FIG, FIG-TREE

fig'-tre (te'enah, plural te'enim, specially "figs"; paggim, "green figs" only in Songs 2:13; suke, "fig-tree," sukon, "fig"):

1. Fig-Trees in the Old Testament:

The earliest Old Testament reference to the fig is to the leaves, which Adam and Eve converted into aprons (Genesis 3:7). The promised land was described (Deuteronomy 8:8) as "a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates," etc. The spies who visited it brought, besides the cluster of grapes, pomegranates and figs (Numbers 13:23). The Israelites complained that the wilderness was "no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates" (Numbers 20:5). When Egypt was plagued, the fig-trees were smitten (Psalm 105:33); a similar punishment was threatened to unfaithful Israel (Jeremiah 5:17 Hosea 2:12 Amos 4:9). It is only necessary to ride a few miles among the mountain villages of Palestine, with their extensive fig gardens, to realize what a long-lasting injury would be the destruction of these slow-growing trees. Years of patient labor-such as that briefly hinted at in Luke 13:7 -must pass before a newly planted group of fig-trees can bear profitably. Plenitude of fruitful vines and fig-trees, specially individual ownership, thus came to be emblematical of long-continued peace and prosperity. In the days of Solomon "Judah and Isr 1 Kings 4:25). Compare also 2 Kings 18:31 Isaiah 36:16 Micah 4:4 Zechariah 3:10; Zechariah 1 APC 1Macc 14:12. Only a triumphal faith in Yahweh could rejoice in Him "though the fig-tree shall hot flourish" (Habakkuk 3:17).

2. Natural History of the Fig-Tree:

The Ficus carica, which produces the common fig, is a tree belonging to the Natural Order. Urticaceae, the nettle family, which includes also the banyan, the India rubber fig-tree, the sycamore fig and other useful plants. Fig-trees are cultivated all over the Holy Land, especially in the mountain regions. Wild fig-trees-usually rather shrubs than trees-occur also everywhere; they are usually barren and are described by the fellahin as "male" trees; it is generally supposed that their presence is beneficial to the cultivated variety. The immature flowers harbor small insects which convey pollen to the female flowers and by their irritating presence stimulate the growth of the fruit. Artificial fertilization has been understood since ancient times, and there may be a reference to it in Amos 7:14.

Fig-trees are usually of medium height, 10 or 15 ft. for full-grown trees, yet individual specimens sometimes attain as much as 25 ft. The summer foliage is thick and surpasses other trees of its size in its cool and dense shade. In the summer owners of such trees may be seen everywhere sitting in their shadow (John 1:48). Such references as Mac 4:4; Zechariah 3:10, etc., probably are to this custom rather than to the not uncommon one of having a fig-tree overhanging a dwelling.

3. Figs:

The fruit of the fig-tree is peculiar. The floral axis, instead of expanding outward, as with most flowers, closes, as the flower develops, upon the small internal flowers, leaving finally but a small opening at the apex; the axis itself becomes succulent and fruit-like. The male flowers lie around the opening, the female flowers deeper in; fertilization is brought about by the presence of small hymenopterous insects.

There are many varieties of figs in Palestine differing in sweetness, in color and consistence; some are good and some are bad (compare Jeremiah 24:1, 8; Jeremiah 29:17). In Palestine and other warm climates the fig yields two crops annually-an earlier one, ripe about June, growing from the "old wood," i.e. from the midsummer sprouts of the previous year, and a second, more important one, ripe about August, which grows upon the "new wood," i.e. upon the spring shoots. By December, fig-trees in the mountainous regions of Palestine have shed all their leaves, and they remain bare until about the end of March, when they commence putting forth their tender leaf buds (Matthew 24:32 Mark 13:28, 32 Luke 21:29-33), and at the same time, in the leaf axils, appear the tiny figs. They belong to the early signs of spring:

"The voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land;

The fig-tree ripeneth her green figs" (paggim)

- Songs 2:12, 13.

