Σχοινοσ in the Septuagint

The lexeme σχο νοsigma 'reed, rush' in the LXX denotes a 'pen' once and translates twice the name 'Shittim'. Although some explanation is needed for these instances, they are explicable translations. In Jer. xviii 15, however, the glosses 'reed' or 'measure' do not make sense in the context, and 'way' is probably to be preferred. This would be a metaphorical application of the meaning 'measure', popular in Hellenistic geographers. The same meaning also makes sense of the context of LXX Ps. cxxxviii 3, where 'bed' is the normal gloss suggested. The meaning 'bed' is derived from Schleusner and Brenton, and, although it is not attested elsewhere in Greek, has been adopted by the Supplements to LSJ and even incorrectly categorized there under a gloss with a different denotation. The interpretation of σχο νοsigma as 'way' is supported by similar metaphorical uses in the LXX for words from the semantic field o...