GRAPE (Jewish Encyclopedia)

From BibleWiki

The fruit of the grape-vine. The general Hebrew term for ripe grapes when not in clusters is (missing hebrew text) (Gen 40:10-11), and of grapes in clusters, (missing hebrew text) (Num 13:23). There are other terms for different kinds of grapes and for grapes in different stages of development; as (missing hebrew text) for unripe or sour grapes (Isa 18:5); (missing hebrew text) for wild grapes (Isa 5:2, 4); (missing hebrew text) for grapes that fall off when ripe (Lev 19:10); (missing hebrew text) for gleaned grapes (Jdg 8:2); (missing hebrew text) for dried grapes or raisins (1Sam 25:18; 2 Sam 16:1). According to R. Judah, (missing hebrew text) and (missing hebrew text) (Num 6:4) respectively represent the skin and the seed of the grape; but according to R. Jose, whose interpretation has been accepted by later commentators, (missing hebrew text) is the skin, (missing hebrew text) the seed (Naz. 34b). A word which has given rise to discussion is (missing hebrew text) (Song 2:13, 15; vii. 12). According to Gesenius ("Th."), who is followed by other commentators, it means "grape-blossom," while Ibn Janaḥ and David Ḳimḥi thought it meant the young grape which appears immediately after the opening of the blossom (see Rubens Duval in "R. E. J." xiv. 277 et seq.). R. Jose, prohibiting the "semadar" in the first three years, likewise considered it as a fruit ('Orlah i. 7).

Grapes are referred to in the Bible and Talmud in symbolical senses. As grapes can not be found after vintage, neither can the good and upright man be discovered by diligent searching in Israel (Mic 7:1, 2). "The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's tẹeth are set on edge" (Ezek 18:2); "When the vintagers come to thee they will not leave even the grape-gleanings" (Jer 49:9, Hebr.); that is, when the enemy comes he will carry off everything. A man who marries his daughter to a scholar ("talmid ḥakam") is like one who mingles vine grapes with vine grapes, but he who marries his daughter to an ignorant man ("'am ha-areẓ") is like one who mingles vine grapes with the berries of the thorn-bush (Pes. 49a). According to R. Aibu, the forbidden fruit which Eve ate was that of the vine (Gen. R. xix. 8).