4. Early Figs:

These tiny 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 are the "unripe figs" (olunthos)-translated, more appropriately in the King James Version, as "untimely figs"-of Revelation 6:13. Compare also Isaiah 34:4 the King James Version-in the Revised Version (British and American) "leaf" has been supplied instead of "fig." These immature figs are known to the fellahin as taksh, by whom they are eaten as they fall; they may even sometimes be seen exposed for sale in the markets in Jerusalem. In the case of many trees the whole of this first crop may thus abort, so that by May no figs at all are to be found on the tree, but with the best varieties of fig-trees a certain proportion of the early crop of figs remains on the tree, and this fruit reaches ripe perfection about June. Such fruit is known in Arabic as dafur, or "early figs," and in Hebrew as bikkurah, "the first-ripe" (Isaiah 28:4 Jeremiah 24:2 Hosea 9:10). They are now, as of old, esteemed for their delicate flavor (Micah 7:1, etc.).

5. The Cursing of the Barren Fig-Tree:

The miracle of our Lord (Matthew 21:18-20 Mark 11:12, 13, 10, 21) which occurred in the Passover season, about April, will be understood (as far as the natural phenomena are concerned) by the account given above of the fruiting of the fig-tree, as repeatedly observed by the present writer in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. When the young leaves are newly appearing, in April, every fig-tree which is going to bear fruit at all will have some taksh ("immature figs") upon it, even though "the time of figs" (Mark 11:13 the King James Version), i.e. of ordinary edible figs-either early or late crop-"was not yet." This taksh is not only eaten today, but it is sure evidence, even when it falls, that the tree bearing it is not barren. This acted parable must be compared with Luke 13:6, 9; now the time of judgment was surely coming, the fate of the fruitless Jewish nation was forcibly foretold.

6. Dried Figs:

While fresh figs have always been an important article of diet in their season (Nehemiah 13:15) the dried form is even more used. They are today dried in the sun and threaded on strings (like long necklaces) for convenience of carriage. A "cake of figs" (debhelah, literally, "pressed together") is mentioned (1 Samuel 30:12); Abigail gave 200 such cakes of figs to David (1 Samuel 25:18); the people of North Israel sent, with other things, "cakes of figs" as a present to the newly-crowned David (1 Chronicles 12:40). Such masses of figs are much used today-they can be cut into slices with a knife like cheese. Such a mass was used externally for Hezekiah's "boil" (Isaiah 38:21 2 Kings 20:7); it was a remedy familiar to early medical writers.

E. W. G. Masterman

4808. suke -- a fig tree
... a fig tree. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: suke Phonetic Spelling:
(soo-kay') Short Definition: a fig-tree Definition: a fig-tree. ... fig tree. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4808.htm - 6k

4809. sukomorea -- the fig-mulberry tree, sycamore fig
... sycamore tree. From sukon and moron (the mulberry); the "sycamore"-fig tree -- sycamore
tree. Compare sukaminos. see GREEK sukon. see GREEK sukaminos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4809.htm - 7k

4807. sukaminos -- the mulberry tree, the sycamine
... sycamine tree, mulberry tree. Of Hebrew origin (shaqam) in imitation of sukomoraia;
a sycamore-fig tree -- sycamine tree. see GREEK sukomoraia. see HEBREW shaqam ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4807.htm - 7k

8384. teenah -- fig tree
... 8383, 8384. teenah. 8385 . fig tree. Transliteration: teenah Phonetic
Spelling: (teh-ane') Short Definition: tree. Word Origin of ...
/hebrew/8384.htm - 6k

8385. ta'anah -- occasion or time of copulation
... fig tree Or tonanah {to-an-aw'}; from 'anah; an opportunity or (subjectively) purpose --
occasion. see HEBREW 'anah. 8384, 8385. ta'anah. 8385a . ...
/hebrew/8385.htm - 5k

Under the Fig-Tree.
... UNDER THE FIG-TREE. ... It is evident that something had occurred with Nathanael under
the fig -tree outside the common details of every-day life. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/under the fig-tree.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree.
... THE BARREN FIG-TREE. In ... hungry. Seeing a fig-tree afar off, covered with
leaves, He came to it, hoping to find some fruit on it. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/the barren fig-tree.htm

