CHESTNUTTREE

CHESTNUT TREE (Hebrews ’armon; i.e., “naked”), mentioned in connection with Jacob’s artifice regarding the cattle (Genesis 30=>37). It is one of the trees of which, because of its strength and beauty, the Assyrian empire is likened (Ezekiel 31=>8; R.V., “plane trees”). It is probably the Oriental plane tree (Platanus orientalis) that is intended. It is a characteristic of this tree that it annually sheds its outer bark, becomes “naked.” The chestnut tree proper is not a native of Palestine.