once as a translation for "agmon" (Isa 58:5) and twice for "gome" (Ex 2:3; Isa 18:15). Both of these words occur elsewhere in the Bible, where they are translated "rush." Both in Hebrew and in English the words "bulrush"and "rush" seem to be used interchangeably. According to Isa 58:5, bulrushes grew quite high and had a large flower that, because of its weight, drooped over. The plant was peculiar to swampy places (Isa 35:7; Job 8:11). By this description any one of the water-rushes might be meant, but the Typha elephantina comes nearest to it. The ancients put bulrushes to various uses. They made boxes (Ex 2:3) and even boats of them (Isa 18:2). The bulrush was naturally used as fuel (Job 41:12); and it would appear that it was used as a piercing-tool (Job 40:26). See Reed.