Biblical References and Symbolism

Apples are mentioned in the Bible primarily in poetic and symbolic contexts, often representing beauty, love, and sustenance. The Hebrew word often translated as "apple" is "tappuach," though some scholars suggest it may refer to a generic fruit or a specific type of fruit native to the region, such as the apricot or quince. Despite this ambiguity, the apple has traditionally been understood in many translations and interpretations as the fruit in question.

Song of Solomon

The apple is prominently featured in the Song of Solomon, a book known for its rich imagery and celebration of love. In Song of Solomon 2:3 , the beloved is compared to an apple tree: "Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste." Here, the apple tree symbolizes the beloved's uniqueness and desirability, offering shade and sweet sustenance.

In Song of Solomon 7:8 , the imagery of the apple is used again: "I said, 'I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.' May your breasts be like clusters of grapes on the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples." This verse continues the theme of romantic and sensual imagery, with apples representing the allure and fragrance of the beloved.

Proverbs

In Proverbs 25:11 , apples are used metaphorically to describe the value of well-spoken words: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." This proverb highlights the beauty and worth of timely and wise speech, comparing it to the aesthetic and precious nature of golden apples.

Symbolism in Christian Tradition

In Christian tradition, apples have often been associated with the account of the Fall in Genesis, although the Bible does not specify the type of fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The association likely stems from the Latin word "malum," which means both "apple" and "evil." This linguistic connection, along with artistic depictions, has led to the apple being symbolically linked to sin and temptation.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, apples and similar fruits were cultivated and valued for their taste and nutritional benefits. The climate and soil of the region supported the growth of various fruit trees, making them a common and cherished part of the diet. Apples, or similar fruits, would have been familiar to the original audience of the biblical texts, enhancing the imagery used by the biblical authors.

Conclusion

While the exact identity of the "apple" in biblical texts may be debated, its symbolic use in Scripture is clear. Apples represent beauty, love, and the value of wise words, enriching the biblical narrative with their vivid imagery and cultural significance.APPLES OF SODOM

sod'-um: Josephus (BJ, IV, viii, 4) says that "the traces (or shadows) of the five cities (of the plain) are still to be seen, as well as the ashes growing in their fruits, which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be eaten; but if you pluck them with your hands they dissolve into smoke and ashes." What this "Dead Sea fruit" is, is uncertain. The name "Dead Sea apples" is often given to the fruit of the Solanum Sodomaean "a prickly shrub with fruit not unlike a small yellow tomato." Cheyne thinks that the fruits referred to by Josephus (compare Tacitus Hist. v.37) may be either

(1) those of the `osher tree (`usar, Calotropis procera, described by Hasselquist (Travels, 1766)), found in abundance about Jericho and near the Dead Sea, which are filled with dust when they have been attacked by an insect, leaving the skin only entire, and of a beautiful color. Tristram describes the fruit as being "as large as an apple of average size, of a bright yellow color, hanging three or four together close to the stem"; or as suggested by Tristram

(2) those of the wild colocynth; the fruit is fair of aspect with a pulp which dries up into a bitter powder (EB, article "Sodom," col. 4669, note 2). This colocynth is supposed to be the "wild vine" mentioned 2 Kings 4:39. The "vine of Sodom" of Deuteronomy 32:32 has been supposed to bear the "Dead Sea fruit"; but most modern writers regard the passage as figurative.

