Reference: Fig
American
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; Na 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," Mt 24:32; Song 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, Mr 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," Mt 21:19.
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So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two full wineskins, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, one hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys.
As long as he lived, the people throughout Judah and Israel lived in safety. Each family had its own grapevines and fig trees.
Then Isaiah said: Get a fig cake, and put it on the boil so that the king will get well.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!'
The fading flower of his glorious beauty is found at the head of the fertile valley. He looks at the first-ripe fig before the summer. He picks it with his hand and eats it.
Isaiah said: Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.
One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs that could not be eaten because they were rotten.
Each man will sit under his vine and under his fig tree. No one will make them afraid! The mouth of Jehovah of Hosts has spoken.
All your defenses will be like fig trees with the ripe figs. When shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.
The fig tree will not flourish. There will be no fruit on the vines. The labor of the olive will fail and the fields will yield no food! The flock will be cut off from the fold and there will be no herd in the stalls.
In that day, said Jehovah of Hosts, you will invite every man and his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.'
He saw a fig tree along the side of the road. He went to it and saw nothing on it but leaves. He told it: You will not bare fruit from this time forward, forever. Immediately the fig tree became dry and dead.
Learn from the illustration of the fig tree. When the branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
He spoke about the tree that no man would ever eat fruit from it from that day forward.
Nathanael answered: Rabbi you are the Son of God. You are King of Israel. Jesus responded: I told you I saw you under the fig tree. Is this why you believe? You will see greater things than these. read more. Jesus continued: You will see the heavens opened and you will see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Easton
First mentioned in Ge 3:7. The fig-tree is mentioned (De 8:8) as one of the valuable products of Palestine. It was a sign of peace and prosperity (1Ki 4:25; Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10). Figs were used medicinally (2Ki 20:7), and pressed together and formed into "cakes" as articles of diet (1Sa 30:12; Jer 24:2).
Illustration: Branch of Fig-Tree
Our Lord's cursing the fig-tree near Bethany (Mr 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" (Mic 7:1; Isa 28:4; Ho 9:10, R.V.), which is ripe about the end of June, dropping off as soon as it is ripe (Na 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," Song 2:13; Gr. olynthos, Re 6:13, "the untimely fig"), or "winter fig," which ripens in sheltered spots in spring.
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Then the eyes of both of them were opened. They realized they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
The land has wheat and barley, grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates. The land has honey and olive trees for olive oil.
He also ate some dried figs, and two bunches of raisins. After he ate his strength returned. He had not eaten nor did he drank for three days.
As long as he lived, the people throughout Judah and Israel lived in safety. Each family had its own grapevines and fig trees.
Then Isaiah said: Get a fig cake, and put it on the boil so that the king will get well.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!'
The fading flower of his glorious beauty is found at the head of the fertile valley. He looks at the first-ripe fig before the summer. He picks it with his hand and eats it.
One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs that could not be eaten because they were rotten.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. They came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame. They became as detestable as that which they loved.
Each man will sit under his vine and under his fig tree. No one will make them afraid! The mouth of Jehovah of Hosts has spoken.
Too bad for me! For I am like the gathered summer fruit, as the grape gleanings of the vintage. There is no cluster to eat. I desire the first ripe fig.
All your defenses will be like fig trees with the ripe figs. When shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.
In that day, said Jehovah of Hosts, you will invite every man and his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.'
He saw a fig tree far off. When he got closer he found nothing but leaves for it was not the season of figs.
The stars of the sky fell to the earth, even as a fig tree drops her unripe figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind.
Fausets
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; Ho 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 (Song 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 Mr 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 Mt 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 (Am 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 (Mt 21:21). On Olivet too was spoken the parable of the budding fig tree, the sign of coming summer (Lu 21:29-30). The August figs are the sweetest and best.
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So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two full wineskins, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, one hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys.
As long as he lived, the people throughout Judah and Israel lived in safety. Each family had its own grapevines and fig trees.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!'
The fading flower of his glorious beauty is found at the head of the fertile valley. He looks at the first-ripe fig before the summer. He picks it with his hand and eats it.
Isaiah said: Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.
One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs that could not be eaten because they were rotten.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. They came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame. They became as detestable as that which they loved.
Of all the families of the earth I have chosen (known) only you. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.
Each man will sit under his vine and under his fig tree. No one will make them afraid! The mouth of Jehovah of Hosts has spoken.
Too bad for me! For I am like the gathered summer fruit, as the grape gleanings of the vintage. There is no cluster to eat. I desire the first ripe fig.
In that day, said Jehovah of Hosts, you will invite every man and his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.'
He saw a fig tree along the side of the road. He went to it and saw nothing on it but leaves. He told it: You will not bare fruit from this time forward, forever. Immediately the fig tree became dry and dead.
Jesus answered: If you have faith and do not doubt, I make this promise to you: You will be able to do what was done to this fig tree. When you say to this mountain, be moved into the sea, it will be done.
He told them an illustration: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they produce leaves you know that summer is near.
Nathanael asked: How do you know me? Jesus answered: I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.
Hastings
(te'
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So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two full wineskins, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, one hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys.
He also ate some dried figs, and two bunches of raisins. After he ate his strength returned. He had not eaten nor did he drank for three days.
Then Isaiah said: Get a fig cake, and put it on the boil so that the king will get well.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!'
The fading flower of his glorious beauty is found at the head of the fertile valley. He looks at the first-ripe fig before the summer. He picks it with his hand and eats it.
Jehovah will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon. That he may do his work, his awesome work, and bring to pass his act, his unusual act.
They will devour your harvest and your food. They will devour your sons and your daughters. They will devour your flocks and your herds. They will devour your vines and your fig trees. They will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.
One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs that could not be eaten because they were rotten.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. They came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame. They became as detestable as that which they loved.
Each man will sit under his vine and under his fig tree. No one will make them afraid! The mouth of Jehovah of Hosts has spoken.
Too bad for me! For I am like the gathered summer fruit, as the grape gleanings of the vintage. There is no cluster to eat. I desire the first ripe fig.
The fig tree will not flourish. There will be no fruit on the vines. The labor of the olive will fail and the fields will yield no food! The flock will be cut off from the fold and there will be no herd in the stalls.
In that day, said Jehovah of Hosts, you will invite every man and his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.'
He was hungry in the morning when he returned to the town. He saw a fig tree along the side of the road. He went to it and saw nothing on it but leaves. He told it: You will not bare fruit from this time forward, forever. Immediately the fig tree became dry and dead. read more. The disciples were surprised when they saw it. They asked how the fig tree became dry so quickly?
Learn from the illustration of the fig tree. When the branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
The next day they left Bethany. He was hungry. He saw a fig tree far off. When he got closer he found nothing but leaves for it was not the season of figs.
He saw a fig tree far off. When he got closer he found nothing but leaves for it was not the season of figs.
They passed by in the morning and saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. Peter remembered and said: Teacher look, the fig tree that you cursed is withered away.
Learn the illustration of the fig tree. When her branch is tender and she sprouts leaves you know summer is near. So when you see these things happening you know that he is near, even at the doors. read more. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away. No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven do not know. The Son of God does not know. Only the Father knows!
He told them an illustration: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they produce leaves you know that summer is near. read more. Even so, when you see these things coming to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near! Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away: but my words will not pass away.
The stars of the sky fell to the earth, even as a fig tree drops her unripe figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind.