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# tamarisk

noun (a tamarisk, tamarisks)

«tamarisk» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A tamarisk is a shrub or small tree with feathery leaves and small pink or white flowers that grows well in dry, salty places such as seasides and deserts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/#m1)

### In the lessons

In geography and science, tamarisks grow in deserts, by salt lakes and on coasts; their long roots find water deep underground. In the Bible, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba. In some places, such as parts of the USA and Australia, tamarisk is a weed that spreads and drinks river water.

### Examples

- A tamarisk grew by the seaside path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/#x1)
- Tamarisks can live in salty sand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/#x2)
- The tamarisk's pink flowers look like feathers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/#x3)
- Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/#x4)
- The camel rested in the shade of a tamarisk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/#x5)
- Farmers in Australia try to stop the tamarisk spreading. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/#x6)

### Note

Countable: tamarisks. Pronounced TAM-a-risk.

## In Jewish tradition

A tamarisk is a hardy tree of dry lands. Abraham plants one at Beer-sheba and calls on God there, as a sign of settling and worshipping in the land. Saul's bones were buried under a tamarisk at Jabesh, and Jeremiah uses the lonely tamarisk of the wilderness as a picture of a person with no help or trust in God.

**Interpretation.** Tradition says the tree was planted to serve travelers as a place of hospitality, where Abraham welcomed guests and taught them to bless God. The prophet's picture of the tamarisk in a salt land is read as a warning about trusting in people instead of God.

### Examples

- And Abraham planted a tamarisk-tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. (Torah GEN.21.33, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tamarisk/#x1)
- Flee, save your lives, and be like a tamarisk in the wilderness. (Prophets JER.48.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tamarisk/#x2)
- And they took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (Prophets 1SA.31.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tamarisk/#x3)
- For he shall be like a tamarisk in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. (Prophets JER.17.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tamarisk/#x4)

### Note

Countable: tamarisks. Pronounced TAM-a-risk.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «tamarisk» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamarisk/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tamarisk» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tamarisk.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «tamarisk» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tamarisk/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tamarisk» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/tamarisk.html) on Mova free.