W. L. Walker

1054. Beth-tappuach -- "place of apples," a place in Judah
... Beth-tappuach. 1055 . "place of apples," a place in Judah. Transliteration:
Beth-tappuach Phonetic Spelling: (bayth tap-poo'-akh) Short Definition: Beth-tappuah ...
/hebrew/1054.htm - 6k

8598. tappuach -- apple tree, apple
... Definition: tree. Word Origin from naphach Definition apple tree, apple NASB
Word Usage apple tree (3), apples (3). apple tree. From ...
/hebrew/8598.htm - 6k

Stay Me with Flowers, Strew Me with Apples; for I am Sick of Love.
... CHAPTER II. 5. Stay me with flowers, strew me with apples; for I am sick
of love. The Bridegroom has no sooner thus ordered charity ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/5 stay me with flowers.htm

The Apple Trees
... "Have you never been into an orchard, and seen the apples that had dropped
from the trees, and had been left lying on the ground? ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xix the apple trees.htm

A Downward Step.
... The greetings over, Bessie was contemplating a ramble where she had noticed some
large red apples hanging; but just then her aunt said, "Bessie, you must not ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter vii a downward step.htm

Psalm LXXIX.
... 2. "They have defiled Thy holy Temple, they have made Jerusalem for a keeping of
apples." "They have made the dead bodies of Thy servants morsels for the fowls ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxix.htm

The Question of the Tall Gentleman as to Whether Diamond could ...
... Little Boy Blue lost his way in a wood. Sing apples and cherries, roses and honey; ...
He sang, "This wood is all my own,. Apples and cherries, roses and honey; ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 20 the question of.htm

The Story of one Furlough (1908-1910)
... Before leaving China for Canada my husband had said to me: "Do not stint the children
with apples; give them all they want." But when I began housekeeping I ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/vii the story of one.htm

The Testament of Issachar Concerning Simplicity.
... forth. Now these mandrakes were sweet-smelling apples which the land of
Aram produced on high ground below a ravine of water. And ...
/.../v the testament of issachar concerning.htm

"Ye are the Branches"
... If I want good apples, I must have a good apple tree; and if I care for the health
of the apple tree, the apple tree will give me good apples. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/absolute surrender/ye are the branches.htm

Chapter ii.
... 5. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love.5. Stay me
with flowers, strew me with apples; for I am sick of love.6. His left hand is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/chapter ii.htm

Chapter vii
... up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof; now also thy breasts
shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; 8. I ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/chapter vii.htm

Apples (11 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia APPLES OF SODOM. sod'-um ... figurative. WL Walker.
Multi-Version Concordance Apples (11 Occurrences). 1 ...
/a/apples.htm - 11k

Love-apples (3 Occurrences)
Love-apples. Love, Love-apples. Loved . Multi-Version Concordance
Love-apples (3 Occurrences). Genesis 30:14 And Reuben ...
/l/love-apples.htm - 7k

Appletree
... thee forth." Of the fruit it is said, Songs 2:3: "His fruit was sweet to my taste";
Songs 2:5: "Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples"; Songs 7:8 ...
/a/appletree.htm - 10k

Apple-tree (3 Occurrences)
... thee forth." Of the fruit it is said, Songs 2:3: "His fruit was sweet to my taste";
Songs 2:5: "Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples"; Songs 7:8 ...
/a/apple-tree.htm - 11k

Crowns (27 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:18 And he made ornaments of apples; and two lines of apples all round
over the network, covering the crowns of the pillars, the two crowns in the ...
/c/crowns.htm - 14k

Apple (8 Occurrences)
... (Hebrews tappuah, meaning "fragrance"). Probably the apricot or quince is intended
by the word, as Palestine was too hot for the growth of apples proper. ...
/a/apple.htm - 17k

Lines (42 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:18 And he made ornaments of apples; and two lines of apples all round
over the network, covering the crowns of the pillars, the two crowns in the ...
/l/lines.htm - 19k

Cups (28 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:42 And the four hundred apples for the network, two lines of apples for
every network, covering the two cups of the crowns on the pillars; (BBE). ...
/c/cups.htm - 15k

Sodom (49 Occurrences)
... at the northern end of the sea. [in 1897]. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
APPLES OF SODOM. sod'-um: Josephus (BJ, IV, viii, 4) says ...
/s/sodom.htm - 28k

Ornaments (50 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:18 And he made ornaments of apples; and two lines of apples all round
over the network, covering the crowns of the pillars, the two crowns in the ...
/o/ornaments.htm - 22k

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