Fig-cake
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Definition and Description:
A fig-cake, often referred to in the Bible, is a type of cake made from pressed figs. In ancient times, figs were a staple food in the Middle East, and fig-cakes were a common way to preserve and consume this fruit. The process involved drying the figs and then pressing them into a compact cake, which could be easily stored and transported. These cakes were not only a source of nourishment but also held cultural and religious significance.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Samuel 25:18 · In this passage, Abigail, the wife of Nabal, prepares a generous gift for David to appease his anger. Among the items she includes are "two hundred cakes of pressed figs." This indicates the value and importance of fig-cakes as a gift and a means of sustenance.

2. 1 Samuel 30:12 · When David and his men find an Egyptian servant who had been left for dead, they give him a piece of a fig-cake to revive him. The text states, "They gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights." This highlights the nourishing and restorative properties of fig-cakes.

3. 2 Kings 20:7 · The prophet Isaiah instructs that a poultice of figs be applied to King Hezekiah's boil, leading to his recovery. "Then Isaiah said, 'Prepare a poultice of figs.' So they brought it and applied it to the boil, and he recovered." While not a fig-cake in the traditional sense, this use of figs underscores their medicinal value.

4. 1 Chronicles 12:40 · When David is anointed king, the people of Israel bring provisions, including fig-cakes, to celebrate. The verse notes, "Also their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel."

Cultural and Religious Significance:
Fig-cakes were more than just food; they were a symbol of hospitality and provision. In a culture where hospitality was a sacred duty, offering fig-cakes was a gesture of goodwill and generosity. They were often included in gifts and offerings, reflecting their value and desirability.

The use of fig-cakes in religious and royal contexts, such as offerings to kings or as part of celebrations, indicates their esteemed status. They were a practical and symbolic food, representing sustenance, healing, and abundance.

Symbolism:
Figs and fig-cakes can also be seen as symbols of prosperity and blessing. The fig tree itself is often used in the Bible as a metaphor for Israel and its spiritual state. The presence of fig-cakes in various narratives may symbolize God's provision and care for His people, as well as the abundance of His blessings.

In summary, fig-cakes in the Bible are a testament to the agricultural richness of the land and the cultural practices of the people. They serve as a reminder of the sustenance and blessings provided by God, both physically and spiritually.
Strong's Hebrew
1690. debelah -- a lump (of pressed figs), a pressed (fig) cake
... 1689, 1690. debelah. 1691 . a lump (of pressed figs), a pressed (fig) cake.
Transliteration: debelah Phonetic Spelling: (deb-ay-law') Short Definition: cake ...
/hebrew/1690.htm - 6k
Library

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
... The masculine form can offer no difficulty as to the derivation from [Hebrew: dblh],
"fig-cake;" for the masculine form of the plural occurs also in 1 Samuel 25 ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the section chap i -iii.htm

Thesaurus
Fig-cake (1 Occurrence)
Fig-cake. Fig, Fig-cake. Fig-cakes . Multi-Version Concordance
Fig-cake (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 30:12 and gave him ...
/f/fig-cake.htm - 6k

Fig-cakes (2 Occurrences)
Fig-cakes. Fig-cake, Fig-cakes. Fight . Multi-Version Concordance Fig-cakes
(2 Occurrences). ... (DBY YLT). Fig-cake, Fig-cakes. Fight . Reference Bible.
/f/fig-cakes.htm - 7k

Raisin-cakes (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:12 and gave him a piece of fig-cake and two raisin-cakes, and he ate,
and his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any ...
/r/raisin-cakes.htm - 9k

Cakes (65 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 30:12 and gave him a piece of fig-cake and two raisin-cakes, and he ate,
and his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any ...
/c/cakes.htm - 26k

Food (2953 Occurrences)
... It was such a fig-cake that was presented as a poultice (the King James Version
"plaster") for Hezekiah's boil (Isaiah 38:21; compare 2 Kings 20:7). As the ...
/f/food.htm - 36k

Fig (45 Occurrences)

/f/fig.htm - 33k

Resources
Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? | GotQuestions.org

Flowers, and pictures, and cakes ' oh my! | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance
Fig-cake (1 Occurrence)

1 Samuel 30:12
and gave him a piece of fig-cake and two raisin-cakes, and he ate, and his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, for three days and three nights.
(DBY)

Subtopics

Fig-cake

Related Terms

Raisin-cakes (7 Occurrences)

Grape-cakes (4 Occurrences)

Fig-cake (1 Occurrence)

Skin-bottles (1 Occurrence)

Is'sachar (40 Occurrences)

Provisions (41 Occurrences)

Provision (50 Occurrences)

Fight (265 Occurrences)

Flour (69 Occurrences)

Fig: Traffic In
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