A Study on The Fruits Mentioned in the Bible

성서에 언급된 과실에 관한 연구

This paper is intended to find out what kinds of fruits are mentioned in the Bible and how they were used in those days. It has also analyzed in what terms they are expressed in the Korean Version of the Bible and studied agricultural regulations involved in the religion, and allegorical uses of the fruits. Olives were the primary fruit in the economy of the ancient times, followed by figs and vines. In addition, there are mentioned in the Bible almonds, apples, dates. mulberries and pomegranates. Olive trees have been grown for more than six thousand years. The Hebrew word. Zayit is mentioned in the Bible more than fifty times. Olive trees are not so beautiful in themselves but as they give us humans abundant reap and a lot of oil, they have been thought to be beautiful. Olive trees grow well on the seaside in the salty air and fog. Vines began to grown as early as in the Bronze Age(the period of 3000 to 2000 B.C.). In Northern Greece, grape seeds were found to belong to the year 4500 B.C. or so. The vine gardens produced raisins and wine as well as vines. Figs are the fruit which are first mentioned in the Bible(Genesis 3:7) and they were the precious product of the Palestine people, which is described in Deuteronomy 8:8. Figs are sweet and watery and can easily quench thirst on hot summer days. They were used for cookies and wine in the raw or dried state. An apple, which is tappuah in Hebrew, is mentioned as 'Sagwa' six times in the Revised Korean Version, and in the Korean Joint Version it is twice mentioned as 'Sagwa' and as 'Neungum' four times. In ASV and KJV, 'apple' appears eleven times. which is because' the apple of eye' is translated in the 'Nun-dong-ja(the pupil of the eye)'In the Korean Version. 'Sagwa(apple)'of Proverb 25:11, the Song of Songs 2:3, 2:5, 7:8, 8:5 and Joel 1 :12 have been thought to be doubtful. because apple trees cannot be grown in the areas mentioned in the Bible. Some maintain that the apples in the Bible refer to apricots(Prunus armeniaca, Citrus medica L.) or golden oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Obsbeck) which is confusing. In the Revised Korean Version, 'Salgu(apricots)' appears eight times while ASV and KJV translate almond into 'Salgu'. So since translating a genuine apricot into 'Salgu' can be confusing, a great care should be taken in the translation into Korean. Some hold that as some papyri arround the year 1200 B.C. describes pomegranate, apple, olive and fig trees growing on the Nile delta, tappuah rightly refers to 'Sagwa(apple)' In the Korean Joint Version, Sagwa and Neungum are used together to refer to the same fruit, which should be avoided. It is desirable to use the same word for the same thing. Sagwa' showing up six times In the HeL.Ised Korean Version should all be replaced by 'Neungum' Dates symbolized peace and abundance were used for food in the raw or dried state, and were made into honey. Pomegranates can be eaten in the raw state and be used for sherbets and wine. Juice made of promegranates can be mixed with wine and drunk.