A musical canon or round, such as "Row, row, row your boat" originated about the 13th century and there is uncertainty as to the origin of that name. The first known printing of the lyrics was in 1852.

A Biblical "canon" is a group of texts (books) that are regarded as authentic scripture.

Some people believe that a canon is closed while others may believe that it can be changed based on new information, thought, etc. We will focus here on the etymology and use of related words and provide some interesting examples.

The English word "canon" is from the Middle English word "canoun" ≈ "canon" which is from the Latin word "canon" ≈ "measuring line, precept, rule" which is from the ancient Greek word "κανών" ≈ "rod, pole, bar, standard".

As such, the Greek word could refer to a "rule".

Another measuring standard in Bible times was the "cubit".

More: A cubit discussion at arms length

The Greek word often translated as the Latin "stature" meant a measurement of "age" and not "height".

More: Luke 19: A short discussion on stature

The German word "Regel" ≈ "rule" is from the Latin word "regulam" ≈ "rule" which could refer to a "nobleman". Historically, the Germanic hard "g" in the middle of a word became a "y" sound. Thus, "Regel" goes to "reyel" goes to "rule".

The hard "g" is in words such as "regulation", "regular", etc.

More: Germanic g to English y

In mathematics and computer science, a "canonical" or "normal" or "standard" form is (usually) the simplest representation of the equation, object, etc.

For example, the integer expression "100 + 50 + 6" is usually represented in the canonical or normal form of "156".

For example, the Boolean expression "a or true" is usually represented in the canonical or normal form of "a".

Likewise, the Boolean expression "a and false" is usually represented in the canonical or normal form of "a".

A "cannon" is linguistically related but not the same thing as a "cannon" which is an artillery weapon and comes from the Latin word "canna" ≈ "reed" which comes from the ancient Greek word "κάννα" ≈ "reed".

The "cannon" as an artillery weapon comes from the idea of a "tube" or "reed".

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An apparently related word is the Hebrew word "קנה" (qane) ≈ "reed".

You might recognize the Hebrew word "qane" for "reed" as similar to the town name of "Cana" in Galilee from John 2.


Weddings were often on Tuesday, the day of "double blessing" from Genesis. There were no statements of "blessing" on Monday.

More: Genesis 1: Wedding your appetite on an observant Tuesday from a blah Monday

The Hebrew word is related to the ancient Greek word "καλάμη" ≈ "reed, staff, rod" and was as a measuring instrument had a connotation of measurement. The word is related to the following words.

• The Middle English word "healm" ≈ "stalk, straw".
• The Old English word "helm" ≈ "stalk, straw".
• The Latin word "culmus" ≈ "stalk, straw".
• The Russian word "солома" (saloma) ≈ "straw".

Note: Linguistically, the hard "c" or "k" sometimes goes to a hard "ch" or "kh" sound and then softens to a softer "h" sound. Sometimes, as in Spanish, the "h" disappears.

The Greek word for "reed" as in "scepter" is used right before the crucifixion .

More: Matthew 13: A pointed discussion of thorny riches

More: An unworldly thorny issue that is for the pigeon birds

The Greek word for "reed" is used at the crucifixion.

The Greek word for "sponge" is the source of the English word "sponge".

The Greek word for "reed" is used as a "pen" in 3 John.

The English word "pen" as a writing instrument comes from the Latin word "penna" ≈ "feather".

The ancient Greek word "μέλας" ≈ "dark, black" and is the source of the English word "melanoma".

The modern Greek word "μελανός" (meh-la-NOS) ≈ "black, dark".

When used with the Greek "pen" or "reed" and writing, it is considered "ink".

In ancient and until about a hundred years ago, a pen was a tube as in a quill from a feather of a bird. The quill dipped into Ink would fill slightly which could then be used to write on parchment or paper.

In the 1700's and into the 20th century, any educated person would almost always carry a knife - a "pen knife".

The Greek word for "reed" is used in Revelation as a way to measure.


The measuring standard is a "golden" reed rather than a "platinum" ruler.

In English, a measuring "ruler" is often considered to be a "foot ruler". Otherwise clarification is needed. Another measuring term is "yardstick".

We see the older usage as "reeds" in Job in the LXX (Septuagint), in the context of "behemoth" who fits a description of a dragon or dinosaur.

Details are left as a future topic.

So the meaning of "reed" in the Bible includes the following.

• an actual reed (e.g., in a swamp)
• a pen (made of a reed, similar to quill pens)
• a measuring device (noun)

And now we come to an interesting remark made be Jesus.


Keep in mind that Jesus often uses sayings that have more than one interpretation and where all the interpretations can be valid.

Matthew continues.

Jesus in Matthew 11, verses 7, 8 and 9, asks a (somewhat rhetorical) question in each verse but only provides an answer in verses 8 and 9. Let us look at the question in verse 7 again.


Why is no answer provided? Consider the following.

• A "reed" can be a measurement instrument.
• The "wind" can represent the Holy Spirit (as in John 3).
• The "shaking" of a "house" built on "sand" may fall, one on "rock" may not fall.

That wind can shake things. Near the end of Matthew 7, the rain, rivers and wind beat on the houses (not the foundation). The house on rock withstands. The house on sand falls. At the beginning of Matthew 7 we have some statements about measuring. Is the "measuring stick" of John going to be "shaken" or "divided" by the "wind" of the Holy Spirit, by the baptismal river waters, by "rain" from heaven?

Will those same Pharisees be "measured" or "shaken" or "divided" by the "wind" of the Holy Spirit, by the baptismal river waters, by "rain" from heaven? Will their house built on "sand", as an organization of people, be "shaken" or "divided" and not stand?

The English word "canyon" is from the Spanish word "cañon" ≈ "canyon" which is from the Spanish word "caño" ≈ "tube" which is from the Latin word "canna" ≈ "reed".

The ancient Greek word "φάραγξ" ≈ "ravine, gully, abyss" and in the Bible is often translated as "valley".

The ancient Greek word "φάρυγξ" ≈ "throat, windpipe" and is the source of the English word "pharynx".

The modern Greek word "φαράγγι" (fa-RAGH-y) ≈ "canyon".