אֶרֶז erez (H730) means “cedar” and refers to the tree or the wood of the cedar tree. אֶרֶז erez comes from the root which means “to be firm or strong”. אֶרֶז erez “refers to the true cedar, Cedrus libani, but the name may have been applied in a loose way to allied trees, such as junipers and pines.” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
Cedrus libani (lit. the “the cedar of Lebanon” or “Lebanon cedar”), is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae, native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. It is a large evergreen conifer that can reach 40 meters (130 feet) in height, with a massive monopodial columnar trunk up to 2.5 meters (8 feet 2 inches) in diameter. The Cedrus libani has great religious and historical significance in the cultures of the Middle East, and is referenced many times in the literature of ancient civilizations. It is the national emblem of Lebanon and is widely used as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. (Wikipedia)
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