The Fig-Tree.
... XIX. THE FIG-TREE. The hosannahs ... save." The eye of Jesus, as he traversed the
rocky path with His disciples, rested on a Fig-tree. (Mark ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xix the fig-tree.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree.
... THE BARREN FIG-TREE. ... He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig-tree planted
in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xx the barren fig-tree.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree;
... THE BARREN FIG-TREE; OR, THE ... Christ. In this vineyard stood a fig-tree"by
nature remarkable for fruitfulness"but it is barren. No ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the barren fig-tree.htm

The Blasted Fig-Tree. Mk 11:20
... MARK Hymn 97 The blasted fig-tree. Mk 11:20. John Newton 8,8,8,8. The blasted
fig-tree. Mk 11:20. One aweful word which JESUS spoke,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 97 the blasted fig-tree.htm

Second Sunday in Advent Behold the Fig-Tree and all the Trees ...
... Second Sunday in Advent Behold the fig-tree and all the trees; when they now shoot
forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. ...
/.../winkworth/lyra germanica the christian year/second sunday in advent behold.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree. Lk 13:6-9
... LUKE Hymn 103 The Barren fig-tree. Lk 13:6-9. John Newton 6,6,6,6,8,8. The Barren
fig-tree. Lk 13:6-9. The church a garden is. In which believers stand,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 103 the barren fig-tree.htm

The Fig-Tree Cursed. (Matt. , xxi. , 18; Mark, xi. , 12. ) ...
... LAST SUPPER. Section 245. The Fig-tree Cursed. (Matt., xxi., 18; Mark,
xi., 12.)"Parable of the Fig-tree. (Luke, xiii., 6-9.). A ...
/.../section 245 the fig-tree cursed.htm

The Figtree Hath Put Forth Her Green Figs, and the Flowering vines ...
... CHAPTER II. 13. The figtree hath put forth her green figs, and the flowering
vines give a good smell. Arise my love, my fair one, come. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/13 the figtree hath put.htm

Figtree
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia FIG, FIG-TREE. ... Only a triumphal faith in Yahweh
could rejoice in Him "though the fig-tree shall hot flourish" (Habakkuk 3:17). ...
/f/figtree.htm - 15k

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)
Fig-tree. Figtree, Fig-tree. Fig-trees . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ... (ASV
BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT). Figtree, Fig-tree. Fig-trees . Reference Bible.
/f/fig-tree.htm - 26k

Figs (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Mark 11:13 Seeing a figtree afar
off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. ...
/f/figs.htm - 15k

Leaf (20 Occurrences)
... The barren fig-tree had nothing but leaves (Matthew 21:19; Mark 11:13). ... Leaf (20
Occurrences). Matthew 24:32 "Now learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. ...
/l/leaf.htm - 16k

Withered (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 21:19 Seeing a figtree by the
road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. ...
/w/withered.htm - 22k

Thereon (90 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a figtree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing
thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee ...
/t/thereon.htm - 34k

Simile (61 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:32 And from the fig-tree learn ye the simile: When already its branch
may have become tender, and the leaves it may put forth, ye know that summer ...
/s/simile.htm - 22k

Leaves (55 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Matthew 21:19 Seeing a figtree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing
on it but leaves. ... Matthew 24:32 "Now from the figtree learn this parable. ...
/l/leaves.htm - 24k

Fig (45 Occurrences)
... First mentioned in Genesis 3:7. The fig-tree is mentioned (Deuteronomy 8:8)
as one of the valuable products of Palestine. ... FIG, FIG-TREE. ...
/f/fig.htm - 33k

Immediately (141 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:19 Seeing a figtree by the road, he came to it, and found
nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, "Let there be no ...
/i/immediately.htm - 35k

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

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

Why is there a curse associated with hanging on a tree? | GotQuestions.org

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