Topical Bible: Figs

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Introduction:
Figs are one of the most frequently mentioned fruits in the Bible, symbolizing prosperity, peace, and divine judgment. The fig tree, its fruit, and its leaves hold significant cultural, economic, and spiritual importance throughout biblical narratives.

Biblical References:

1. Creation and Early Mentions:
The fig tree is first mentioned in the context of the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they realized their nakedness and sewed fig leaves together to make loincloths (Genesis 3:7). This early mention highlights the fig tree's presence from the beginning of human history.

2. Symbol of Prosperity and Peace:
Figs are often associated with abundance and peace. In the description of the Promised Land, it is noted as "a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey" (Deuteronomy 8:8). The presence of fig trees is a sign of divine blessing and prosperity.

3. Judgment and Prophecy:
The fig tree is also used as a symbol of judgment. In Jeremiah 8:13 , God declares, "I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, no figs on the tree, and even the leaves will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them." This passage illustrates the removal of blessings as a form of divine judgment.

4. Jesus and the Fig Tree:
In the New Testament, Jesus uses the fig tree in His teachings and actions. In Matthew 21:18-19 , Jesus curses a barren fig tree, causing it to wither. This act serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual fruitlessness and the consequences of failing to live up to God's expectations.

5. Parables and Teachings:
Jesus also uses the fig tree in parables to convey spiritual truths. In Luke 13:6-9 , He tells the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, where a landowner seeks fruit from a fig tree but finds none. The gardener pleads for more time to cultivate it, symbolizing God's patience and the opportunity for repentance.

6. Signs of the End Times:
The fig tree is used as a sign of the times in eschatological teachings. In Matthew 24:32-33 , Jesus says, "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door." The fig tree here serves as an indicator of the approaching fulfillment of prophetic events.

Cultural and Economic Significance:
In biblical times, figs were a staple food and a valuable commodity. They were eaten fresh or dried and were often used in cakes and other preparations (1 Samuel 25:18). The fig tree's ability to produce fruit multiple times a year made it a reliable source of sustenance.

Spiritual Lessons:
The fig tree and its fruit are rich in spiritual symbolism. They remind believers of the importance of bearing spiritual fruit, the consequences of spiritual barrenness, and the hope of restoration and blessing through repentance and faithfulness to God.

Greek

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

4808. suke -- a fig tree
... The fig tree bears bountiful figs, ripening principally in the month of
August. ["Early figs" ripen in June -- and a later (second ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4808.htm - 6k

3653. olunthos -- an unripe fig
... the spring. Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition an unripe fig NASB
Word Usage unripe figs (1). an unripe fig. Of uncertain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3653.htm - 6k

4811. sukophanteo -- to accuse falsely
... From a compound of sukon and a derivative of phaino; to be a fig-informer (reporter
of the law forbidding the exportation of figs from Greece), "sycophant", ie ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4811.htm - 7k

4810. sukon -- a fig
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a fig NASB Word Usage figs (4). fig. Apparently
a primary word; a fig -- fig. (suka) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4810.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1690. debelah -- a lump (of pressed figs), a pressed (fig) cake
... a lump (of pressed figs), a pressed (fig) cake. Transliteration: debelah Phonetic
Spelling: (deb-ay-law') Short Definition: cake. ... cake lump of figs. ...
/hebrew/1690.htm - 6k

1103. balas -- to gather figs
... 1102, 1103. balas. 1104 . to gather figs. Transliteration: balas Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-las') Short Definition: figs. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1103.htm - 5k

8384. teenah -- fig tree
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition fig tree NASB Word Usage fig (1),
fig tree (17), fig trees (6), figs (14), figs on the fig tree (1). ...
/hebrew/8384.htm - 6k

6291. paggah -- an early fig
... 6290, 6291. paggah. 6292 . an early fig. Transliteration: paggah Phonetic
Spelling: (pag) Short Definition: figs. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/6291.htm - 5k

Library

Of the Boys who when Bringing to a Sick Man Some Figs, Died in the ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XL. Of the boys who when bringing to a sick man some figs,
died in the desert from hunger, without having tasted them. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xl of the boys.htm

The Figtree Hath Put Forth Her Green Figs, and the Flowering vines ...
... CHAPTER II. 13. The figtree hath put forth her green figs, and the flowering
vines give a good smell. Arise my love, my fair one, come. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/13 the figtree hath put.htm

Bethany. Beth-Hene.
... R. Eleazar saith, Until the last ceases in Gush Chalab" (in the tribe of Asher).
"They eat dry figs, until green figs cease in Beth-hene. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 41 bethany beth-hene.htm

The Release of Hope. (xxiv, xxix. )
... Once more the Word of the Lord starts to him from a vision, this time of two baskets,
one of good the other of bad figs, which the Lord, he says, caused me to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 the release of hope.htm

