HEATH. The KJV rendering of עֲרﯴעֵר֒, H6875, in Jeremiah 17:6 (RSV SHRUB); and of עַרְעﯴר, H6898, in Jeremiah 48:6 (RSV WILD ASS). In both passages it is described as growing in the desert. The true heath rarely grows in Bible lands. The reference is prob. to the Juniperus phoenicia L. The RSV emendation (following the LXX and Aq.) to “wild ass” is not necessary. The Juniperus phoenicia L. has very small scale-like leaves, and grows on the W side of the mountains of Edom.