Lexical Summary beser: Ore, precious metal Original Word: בֶּסֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unripe grape From an unused root meaning to be sour; an immature grape -- unripe grape. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee boser. Topical Lexicon Literal Meaning and Agricultural Setting בֶּסֶר refers to the small, tart, undeveloped grape found on the vine before the normal ripening season. In the viticulture of the Ancient Near East, these grapes appeared after blossom set but well before the autumn harvest. They were of no practical use for either fresh eating or winemaking and were often removed to allow stronger clusters to mature. The single biblical appearance of the term (Job 15:33) relies on this familiar agricultural picture to communicate sterility and loss. Context in Job 15:33 Eliphaz warns the impenitent: “He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree shedding its blossoms” (Job 15:33). The simile draws on two simultaneous agricultural calamities: the premature loss of potential grapes and the withering of olive blossoms before fruit set. Both images stress futility—promise without fulfillment—underscoring Eliphaz’s contention that wickedness ultimately forfeits the very fruit it seems poised to yield. Symbolic Significance in Wisdom Literature 1. Premature Loss: Unripe grapes symbolize expectations dashed before maturity. Proverbs repeatedly contrasts the righteous, who bring forth lasting fruit (Proverbs 11:30; 12:14), with the wicked, whose produce crumbles. Theological Themes • Retributive Justice: Eliphaz’s use of בֶּסֶר aligns with the conventional belief that wickedness invites immediate, visible judgment. Even though the broader narrative of Job nuances that belief, the image itself remains a legitimate portrayal of divine recompense. Historical Background Grape cultivation thrived in the hill country of Judah, Israel, and Transjordan. Farmers recognized the importance of patient seasonal labor—from pruning in late winter to harvest in early autumn. Any disturbance—late frost, locusts, disease—could strip immature clusters, wasting an entire year’s work. Job’s audience, well acquainted with such risks, would grasp the severity of Eliphaz’s metaphor. Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes The exact Hebrew term does not reappear, yet the concept persists: Practical Ministry Application 1. Discipleship: Spiritual mentors can employ the unripe-grape motif to highlight the necessity of growth toward maturity before assuming leadership or making significant life decisions. Christological Connection Jesus identifies Himself as the true vine whose branches must “bear much fruit” (John 15:5). Apart from abiding in Him, even the appearance of fruitfulness proves illusory. בֶּסֶר foreshadows the barren destiny of branches severed from the vine, whereas abiding yields “fruit that will last” (John 15:16). Conclusion בֶּסֶר, though occurring only once, captures a timeless spiritual principle: fruit that detaches from the sustaining life of God before His appointed season is doomed to wither. The image urges believers toward patient perseverance, continual dependence on the true Vine, and a life that ripens into mature, enduring fruit for the glory of God. Forms and Transliterations בִּסְר֑וֹ בסרו bis·rōw bisRo bisrōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 15:33 HEB: יַחְמֹ֣ס כַּגֶּ֣פֶן בִּסְר֑וֹ וְיַשְׁלֵ֥ךְ כַּ֝זַּ֗יִת KJV: He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, INT: will drop the vine grape and will cast the olive 1 Occurrence |
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