broom tree

A number of scholars identify rothem as the White Broom Retama raetam, a tough desert shrub found in the Holy Land and Arabia. Earlier, Moldenke (Plants of the Bible. Chronica Botanica. Ronald Press, 1952) contended that rothem refers to a parasitic plant called dog’s club. In the story of Elijah’s flight from Jezebel, the mention of the broom tree in 1 Kings 19:4 provides detail to the image of desolation brought to mind by the word “wilderness” earlier in the verse. The references to rothem in Psalm 120:4 (“. . . with glowing coals of the broom tree”) and Job 30:4 (“. . . and to warm themselves the roots of the broom”) have led scholars to conclude that it is indeed the broom shrub, since it makes a very hot fire, due to the oil in the stems and leaves. The place name Rithmah (“place of rothem”) referred to in Numbers 33:18f. may also refer to the broom. The white broom is found on hills, rocky places, ravines and sandy places throughout the Holy Land, especially near the Dead Sea, in Gilead, on Mount Carmel, in the Syrian desert, and on the Phoenician coast.

The white broom, which is more of a large bush than a shrub, can reach a height of 2 meters (7 feet). It has many small branches, few leaves, and clusters of white flowers that make the shrub a beautiful sight on a hillside.

In 1 Kings 19:4 the New Jerusalem Bible renders rothem as “furze bush,” also known as “gorse,” in an attempt to use a name known to English gardeners, but neither “gorse” nor “furze” are familiar to botanically ignorant city-dwellers of the twenty-first century. Hence, some modern versions use a generic term in 1 Kings, such as “large bush” (Contemporary English Version), “tree” (Good News Bible, and “bush” (New Century Version). In areas where plants are still known by species names, translators can select a shrub that grows in dry, barren areas (assuming it is big enough to offer shade), or transliterate from the Hebrew (rothem) or a major language (for example, retem in Arabic). Otherwise, they can use “small tree” or “shrub.”

In Psalm 120:4 a local kind of wood that produces a very hot fire could be used, since the text is rhetorical, and needs an image of something very hot.

The reference to broom in Job 30:4 poses major textual and exegetical problems, which explains the variety of renderings in modern Bibles. NRSVue reads “they pick mallow and the leaves of bushes, and to warm themselves the roots of the broom.” Good News Bible and the New International Version have these poor folk eating the roots of the broom tree. However, reliable sources tell us that the root of the broom tree is poisonous. That is why Moldenke suggested that it must be another plant, namely the parasite Dog’s Club Cynomorium coccineum, which grows up out of the roots of the broom tree. However, there is good evidence that the writer intended to say the roots were “burned” (as in NRSVue), not “eaten” (as in Good News Bible and New International Version).

Broom bush, Wikimedia Commons

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

In the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) it is translated as “mopane tree .” These trees grow in Southern African countries. They can grow up to 18 meters high and their leaves have a butterfly shape. They’re good for firewood and timber as they are in the category of hardwood trees because they can live for up to 100 years. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

complete verse (Job 30:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 30:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “They cut down trees in the wilderness and ate (them),
    they even ate the roots.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “To eat, they take salty tasting medicinal herbs from [among] the weeds
    and their food was the roots of broom trees.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They pull-out and eat the plants in the desolate-place, even the tasteless root of enebro tree.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Elihu was younger than the others, so he waited until they had finished speaking before he replied to Job.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Job 30:4

This verse continues the description of the miserable existence of these crude and inferior persons. Here attention is given to what they eat.

They pick mallow and the leaves of bushes: Good News Translation has rendered mallow and leaves of bushes as “plants of the desert.” It is difficult to be more specific about the identity of the one called mallow, since this is the only mention of it. It may also occur in 24.24, where Revised Standard Version has also translated mallow. Most translations which mention a specific plant here identify it, as in New American Bible and New English Bible, with “saltwort,” a plant with thick, sour leaves. Pope says of this plant that its foliage “is edible but has a sour taste and would be eaten only in dire extremity.” Revised Standard Version translates and the leaves of by adding one letter to the Hebrew of this line. A generic term translated bushes is found also in verse 7, and in Genesis 2.5, where Good News Translation translates “plants,” and in Genesis 21.15, where Good News Translation has “bush.” It is best not to attempt to be more specific than Good News Translation in identifying these plants.

And to warm themselves the roots of the broom: Revised Standard Version understands that they kept warm by burning the roots of the broom tree. Good News Translation, New English Bible, Dhorme, Habel, and many others understand that they ate these roots. The Hebrew has “the root of the broom tree is their food.” Revised Standard Version and Pope interpret the words “their food” to mean “to warm oneself.” The word is used in this way in Isaiah 47.14. Pope says the broom roots make good charcoal, and this is attested in Psalm 120.4, “A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree.” This small tree has long slender branches, small leaves, and produces a yellow flower. Translators will often be required to substitute a local bush or small tree whose roots can be eaten if someone is starving. If the roots of the broom are not edible, as Pope says, this may be even more reason for Job to say that these miserable people are reduced to eating them. It is not likely that Job is congratulating them for keeping warm through the cold desert night. It seems preferable, therefore, to translate as Good News Translation and others.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .