KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

An aromatic wood.
Revelation 18:12

Mentioned only in Revelation 18:12 among the articles which would cease to be purchased when Babylon fell. It was called citrus, citron wood, by the Romans. It was the Callitris quadrivalvis of botanists, of the cone-bearing order of trees, and of the cypress tribe of this order. The name of this wood is derived from the Greek word thuein, "to sacrifice," and it was so called because it was burnt in sacrifices, on account of its fragrance. The wood of this tree was reckoned very valuable, and was used for making articles of furniture by the Greeks and Romans. Like the cedars of Lebanon, it is disappearing from the forests of Palestine.

occurs in (Revelation 18:12) where the margin has "sweet" (wood). There can be little doubt that the wood here spoken of is that of the Thuya articulata , Desfont the Callitris quadrivalvis of present botanists. It is a cone bearing tree and allied to the pine. This tree was much prized by Greeks and Romans on account of the beauty of its wood for various ornamental purposes. By the Romans the tree was called citrus , the wood citrum . It is a native of Barbary, and grows to the height of 15 to 25 feet.

THYINE WOOD, a precious wood, mentioned in Revelation 18:10.

THYME, noun usually pronounced improperly time. [Latin thymus.]

A plant of the genus Thymus. The garden thyme is a warm pungent aromatic, much used to give a relish to seasonings and soups.

Thymus. [Gr.] In anatomy, a glandular body, divided into lobes, situated behind the sternum in the duplicature of the mediastinum. It is largest in the fetus, diminishes after birth, and in adults often entirely disappears. It has no excretory duct, and its use is unknown. In calves it is called sweetbread.