The meaning of Reed in the Bible
(From Easton's Bible Dictionary)

"Paper reeds" (Isaiah 19:7; RSV, "reeds"). Heb. 'aroth, properly green herbage growing in marshy places.

Heb. kaneh (I Kings 14:15; Job 40:21; Isaiah 19:6), whence the Gr. kanna, a "cane," a generic name for a reed of any kind.

The reed of Egypt and Palestine is the Arundo donax, which grows to the height of 12 feet, its stalk jointed like the bamboo, "with a magnificent panicle of blossom at the top, and so slender and yielding that it will lie perfectly flat under a gust of wind, and immediately resume its upright position." It is used to illustrate weakness (II Kings 18:21; Ezekiel 29:6), also fickleness or instability (Matthew 11:7; Compare Ephesians 4:14).

A "bruised reed" (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20) is an emblem of a believer weak in grace. A reed was put into our Lord's hands in derision (Matthew 27:29); and "they took the reed and smote him on the head" (30). The "reed" on which they put the sponge filled with vinegar (Matthew 27:48) was, according to (John 19:29), a hyssop stalk, which must have been of some length, or perhaps a bunch of hyssop twigs fastened to a rod with the sponge. (See CANE .)

See more on the meaning of Reed in the Bible:
Reed {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

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