Grapes
GRAPES
The fruit of the vine. The grapes of Palestine were very fine, of great size and high flavor, Num 13:24 . At present, and probably the same has always been true, the wine that is made requires but a small part of the annual yield of the vines. Dr. Robinson says, “No wine is made from the very extensive vineyards of Hebron, except a little by the Jews.” While yet green, grapes are used for food in various ways; and are dried in the sun, or their juice preserved in bottles, to secure a pleasant vegetable tart all the year round, Num 6:4 . Ripe grapes may be had in Syria four or five months, Lev 26:5 ; and when the season closes many are hung up in clusters, suitably protected, and remain without drying up all through the winter. Grapes are exceedingly cheap, and form no small part of the ordinary food. Ripe grapes are also dried into raisins; and after the hanging grapes are gone, the raisins are used until the return of new grapes. Besides the law which protected the first three years’ growth of the vine, (see FRUITS,) there was another law requiring the Jews to leave the gleanings of their vineyards for the poor, Lev 19:10,23 . The law also allowed one who was passing a vineyard to pick a few grapes to eat on the spot, but not to carry any away, Deu 23:24 . Everywhere we encounter proofs of the admirable humanity that characterized the Mosaic legislation. A vineyard nearly stripped of its clustered treasures was a frequent image of desolation, Isa 17:6 24:13 Ob 1:5. See VINE.”Wild grapes” were the fruit of a wild vine, probably the Vitis Labrusca of Linnaeus, the wild claret-grape. The fruit of the wild vine is called oenanthes, of the flower of wine. They never ripen, and are good only for verjuice. In Isa 5:2,4, God complains of his people whom he had planted as a choice vine, an excellent plant, that he had a right to require of them good fruit, but they had brought forth only wild grapes-fruit of a bad smell, and a bad taste.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Grapes
Grapes. A luscious fruit cultivated on vines. Large clusters of grapes weighing about five kilograms (12 pounds) each ( Num 13:23) have been reported in Palestine.
Grapes were used in a variety of ways. They were eaten fresh or dried and were made into wine or vinegar. Dried grapes were called raisins. The first suggestion of grapes in Scripture was in connection with Noah’s vineyard ( Gen 9:20).
The soil and climate of Palestine was well suited for vineyards, where grapes were grown. They were cultivated here long before the Israelites occupied the land ( Gen 14:18). The vineyards of Palestine produced immense clusters of grapes ( Num 13:20; Num 13:23-24).
Vineyards were hedged or fenced as protection from wild animals ( Son 2:15). In each vineyard a tower was erected and a guard placed to protect the vines from robbers ( Mat 21:33).
Vinedressers were hired to care for the vines and prune them yearly ( Lev 25:3; Isa 61:5). The grapes were gathered in baskets in September and October with much festivity ( Jdg 9:27; Isa 16:10). Provision was made for the poor to glean the fields ( Lev 19:10; Deu 24:21). The choicest grapes were dried or eaten fresh and the rest were placed in presses to extract the juice ( Isa 61:5; Hos 9:2-4). This was drunk fresh or fermented.
Jesus alluded to His relationship with His followers by referring to Himself as the vine and to them as the branches ( Joh 15:5). The fruit of the vine symbolized Jesus’ shed blood ( Mat 26:27-29). He also used the vineyard in many of His parables ( Mat 9:17; Mat 20:1-6; Mat 21:28-32; Luk 13:6-9).
Fuente: Plants Animals Of Bible
GRAPES
From very early times grapes were widely grown throughout the Middle East (Gen 9:20; Gen 14:18). Grape growing was well established in Canaan long before the Israelites arrived (Num 13:20; Num 13:24; Deu 6:11). The Israelites in turn carried on grape growing as one of their main agricultural activities (Jdg 9:27; Jdg 14:5; Jdg 21:20; Song of Son 1:14; Son 7:12; Amo 4:9; Amo 5:11; Amo 5:17).
