In biblical literature, the term "unripe" is often used metaphorically to describe immaturity, incompleteness, or a lack of readiness. The concept of ripeness versus unripeness can be found in various passages, symbolizing spiritual growth, judgment, and the timing of God's plans.

Symbolism of Unripeness

1. Spiritual Immaturity: The idea of being unripe is frequently associated with spiritual immaturity or a lack of readiness to receive deeper truths. In Hebrews 5:12-14, the author admonishes believers for needing milk instead of solid food, indicating their spiritual immaturity. While the term "unripe" is not directly used, the metaphor of needing milk suggests a lack of ripeness in understanding and spiritual development.

2. Judgment and Timing: The concept of ripeness is also used in the context of divine judgment and the timing of God's actions. In Revelation 14:15-18, the imagery of the harvest is employed to describe the end times. The angel is instructed to reap the earth because "the harvest of the earth is ripe." Here, ripeness signifies the readiness for judgment, implying that unripeness would indicate a delay or incompleteness in God's timing.

3. Natural Order and Patience: The process of ripening is a natural one, requiring time and patience. James 5:7-8 encourages believers to be patient like a farmer waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, which must be allowed to ripen. This passage underscores the importance of patience and trust in God's timing, recognizing that spiritual growth and the fulfillment of God's promises occur in their due season.

Biblical References

· Job 15:33 : "He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms." This verse uses the imagery of unripe grapes to describe the fate of the wicked, suggesting a loss of potential and the failure to reach maturity or fulfillment.

· Isaiah 18:5 : "For before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the shoots with pruning knives and remove and discard the branches." This passage highlights the process of ripening and the divine intervention that occurs before the harvest, emphasizing God's control over the timing and outcome of events.

Theological Implications

The metaphor of unripeness in the Bible serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual maturity and readiness. It calls believers to grow in their faith, to be patient in awaiting God's timing, and to recognize the divine wisdom in the natural order of growth and fulfillment. The imagery of unripe fruit or crops serves as a powerful illustration of the consequences of spiritual immaturity and the necessity of being prepared for God's ultimate harvest.1. (a.) Not ripe; as, unripe fruit.

2. (a.) Developing too early; premature.

3653. olunthos -- an unripe fig
... an unripe fig. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: olunthos Phonetic
Spelling: (ol'-oon-thos) Short Definition: an unripe fig Definition: an unripe ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3653.htm - 6k

967. Bethphage -- "house of unripe figs," Bethphage, a village on ...
... "house of unripe figs," Bethphage, a village on the Mt. ... Word Origin of Aramaic origin
Definition "house of unripe figs," Bethphage, a village on the Mt. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/967.htm - 6k

1155. boser -- unripe or sour grapes
... 1154, 1155. boser. 1156 . unripe or sour grapes. Transliteration: boser
Phonetic Spelling: (bo'ser) Short Definition: grapes. Word ...
/hebrew/1155.htm - 6k

1154. beser -- unripe grape
... 1153, 1154. beser. 1155 . unripe grape. Transliteration: beser Phonetic Spelling:
(beh'-ser) Short Definition: grape. Word Origin see boser. unripe grape ...
/hebrew/1154.htm - 5k

648. aphil -- late
... not grown up. From the same as 'aphel (in the sense of weakness); unripe -- not
grown up. see HEBREW 'aphel. 647b, 648. aphil. 649 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/648.htm - 6k

6291. paggah -- an early fig
... green fig. From an unused root meaning to be torpid, ie Crude; an unripe fig --
green fig. 6290, 6291. paggah. 6292 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6291.htm - 5k

The Rule of Veiling not Applicable to Children.
... it is unlawful to deliver one to a husband except after the attestation by blood
of her maturity; [313] thus, before this indication, the nature is unripe. ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter xi the rule of veiling.htm

The Second Day in Passion-Week - the Barren Fig-Tree - the ...
... which is quite unusual at that season on the Mount of Olives, [5082] The old fruit
would, of course, have been edible, and in regard to the unripe fruit we ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the second day.htm

Whether Wine of the Grape is the Proper Matter of this Sacrament?
... sacrament. Objection 3: Further, just as the clarified wine is drawn from
grapes, so also are the juice of unripe grapes and must. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether wine of the grape.htm

Whether Children Should be Received in Religion?
... Now if any persons of unripe age bind themselves to religion, they can be withdrawn
by their parents or guardians. For it is written in the Decretals (XX, qu. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether children should be received.htm

Of the Sixth Seal.
... black as a sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven
fell upon the earth, as a fig-tree casteth forth its unripe fruit, when it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the sixth seal.htm

The Best Beloved
... can heartily say "we love him because we cannot help it, for his all-conquering
loveliness has quite ravished our hearts." Surely it is but an unripe fruit to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 24 1878/the best beloved.htm

The Beginning of Miracles.
... wrought the change. She knew that her son was no common man, and she believed
in him, with an unripe, unfeatured faith. This faith ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/ii the beginning of miracles.htm

Choosing the Tens
... year 1800 BC. Morning in the land of the Hebrew dawned over level fields,
green with unripe wheat and meadow grass. Wherever the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

And when the Ten Heard, they were Moved with Anger against James ...
... [18] [Arabic, p.119] [2140] And he hastened, and went before Jesus, and went up
into an unripe fig [19] tree [2141] to see Jesus: for he was to pass thus. ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxxi and when the.htm

The Sixth Seal.
... sun became black like sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood: and the
stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig-tree casteth its unripe figs, when ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the sixth seal.htm

Unripe (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not ripe; as, unripe fruit. 2. (a.) Developing
too early; premature. Multi-Version Concordance Unripe (6 Occurrences). ...
/u/unripe.htm - 8k

Blunted (5 Occurrences)
... NIV). Jeremiah 31:29 In those days they do not say any more: Fathers have
eaten unripe fruit, And the sons' teeth are blunted. (YLT). ...
/b/blunted.htm - 7k

Grape (20 Occurrences)
... 2:13, 15), "unripe" (Job 15:33), "sour" (Isaiah 18:5), "wild" (Isaiah 5:2,
4). (See Revelation 14:18; Micah 7:1; Jeremiah 6:9; Ezek. ...
/g/grape.htm - 13k

Sour (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (superl.) Having an acid or sharp, biting taste,
like vinegar, and the juices of most unripe fruits; acid; tart. ...
/s/sour.htm - 12k

Vine (76 Occurrences)
... Genesis 40:10 Deuteronomy 32:14 Isaiah 5:2, etc.); dam `anabhim, literally, "blood
of grapes," ie wine (Genesis 49:11); bocer, "the unripe grape" (Isaiah 18:5 ...
/v/vine.htm - 46k

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)
... These are the "unripe figs" (olunthos)-translated, more appropriately in the
King James Version, as "untimely figs"-of Revelation 6:13. ...
/f/fig-tree.htm - 26k

Fig (45 Occurrences)
... These are the "unripe figs" (olunthos)-translated, more appropriately in the
King James Version, as "untimely figs"-of Revelation 6:13. ...
/f/fig.htm - 33k

Verdant (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Unripe in knowledge or judgment; unsophisticated; raw; green; as, a verdant
youth. Multi-Version Concordance Verdant (1 Occurrence). ...
/v/verdant.htm - 6k

Unrighteousnesses (2 Occurrences)

/u/unrighteousnesses.htm - 7k

Unrolled (2 Occurrences)

/u/unrolled.htm - 6k

Unripe: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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