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FIG
The fig tree is common in Palestine and the East, and flourishes with the greatest luxuriance in those barren and stony situations where little else will grow. Its large size, and its abundance of five-lobed leaves, render it a pleasant shade tree; and its fruit furnished a wholesome food, very much used in all the lands of the Bible. Thus it was a symbol of peace and plenty, 1Ki 4:25 Mic 4:4 Zec 3:10 Joh 1:49-51 . Figs are of two sorts, the “baccore,” and the “kermouse.” The black and white boccore, or early fig, is produced in June; thought the kermouse, the fig properly so called, which is preserved, and made up into cakes, is rarely ripe before August. There is also a long dark-colored kermouse, that sometimes hangs upon the trees all winter.The fruit of the fig tree is one of the delicacies of the East, and is very often spoken of in Scripture. The early fig was especially prized, Isa 28:4 Jer 24:2 Jon 3:12, though the summer fig is most abundant, 2Ki 20:7 Isa 38:21 . It is a peculiarity of the fig tree that its fruit begins to appear before the leaves, and without any show of blossoms. It has, indeed, small and hidden blossoms, but the passage in Hab 3:17, should read, according to the original Hebrew, “Although the fig tree should not bear,” instead of “blossom.” Its leaves come so late in the spring as to justify the words of Christ, “Ye know that summer is nigh,” Mat 24:32 Son 2:13 . The fresh fruit is shaped like a pear. The dried figs of Palestine were probably like those which are brought to our own country; sometimes, however, they are dried on a string. We likewise read of “cakes of figs,” 1Sa 25:18 2Ki 20:7 1Ch 12:40 . These were probably formed by pressing the fruit forcibly into baskets or other vessels, so as to reduce them to a solid cake or lump. In this way dates are still prepared in Arabia.The barren fig tree which was withered at our Savior’s word, as an awful warning to unfruitful professors of religion, seems to have spent itself in leaves. It stood by the wayside, free to all; and as the time for stripping the trees of their fruit had not come, Mar 11:14, it was reasonable to expect to find it covered with figs in various stages of growth. Yet there was “nothing thereon, but leaves only,” Mat 21:19 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
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Fig. A fruit-producing plant which could be either a tall tree or a low-spreading shrub. The size of the tree depended on its location and soil. The blooms of the fig tree always appear before the leaves in spring. When Jesus saw leaves on a fig tree, He expected the fruit ( Mar 11:12-14; Mar 11:20-21). There were usually two crops of figs a year.
Figs were eaten fresh ( 2Ki 18:31), pressed into cakes ( 1Sa 25:18), and used as a poultice ( Isa 38:21). Jeremiah used the fig tree as a symbol of desolation ( Jer 8:13). It also signified security and hope for Adam and Eve ( Gen 3:7), the 12 spies ( Num 13:23), and the poets and prophets.
Fuente: Plants Animals Of Bible
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The usual Hebrew word for this is (teenah’, of uncertain ctymology), which is universally translated fig (N.T. ) and fig-tree (N.T. ) in both ancient and modern versions, and no doubt correctly so. It has from the earliest times been a highly esteemed fruit in the East, and its present is well as ancient Arabic name is tin. When figs are spoken of as distinguished from thee fig-tree, the masc. plur. form is used (see Jer 8:13). The other words rendered fig in the Auth. Vers. are: (pag, “green fig,” Son 2:13; (, “untimely fig,” Rev 6:13), a designation of the late fig, which, being unripe at the proper time for gathering, frequently hangs on the tree over winter (comp. also the name BETH-PHAGE); and (bikkurah “first ripe,” Isa 28:4; Jer 24:2; Mic 7:1; Hos 9:10), which denotes the early or spring fig, still called boccore in, Mauritania, and in Spanish albacora (Shaw, Travels, p. 370, fol.). SEE SYCAMORE.