Vineyards
A vineyard was usually a rectangular area planted with rows of grape vines and surrounded by a hedge to keep out animals and thieves. Often it contained a tower where a person could keep watch over the workers (Song of Son 2:15; Isa 5:1-2; Mat 20:1; Mat 21:33). Workers usually pruned the vines in the spring, using specially made pruning hooks (Joe 3:10; Joh 15:2). They harvested the grapes in summer and, in keeping with Israelite harvesting practices, whatever they did not gather at the first picking they left for the poor (Lev 19:10; Deu 24:21; Oba 1:5).
People ate grapes fresh and sometimes dried them to make raisins (Num 6:3; 1Sa 25:18), but most of the grapes they crushed to make wine. They did this by trampling the grapes in a wine press, which was a pit hollowed out of solid rock (Isa 5:2; Isa 16:10; Isa 63:2; Mat 21:33; Rev 14:19-20).
Vines and vineyards provided prophets and teachers with useful illustrations. Old Testament writers likened Israel to Gods vineyard. God took Israel from Egypt and planted it in a good land, doing everything possible for it so that it might bear fruit for him. But Israel failed to produce the fruit that God desired. God therefore ceased to look after it, with the result that enemies plundered and destroyed it (Psa 80:8-13; Isa 5:1-7).
Jesus on occasions used illustrations from the vineyard, mainly to contrast the Jews rejection of him with the Gentiles acceptance (Mat 20:1-15; Mat 21:28-41). He also used the illustration of the grape vine, to show that if people truly are disciples, they will demonstrate it by the fruits that their union with him produces (Joh 15:1-11).
Wine
Processes of making wine were well known in the ancient world (Gen 9:20-21; Isa 25:6; Jer 48:11). People kept the fermented wine in earthenware pots or goatskin bags, though when goatskin bags became old and brittle they could not stand the pressure of new wine (Jer 13:12; Jer 35:5; Mar 2:22).
Wine was a common drink of the Israelites, in both Old and New Testament times, and was one article of daily food that they offered to God in sacrifice (Exo 29:40; Lev 23:13; Deu 11:14; Deu 18:4; Jdg 19:19; Jer 40:10; Mat 11:19). They considered a good supply of wine, along with other articles of daily food, to be one of Gods blessings (Gen 14:18; Gen 27:28; Deu 7:12-13; Pro 9:1-6; Isa 55:1).
People associated wine with merriment and joy (Psa 104:15; Ecc 9:7; Zec 10:7; Joh 2:1-10), though too much wine could lead to dullness of mind, unfitting behaviour and drunkenness (Pro 31:4-5; Isa 28:7; Hos 4:11; Hab 2:15; 1Pe 4:3; Rev 17:2). Israelite law therefore disallowed wine completely for certain people, such as priests and others who set themselves apart to God for special service (Lev 10:9; Num 6:3; Jer 35:8; Luk 1:15). The possibility of drunkenness brought strong warnings concerning the dangers of wine (Pro 20:1; Pro 23:20; Pro 23:29-35; Rom 13:13; Rom 14:21; Eph 5:18). Drunkenness disqualified a person from a position of leadership among Gods people (Isa 28:1-3; Isa 56:9-12; 1Ti 3:8; Tit 2:3).
Wine had some medicinal value and was used to help heal wounds and illnesses (Pro 31:6; Luk 10:34; 1Ti 5:23). When mixed with spices it could help deaden pain. But when such a mixture was offered to Jesus on the cross, he refused it (Mar 15:23). The wine (vinegar) that he drank shortly after was the common wine of the people, not drugged wine. Jesus purpose in asking for it was not to deaden his pain, but to moisten his mouth so that he could announce his final triumphant words loud enough for all to hear (Mar 15:36-37; Joh 19:28-30). (For the significance of wine in the Lords Supper see LORDS SUPPER.)
