The Definition of the word Fig

Fig

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.