The fig is mentioned in so many passages of Scripture that our space will not allow us to enumerate them, but they are detailed by Celsius (Hierobot. ii, 368). The first notice of it, however, occurs in Gen 3:7, where Adam and Eve are described, as sewing fig-leaves together to make themselves aprons. The common fig-leaf is not so well suited, from its lobed nature, for this purpose; but the practice of sewing or pinning leaves together is very common in the East even in the present day, and baskets, dishes, and umbrellas are made of leaves so pinned or sewn together. Hence some have supposed the Ficus Indica to be the tree there referred to, but this is unlikely and unnecessary. The fig-tree is enumerated (Deu 8:8) as one of thee valuable products of Palestine; “a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates.” The spies who were sent from wilderness of Paran brought back from the brook of Eshcol clusters of grapes, pomegranates, and figs. Mount Olivet was famous for its fig-trees in ancient times, and they are still found there (see Stanley, Sinai and Palalestine, p. 187, 421, 422). The fig-tree is referred to as one of the signs of prosperity (1Ki 4:25). Hence “to sit under one’s own vine and one’s own fig-tree” became a proverbial expression among the Jews to denote peace and prosperity (Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10). The failure of this fruit is likewise noted as a sign of affliction (Psa 105:33). The very frequent references which are made in the Old Testament to the fig and other fruit-trees are in consequence of fruits forming a much more important article of diet in the warm and dry countries of the East than they can ever do in the cold and moist regions of the North (see Jdt 10:5; comp. Mishna, Shebiith, 4:7). Figs are also used medicinally; and we have a notice in 2Ki 20:7, of their employment as a poultice (comp. Pliny, 23:62 Dioscor. i, 184). In the historical books of the Old Testament-mention is made of cakes of figs, used as articles of food, and compressed into that form for the sake of keeping them (, caricae, Lucian, Vit. Auct. 19; Martial, 13:28). Such a cake was called (Talmud, or , Mishna Terumoth, 4:8), or more fully , on account of its shape, from the root to make round (see 1Sa 30:12; Jern 24:2 sq.). Hence, or rather from the Syriac the first letter being dropped, came the Gr. word (see Wesseling, ad. diod. Sic. 17:67). Atheneaus (xi, p. 500, ed. Casaub.) makes express mention of the . Jerome, on Ezekiel 6 :describes the as a mass of figs and rich dates, formed into the shape of bricks or tiles, and compressed in order that they may keep. Such cakes harden so as to need cutting with an axe. The fig is still extensively cultivated in the East, and in a dried state, strung upon cords, it forms an extensive article of commerce from Persia to India. The fig-tree, though now successfully cultivated in a great part of Europe,’ even as far north as the southern parts of Es-gland, is yet a native of the East, and probably of the Persian region, where it is most extensively cultivated. The climate there is such that the tree must necessarily be able to bear some degree of cold, and thus be fitted to travel northwards, and- ripen its fruit where there is a sufficient amount and continuance of summer heat. It has a smooth stem, which is seldom quite straight, and is covered with a gray bark; the leaves are of the shape of a heart, with three or five lobes, and are indented; the upper side is rough, the lower is covered with fine hair. The fruit makes its appearance before the leaves, but not before the flowers or blossom, Which lies concealed within a hollow, fleshy receptacle (Hogg, Vegetable Kingdom, p. 676). The fertilization of-the blossoms is often assisted by an artificial process called caprification (Pliny, 20:21; Tournefort, ii, 32; Russel, Aleppo, i, 108; Hasselquist, p. 221). See the Penny Cyclopaedia, s.v.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
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First mentioned in Gen. 3:7. The fig-tree is mentioned (Deut. 8:8) as one of the valuable products of Palestine. It was a sign of peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10). Figs were used medicinally (2 Kings 20:7), and pressed together and formed into “cakes” as articles of diet (1 Sam. 30:12; Jer. 24:2).