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Grapes
GRAPES.See Wine.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Grapes
GRAPES.See Wine and Strong Drink.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Grapes
The Scripture speak of two sorts of grapes, the true, and the wild. And while the former is both good for food and delight, the other is poisonous and destructive. The blood of the grape is spoken of by the dying patriarch Jacob, (Gen 49:11) perhaps not without reference to the sacramental ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. Moses beautifully contrasts the vineyards of the wicked with the vineyards of the Lord of hosts. “Their vine (saith he,) is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrha; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter.” (Deu 32:32) Whereas the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is compared to the “rich clusters of Engedi.” (Son 1:14) We are told by an ancient writer, that so luxurious were the branches and clusters of grapes in the eastern world, that there have been seen some of ten and twelve pounds. Indeed, in our own country in hot houses, clusters of many pounds have been gathered. I cannot, under this article, forbear remarking the kindness of that precept in Israel concerning the vineyard, that when the Israelites gathered in their vintage, the gleanings should be for those that had no vineyard (Lev 19:9-10) And it should seem, that in the gleaning season the vineyards were thrown open, for the traveller passing by to have the benefit of it. I leave the reader to make his own comment; but I cannot but think, that there was much of gospel veiled under this precept. The gleaning season in Christ’s church is all the year. Thousands going by have found gleaning seasons to their souls daily; and the invitation, indeed, is to the highways, and lanes, and hedges of the city, to call in “the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” And even when these are come, and their souls have been filled, “still there is room.” So infinitely full and so infinitely gracious is the great Lord of the vineyard, that all application ceases before that any diminishing is found in him and his vineyard, to supply. (Luk 14:21-22)
See Cluster
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Grapes
graps. See VINE.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Grapes
See VINE.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Grapes
Grapes. See Vine.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Grapes
Num 13:23 (c) This lovely fruit may be taken as a type of the rich blessings which may be found across the Jordan of spiritual death, in the promised land in which the Christian should live after he has died with CHRIST at Calvary and been raised to walk in newness of life. It represents the precious blessings that fill the life of that one who walks with GOD in constant fellowship with Him, loving CHRIST and obeying the Holy Spirit. This life is the life that is life indeed.
Deu 32:32 (a) The good GOD of Heaven is reminding Israel of the tremendous contrast between the grapes of Eschol and the grapes of Gomorrah. The sweet blessings that come from walking with the Lord, in obedience to His Word, and in loving fellowship with Him, are to be contrasted with the bitter fruits that come from the pleasures of sin which last but for a season. For one hour of pleasure men will barter Heaven and insure to themselves an eternity in hell.
Jdg 8:2 (a) The two princes of the Midianites are compared to the grapes which Ephraim gathered. (See Jdg 7:24-25).
Job 15:33 (b) Eliphaz uses this type to illustrate his thoughts about Job. He is stating that Job is a hypocrite and will never be able to produce good fruit in his life.
Son 2:15 (b) This is typical of the delicate and delightful fruits of a human life such as kindness, love, patience, etc., which may be spoiled and damaged by little habits and ways that are mean and obnoxious.
Isa 5:2 (a) Here, the fruit represents the attributes of Israel and their attitude toward the Lord. They should have loved Him, worshipped Him, walked with Him, glorified Him, and thus have yielded good grapes. Instead, they dishonored Him, hated Him, disobeyed Him, and grieved Him. Their evil actions are compared to wild grapes.
Jer 31:29 (a) GOD is telling us in this way that the life of the father is reflected in the character of the child; the actions of the child are a result of the life and the attitude of the father. (See Eze 18:2).
Oba 1:5. (b) The people of Israel are represented as grapes. The Edomites who dwelled in a high, rocky, inaccessible fort made forays against the Israelites, capturing them on the highways and killing them in the fields. They left none, young or old. The Lord contrasts this with thieves who steal grapes but who will leave some on the vines for the owners of the vineyard. The Edomites were worse than the thieves.
Mat 7:16 (b) We learn from this figure that evil lives cannot produce good fruit for GOD. Those who belong to the Devil are not bearing fruit for the GOD of Heaven. (See also Luk 6:44).
Rev 14:18 (b) This figure represents the people of the earth who are the product of wicked leaders, evil teachers and false faiths.