Mighty Oak/Mega Dendron
Suddenly Absalom met some of David’s men. Absalom was riding a mule, and as it went under a large oak tree, Absalom’s head got caught in the branches. The mule ran on and Absalom was left hanging in midair. One of David’s men saw him and reported to Joab, “Sir, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
(2 Samuel 18:9-10) GNT
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
(2 Samuel 19:9-10) KJV
Sabacc Ala Gandalf
While there is no direct Greek equivalent for “sobek,” the concept of thickets or entanglement can be related to Greek words like “πλέγμα” (plegma), meaning “a woven thing” or “entanglement.”
While there is no direct Greek equivalent for “elah,” the concept of strong trees can be related to Greek words like “δένδρον” (dendron), meaning tree, or “δρῦς” (drys), specifically referring to an oak.
The Hebrew word “gadol” is an adjective used to describe something of significant size, importance, or power. It is often used to denote greatness in terms of physical size, age, rank, or moral and spiritual stature. In the context of the Bible, “gadol” can refer to the greatness of God, the importance of a person or event, or the magnitude of a particular object or concept.
In ancient Hebrew culture, greatness was often associated with physical size, wealth, and social status. However, the biblical use of “gadol” extends beyond mere physical attributes to encompass moral and spiritual dimensions. The concept of greatness in the Bible is frequently tied to God’s character and His mighty acts, as well as the faithfulness and righteousness of His people.