Our Lord’s cursing the fig-tree near Bethany (Mark 11:13) has occasioned much perplexity from the circumstance, as mentioned by the evangelist, that “the time of figs was not yet.” The explanation of the words, however, lies in the simple fact that the fruit of the fig-tree appears before the leaves, and hence that if the tree produced leaves it ought also to have had fruit. It ought to have had fruit if it had been true to its “pretensions,” in showing its leaves at this particular season. “This tree, so to speak, vaunted itself to be in advance of all the other trees, challenged the passer-by that he should come and refresh himself with its fruit. Yet when the Lord accepted its challenge and drew near, it proved to be but as the others, without fruit as they; for indeed, as the evangelist observes, the time of figs had not yet arrived. Its fault, if one may use the word, lay in its pretensions, in its making a show to run before the rest when it did not so indeed” (Trench, Miracles).
The fig-tree of Palestine (Ficus carica) produces two and sometimes three crops of figs in a year, (1) the bikkurah, or “early-ripe fig” (Micah 7:1; Isa. 28:4; Hos. 9:10, R.V.), which is ripe about the end of June, dropping off as soon as it is ripe (Nah. 3:12); (2) the kermus, or “summer fig,” then begins to be formed, and is ripe about August; and (3) the pag (plural “green figs,” Cant. 2:13; Gr. olynthos, Rev. 6:13, “the untimely fig”), or “winter fig,” which ripens in sheltered spots in spring.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
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tenah, from ta’an “to stretch out” its branches. The Ficus Carica (Carla being famed for figs) of Linnaeus. Under its appropriate covert Nathanael found that solitude and shade which suited his earnest communion with God (Joh 1:48). Adam and Eve used its leaves to cover their shame and nakedness; Nathanael to lay bore his soul “without guile” before God. Mount Olivet is still famed for its figtrees as of old. “To sit under one’s own vine and figtree” was the proverb for peace and prosperity; so under Solomon (1Ki 4:25); type of the true Solomon, Prince of peace, and of His coming millennial reign (Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10); men will be safe in the open field as in the house. The early ripe fig is “the hasty fruit” (Isa 28:4), Hebrew bikurah, Spanish bokkore. Figs usually ripened in August; earlier ones in June.
Esteemed a delicacy (Jer 24:2; Hos 9:10; Mic 7:1): “when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand, he eateth it up”; it looks so tempting he instantly swallows it; so the Assyrian conqueror Shalmaneser shall not merely conquer, but with impatient avidity destroy Samaria. The unripe fig (pag) hangs through the winter and ripens in the spring about Easter (Son 2:13). Beth-phage, “house of green figs,” is derived from it. Figs were compressed into the form of round cakes for keeping (1Sa 25:18), debeelim. They were used as a plaster for boils (Isa 38:21); God can make the most ordinary means effectual. The difficulty in Mar 11:12 is solved thus: the leaves on the “one” figtree, when all others were bore, caught Jesus’ eye “afar off”; as the fruit precedes the leaves, naturally He might have expected, for satisfying His hunger, figs from a tree with such a precocious show of leaf, even though the season of figs was not yet come.
It was the unseasonable display of leaves which led Him to come and see “if haply (if as might naturally be expected) He might find anything thereon.” Similarly the Jews (for it was an acted parable) had the show of religion before the. general time of religious privileges; but that was all, the fruit of real love which ought to precede the profession was wanting. The “for” expresses the unseasonableness of the leaves. “He found nothing but leaves (i.e. He found no figs); FOR the time of figs was not yet.” Mark states why no fruit was found, “for,” etc. The reason why it ought to have had fruit is left for us to infer, namely, its abnormal precocious leaves, which Christ had a right to expect would be accompanied with abnormal fruit, for the fig fruit precedes the leaf. Christ cursed it, not because it was fruitless, (for the season of figs was not yet, and if it had been leafless He would not have sought fruit on it,) but because it was false to its high pretensions.