The Malignity of the Devil as an Imitator in all Things; Two Kinds ...
... For we find in the Sacred Writings that there are two kinds of fig-trees and vines,
"the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil;" [2792] "wine that ...
/.../chapter v the malignity of the.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree
... afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find anything thereon: and when
He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 12-14 20-25 the barren.htm

The Meaning of the Name Stromata or Miscellanies.
... Just so our Stromata, according to the husbandman of the comic poet Timocles, produce
"figs, olives, dried figs, honey, as from an all-fruitful field;" on ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter ii the meaning of the.htm

Epistle xxxix. To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria.
... For, as to what you have said about the fig-tree, Augustine speaks aptly in the
same sense; for, when the evangelist subjoined, For the time of figs was not ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxxix to eulogius patriarch.htm

A Doomed People
... afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find anything thereon: and when
He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 64 a doomed people.htm

The Fig-Tree.
... It was now only the Passover season (the month of April); summer"the time for ripe
figs"was yet distant; and as it is one of the peculiarities of the tree ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xix the fig-tree.htm

Thesaurus

Figs (27 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Figs (27 Occurrences). Matthew 7:16 By their fruits you
will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? ...
/f/figs.htm - 15k

Sycamore-figs (1 Occurrence)
Sycamore-figs. Sycamore-fig, Sycamore-figs. Sycamores . Multi-Version
Concordance Sycamore-figs (1 Occurrence). Psalms ...
/s/sycamore-figs.htm - 6k

Figtree
... fig'-tre (te'enah, plural te'enim, specially "figs"; paggim, "green figs" only in
Songs 2:13; suke, "fig-tree," sukon, "fig"): 1. Fig-Trees in the Old Testament ...
/f/figtree.htm - 15k

Badness (5 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs first ripe; and the other
basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten for badness. (DBY YLT). ...
/b/badness.htm - 8k

Rottenness (9 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first-ripe;
and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, they were so ...
/r/rottenness.htm - 10k

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)
... fig'-tre (te'enah, plural te'enim, specially "figs"; paggim, "green figs" only in
Songs 2:13; suke, "fig-tree," sukon, "fig"): 1. Fig-Trees in the Old Testament ...
/f/fig-tree.htm - 26k

Naughty (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Naughty figs. (Jeremiah 24:2). "The bad figs may
have been such either from having decayed, and thus been ...
/n/naughty.htm - 9k

Bunch (6 Occurrences)
... Bunch (6 Occurrences). Matthew 7:16 By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather
a bunch of grapes from thorns, or from thistles figs? (DBY). ...
/b/bunch.htm - 9k

First-ripe (7 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first-ripe;
and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, they were so ...
/f/first-ripe.htm - 8k

Plaster (13 Occurrences)
... PLASTER (2). plas'-ter (marach): Only used in Isaiah 38:21 of the application
of the cake of figs to the boil from which Hezekiah suffered. ...
/p/plaster.htm - 13k

Resources

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that you will know them by their fruit in Matthew 7:16? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Egypt in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Figs (27 Occurrences)

Matthew 7:16
By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 11:13
Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 6:44
For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don't gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

James 3:12
Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 6:13
The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 13:23
They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two; they brought also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 20:5
Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 30:12
They gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins. when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 16:1
When David was a little past the top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 20:7
Isaiah said, "Take a cake of figs." They took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 12:40
Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and cattle, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS RSV)

Nehemiah 13:15
In those days saw I in Judah some men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys therewith; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Song of Songs 2:13
The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 34:4
And all the host of heaven shall moulder away, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig-tree.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 38:21
Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 8:13
I will utterly consume them, says Yahweh: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 24:1
Yahweh showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of Yahweh, after that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 24:2
One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first-ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 24:3
Then said Yahweh to me, What do you see, Jeremiah? I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, that can't be eaten, they are so bad.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 24:5
Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so will I regard the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, for good.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 24:8
As the bad figs, which can't be eaten, they are so bad, surely thus says Yahweh, So will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 29:17
thus says Yahweh of Armies; Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that can't be eaten, they are so bad.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 27:17
Judah, and the land of Israel, they were your traffickers: they traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, and confections, and honey, and oil, and balm.
(See RSV)

Amos 7:14
Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs;
(WEB NAS)

Micah 7:1
Sorrow is mine! for I am as when they have got in the summer fruits, like the last of the grapes: there is nothing for food, not even an early fig for my desire.
(See NIV)

Nahum 3:12
All your fortresses will be like fig trees with the first-ripe figs: if they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Figs

Related Terms

Figs (27 Occurrences)

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)

Food (2953 Occurrences)

Locust (25 Occurrences)