In the biblical context, "summer-fruit" refers to the ripe produce harvested during the summer season, symbolizing abundance, maturity, and often, impending judgment. The term is notably mentioned in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament, where it carries both literal and metaphorical significance.

Biblical References:

1. Amos 8:1-2 : "This is what the Lord GOD showed me: I saw a basket of summer fruit. 'What do you see, Amos?' He asked. 'A basket of summer fruit,' I replied. Then the LORD said to me, 'The end has come for My people Israel; I will no longer spare them.'" In this passage, the vision of summer fruit serves as a poignant metaphor for the nation of Israel. Just as summer fruit is ripe and ready to be consumed, so too is Israel ripe for judgment due to their persistent disobedience and social injustices. The imagery underscores the immediacy and inevitability of God's judgment.

2. Jeremiah 40:10 : "As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. But you, harvest the wine, summer fruit, and oil, and store them in your jars; and live in the cities you have taken over." Here, the mention of summer fruit is part of a practical instruction given to the remnant of Judah after the Babylonian conquest. It highlights the importance of gathering and preserving the produce of the land for sustenance and survival during a time of political upheaval.

Symbolism and Themes:

· Abundance and Provision: Summer fruit, being the product of the harvest season, symbolizes God's provision and the natural cycle of growth and abundance. It reflects the blessings that come from the land when the people are obedient to God's commandments.

· Judgment and Ripeness: The metaphor of summer fruit as used in Amos signifies the ripeness of Israel's sins and the consequent readiness for divine judgment. The imagery suggests that just as fruit cannot remain unharvested indefinitely, so too can sin not go unpunished forever.

· Temporal Nature of Life: The fleeting nature of summer fruit, which must be consumed or preserved quickly before it spoils, serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the urgency of repentance and righteousness.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, the agricultural calendar was central to daily life and religious observance. The harvest of summer fruits such as figs, grapes, and olives was a time of celebration and thanksgiving. These fruits were not only staples of the diet but also integral to the economy and religious offerings. The imagery of summer fruit would have been immediately understood by the original audience as a symbol of both blessing and the potential for decay if not properly attended to.

Theological Implications:

The use of summer fruit in biblical prophecy serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the moral order He has established. It calls believers to reflect on their own lives, ensuring that they are producing the fruits of righteousness and are prepared for the eventual harvest of their deeds. The imagery challenges the faithful to remain vigilant and responsive to God's call, recognizing that divine judgment, like the harvest, is both certain and imminent.7019c. qayits -- summer, summer fruit
... 7019b, 7019c. qayits. 7020 . summer, summer fruit. Transliteration: qayits
Short Definition: summer. Word Origin from the same as ...
/hebrew/7019c.htm - 5k

7019. qayits -- to awake
... summer fruit, house From quwts; harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain
or fruit) or the (dry) season -- summer (fruit, house). see HEBREW quwts. ...
/hebrew/7019.htm - 5k

Ripe for Gathering
... 'Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.2. And
He said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/ripe for gathering.htm

Original Preface.
... and learned author of this little book, having outrun his years, hastened to a maturity
before the ordinary season, insomuch that ripe summer fruit was found ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/original preface.htm

Amos
... vii.1-6, the vision of the plumbline, symbolical of the straightness to which Israel
has failed to conform, vii.7-9, the vision of the summer fruit, which, by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/amos.htm

The Life of Mr. Thomas Hog.
... custom (though she had been ever affable at table) knocked gently at the door, and
invited him to go and partake with her of a present of summer fruit; he went ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr thomas.htm

Amos and Obadiah.
... (the conflict with Amaziah), 7:10-17. 4. A basket of summer fruit. (iniquity
ripe for punishment), Ch.8. 5. The destruction of the altar. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xix amos and obadiah.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... of a seething pot with the face towards the north (Jer.1:13); Ezekiel's vision of
the cherubim (chap.1); and Amos' vision of a basket of summer fruit (chap.8:2 ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

The Strait Gate;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the strait gate.htm

Summer-fruit (3 Occurrences)
Summer-fruit. Summered, Summer-fruit. Summerhouse . Multi-Version
Concordance Summer-fruit (3 Occurrences). 2 Samuel ...
/s/summer-fruit.htm - 7k

Summer (28 Occurrences)
... Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and
summerfruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint ...
/s/summer.htm - 17k

Ripe (29 Occurrences)
... NAS RSV NIV). Amos 8:1 Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, a basket
of summerfruit. (See NIV). Amos 8:2 He said, "Amos, what ...
/r/ripe.htm - 16k

Basket (40 Occurrences)
... It stood for a basket that was used in fruit-gathering (see Jeremiah 24:1), but
how it differed from Amos' "basket of summerfruit" (Amos 8:1) we do not know. ...
/b/basket.htm - 27k

Wearied (36 Occurrences)
... king saith unto Ziba, 'What -- these to thee?' and Ziba saith, 'The asses for the
household of the king to ride on, and the bread and the summer-fruit for the ...
/w/wearied.htm - 17k

Ride (31 Occurrences)
... Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and
summerfruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint ...
/r/ride.htm - 17k

Refresh (18 Occurrences)
... Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and
summerfruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint ...
/r/refresh.htm - 13k

Exhausted (26 Occurrences)
... Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and
summerfruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint ...
/e/exhausted.htm - 13k

Meanest (4 Occurrences)
... And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and
summerfruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint ...
/m/meanest.htm - 7k

Summered (1 Occurrence)

/s/summered.htm - 6k

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