Thomson (The Land and the Book) says that in a sheltered spot figs of an early kind may occasionally be found ripe as soon as the beginning of April, the time of Christ’s cursing the fig tree. In Mat 21:19 it is “one fig tree,” standing out an exception to all the rest. The Jews’ sin was, they were singled out by God from all nations (Amo 3:2), and had the Tower to bring forth the leaves of precocious profession but not the will to bring forth the fruit of faith and love. The sheltering hillside of Olivet had protected it, the sunlight had cherished it, and the dews of heaven watered it; but precocious leaves were the only result.
Compare Isaiah 5 as to God’s care of Israel; the only result was not merely unfruitfulness but deceptiveness, “the rustling leaves of a religious profession, barren traditions of the Pharisees, and vain exuberance of words without the good fruit of works” (Wordsworth); ostentatious promise of antedating the Gentile church in fruit, without performance; pretentious show and hypocrisy. Fig trees overhanging the road from Jerusalem to Bethany still grow out of the rocks of the mountain which, the Lord said, faith could remove to the distant sea (Mat 21:21). On Olivet too was spoken the parable of the budding fig tree, the sign of coming summer (Luk 21:29-30). The August figs are the sweetest and best.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
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Like olives and grapes, figs were plentiful in Israel and neighbouring countries (Deu 8:8; Jdg 9:8-13; Jer 5:17). The saying to sit under ones own vine and fig tree indicated the enjoyment of long-lasting peace, contentment and prosperity. On the other hand to lay waste ones vines and fig trees indicated devastation and ruin (1Ki 4:25; 2Ki 18:31; Hos 2:12; Joe 1:7; Joe 1:12; Mic 4:4). The cultivation of fig trees required years of patient labour, and the failure of a harvest was a major calamity (Pro 27:18; Luk 13:7; cf. Psa 105:33; Hab 3:17).
People ate figs either fresh or dried and often made them into cakes (1Sa 25:18; 1Ch 12:40; Nah 3:12). They also believed that figs had some medicinal value (Isa 38:21).
Healthy fig trees bore fruit for about ten months of the year, though they lost their leaves and grew new ones according to the season (Mat 24:32). Jesus on one occasion was disappointed when he found that a fig tree that should have had fruit on it (even though the season for picking the fruit had not yet arrived) had no fruit at all. He saw the fruitless tree as symbolic of Israel, a nation that was useless to God. It produced no spiritual fruit and would fall under Gods judgment (Mar 11:12-14; cf. Luk 13:6-9).
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
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FIG.(tenh).The common fig, fruit of the Ficus carica, is cultivated from one end of Palestine to the other, especially in the mountainous regions, occupying to-day a place as important as it did in Bible times. The failure of the fig and grape harvest would even now bring untold distress (Jer 5:17, Hab 3:17 etc.). Although the figs are all of one genus, the fellahn distinguish many varieties according to the quality and colour of the fruit.
The summer foliage of the fig is thick, and excels other trees for its cool and grateful shade. In the summer the owners of gardens everywhere may be seen sitting in the shadow of their fig trees. It is possible the references in Mic 4:4, Zec 3:10 may be to this, or to the not uncommon custom of having fig trees overhanging rural dwellings. Although fig trees are of medium height, some individual trees (e.g. near Jenin reach to over 25 feet high. Self-sown fig trees are usually barren, and are known to the natives as wild or male fig trees. The fruiting of the fig is very interesting and peculiar. Though earlier in the plains, the annual occurrence in the mountain regions, e.g. round Jerusalem, is as follows: The trees, which during the winter months have lost all their leaves, about the end of March begin putting forth their tender leaf buds (Mat 24:32, Mar 13:28-32, Luk 21:29-33), and at the junction of the old wood with these leaves appear at the same time the tiny figs. These little figs develop along with the leaves up to a certain point, to about the size of a small cherry, and then the great majority of them fall to the ground, carried down with every gust of wind. These immature figs are known as the taksh, and are eaten by the fellahn as they fall; they may indeed sometimes be seen exposed for sale in the market in Jerusalem. They are the paggim (green figs) of Son 2:13, and the olynthoi (untimely figs) of Rev 6:13. In the case of some trees, especially the best varieties, a certain proportion of these little green figs continue to develop, and reach ripeness in June. These are then known as the dafr or early figs, mentioned in Isa 28:4, Jer 24:2, Hos 9:10, Mic 7:1, as bikkrh, the figs first ripe. They are to-day, as of old, specially esteemed for their delicate flavour. As the dafr are ripening, the little buds of the next crop begin to appear higher up the branches. These steadily develop and form the second and great crop of figs, which comes about August.
