FIG TREE (fig), (Heb. Y7, teh-ane', or Ni1:11, leh-av-naw' ; Gr. crilcov, soo' kon), the fruit of the well-known tree.
(1) The first notice of the fig-tree occurs in Gen. iii :7, where Adam and Eve are described as sew ing fig-leaves together, to make themselves aprons. The common fig-leaf is not so well suited, from its lobed nature, for this purpose; but the practice of sewing or pinning leaves together is very com mon in the East even in the present day, and baskets, dishes and umbrellas are made of leaves so pinned or sewn together. The fig-tree is enum erated (Deut. viii :8 ; comp. Is. xxxiv :4) as one of the valuable products of Palestine, `a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates.' (2) It has been cultivated in Palestine from re mote times, and is also found in a wild state. It does not grow to a great height, but throws out a profusion of very spreading branches, and the trunk is often three feet in diameter. Five-lobed leaves luxuriantly clothe these limbs, and often convert this tree into a beautiful natural arbor (I Kings iv :25; 2 Kings xviii :3t ; Is. xxxvi rt6; Mic. iv :4 ; Zech. iii :to; John i :48).
The fruit is pear-shaped, and the small green figs appear before the leaves. When these figs have attained some size, their interior will be found filled with minute white flowers. This curious provision leads to the common impression that this tree never blossoms. When the leaves have ap peared. if there be no fruit among them, the fig tree will be barren for the present season (Matt. xxi :19).
(3) Figs are much used as food in all Eastern lands. Two kinds of this fruit are mentioned.in the Bible. (a) The early fig, or boccore, of which a few ripen and are gathered in June (Is. xxviii: 4 ; Hos. ix :TO; Mic. vii :1). while the most of this early fruit falls off before it is perfected (Rev. vi: 13). (b) The main crop, or kerinouse, ordinarily does not ripen till August. These are the "green figs" of Cant. ii :13. "Bethphage" means "house of green figs." A long dark-colored kermouse some times hangs upon the trees all winter.
These various kinds of figs are eaten as they come from the tree, and are also dried in masses or cakes (I Sam. xxv :t8). They seem to have been an ordinary article of .food, and to have pos sessed medicinal properties (2 Kings xx:7; Chron. xii :40).
The putting forth of the fig-tree was one of the earliest indications of summer (Cant. ii:t3; Matt. xxiv :32; Luke xxi :29; and a failure of its fruit was a great calamity (Jer. v :17; viii :13; Joel i :7, 12 ; Hatt. iii :17, 18).
FiguratiVe. (I) The fie-tree is referred to as ene of the signs of prosperity (1 Kings iv :25). 'And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree.' (2) And its failure is noted as a sign of affliction (Ps. cv:33). 'He smote their fig-trees and broke, the trees of their coasts.' (3) The Jewish nation is likened to a barren fig-tree, spared another year at the request of the dresser. When our Savior came into the world, and for more than three years exercised his public ministry among them, how barren were they, and how ripe for destruc tion ! I3ut by His intercession and the prayers of His apostles, they were spared till it was seen that the preaching of the gospel had no good effect on the greater part of them ; and were afterward cut off with terrible destruction (Luke xiii :6-9). (4) They were also shadowed forth by the fig-tree with fair leaves, but no fruit, which Jesus cursed into barrenness and withering; they had many showy pretenses to holiness and zeal, but were destitute of good works and refused to believe in and receive the promised Messiah (Matt. xxi :19). (5) The cursing of the fig-tree hy our Savior (Mark xi:13, 2t) has occasioned great perplexity. This incident occurred about the beginning of April, when, as the evangelist states, the time for figs had not come. Why, then, should Christ seek figs upon the tree and, as it were, blame its bar renness? The best reply seems to be: because the tree was in leaf ; and when the tree was .in this state, abnormal though it were, fruit might be expected. Dr. Thompson, as the result of his ob servation, considers it not at all impossible that the early variety of this tree might have ripe fruit in the warm, sheltered ravines of Olivet at Easter. If there was no fruit on this leafy tree it might justly be condemned as barren ; and hence the propriety of the lesson it was made to teach—that those who put forth in profusion only the leaves of empty profession are nigh unto cursing.