The word araz refers to cedar or cedar-like wood, emphasizing the strength and permanence of the cedar tree. It is related to the more common erez (H730), the stately cedar of Lebanon celebrated throughout Scripture for its height, fragrance, and durability.
Cedar wood was the preeminent building material for divine worship in ancient Israel. Solomon used cedar extensively in the Temple — the fragrant, rot-resistant wood symbolized permanence, holiness, and the enduring presence of God. The cedar's towering height also served as a metaphor for both righteous strength and human pride: the righteous 'flourish like a cedar of Lebanon' (Psalm 92:12), while arrogant nations are cut down like felled cedars (Isaiah 10:34).