In the much-discussed miracle of our Lord (Mat 21:18-20, Mar 11:12-13; Mar 11:20-21) we may dismiss at once the theory that He came looking for figs from the previous season, as He would certainly not have found any such survivors, and such fruit would not have been eatable. On the other hand, at the Passover season, about April, when the young leaves are on the fig trees, every tree which is going to bear fruit at all will have some taksh on it, and so, though it is a true statement that the time of figs, i.e. of ordinary edible figs, was not yet (Mar 11:13), yet there would be fruit which could be, and is to-day, eaten, and fruit, too, which would be a guarantee of a harvest to come later on. It was the want of promise of future fruitfulness in the Jewish nation for which they were condemned in the acted parable of the barren fig tree. It may be noted, however, that in May many fig trees may be found round Jerusalem which have dropped all their green figs (none ripening to dafr) and have not yet put forth the buds of the late summer crop.
Figs are eaten in Palestine not only fresh but dried, the fruit being often threaded on to long strings for convenience of carriage. They are also pressed into a solid cake which can be cut in slices with a knife. These are the fig-cakes of 1Sa 25:18; 1Sa 30:12, 1Ch 12:40. A lump of such was used as a poultice for Hezekiahs boil, 2Ki 20:7, Isa 28:21.
E. W. G. Masterman.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
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Common to Palestine
Num 13:23; Deu 8:8
Common to Egypt
Psa 105:33
Employed as a remedy
2Ki 20:7; Isa 38:21
Traffic in
Neh 13:15
Dried and preserved
1Sa 30:12
Cakes of, sent by Abigail to David
1Sa 25:18-35
Aprons made of fig leaves, by Adam and Eve
Gen 3:7
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
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Fig, Fig Tree. This, Ficus carica, was a tree very common in Palestine. Deu 8:8. Mount Olivet was famous anciently for fig trees; and still some are to be found there. The first notice we have of this tree is when Adam and Eve endeavored to clothe themselves with leaves. Gen 3:7. Whether the leaves they used were those of the ordinary fig tree may be questioned; but the practice of fastening leaves together for various utensils, as baskets, etc., is common in the East to the present day. Not only was the fresh fruit of the fig tree valued, but also cakes of figs are mentioned in Scripture; e.g., 1Sa 25:18; 1Sa 30:12, These were made either by simple compression, or by pounding them into a mass, sometimes together with dates. They were then cut into cakes, often similar to bricks, and hardened by keeping. Twice the fig tree is mentioned in the New Testament. Our Lord, shortly before his crucifixion, being hungry, sought fruit from a fig tree, and, finding none, condemned it. Mat 21:18-20; Mar 11:12-14; Mar 11:20. It was early in the season, not the ordinary time for figs; but yet, as the fruit precedes the leaves, and there were leaves on this tree, figs might naturally have been expected on it; and, as there were then none, there was proof enough that the pretentious tree was worthless. The parable of the fig tree spared at the intercession of the dresser of the garden, Luk 13:6-9, is full of instruction. There is, it may be added, an expressive phrase in which the fig tree is introduced; when men axe said to sit under their own vine and their own fig tree, 1Ki 4:26; Zec 3:10, a state of general peace and prosperity is indicated.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
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Fig. See Fig Tree.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
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denotes “the ripe fruit of a suke, a fig-tree” (see below; cp. No. 2), Mat 7:16; Mar 11:13; Luk 6:44; Jam 3:12.
denotes “an unripe fig,” which grows in winter and usually falls off in the spring, Rev 6:13. In the Sept., Son 2:13.