(4), Orchard Fruits. Yitzhar, 'orchard-fruits,' especially winter or keeping fruits, as dates, figs, olives, pomegranates, citrons, nuts. etc. The etymology of yitzhar (whence perhaps the Saxon ortgeard, and the old English word hortsyard now orchard) quite accords with the claim ad vanced for it, as denoting a large and valuable class of fruits. Lexiconists properly refer it to the root tzhar, expressive of a bright, glowing and shining appearance.
As we distinguish dagan from hhittah/i (wheat) and tirosh from ousts and yayin, so must we yitzliar from shemcn, 'oil.' which are un fortunately confounded together in the common version. Shemen, beyond question, ig the proper word for oil, not yitzhar.
FiguratiVe. (1) Christ is the fruit of the earth ; his human body sprung of it (Is. iv:2). (2) The twelve manner of fruits which lie bears, and which are better than gold, are his various bless ings of righteousness, peace, pardon, acceptance, adoption, sanctification, comfort, and eternal glory, sufficient for all the tribes of the choscn Israel (Rev. xxii:2; Prov. viii :19). (3) The fruits of the Spirit are the gracious qualities, tem pers, comforts, and good works, which his in habitation and influence produce in the saints (Gal. v :22-24; Eph. v :9). (4) The fruits of the Gospel, are turning from idols, and other wicked ness, to God, believing on Christ, and the bring ing forth of good works (Col. i :6; Rom. i :13). (5) Saints are represented as frztit gathered (Is. xxvii:6; John iv :36); their goad fruit is the exercise of their graces and their good works; they are fruits of righteousness produced by the application of Jesus' righteousness to their souls (Matt. vii :18 and xii :33 . Gal. v :22-24; Prov. xi : 3o; Phil. i :ti; Jam. iii :1'8). (6) They are fruits meet for repeiztance ; e., such as mark the truth and sincerity of, and answer to a profession of it (Alatt. iii :8) ; and fruit unto holiness and life;
they mark the truth of our inward sanctification, and promote our holiness in themselves ; and they are a means of promoting life temporal, spiritual, and eternal, in ourselves and others (Rom. vi :22). (7) The fruit of the lips is either the comfortable doctrines of the gospel published by ministers; or the saints' praises and thanksgiving to God ; or their pious conferences and counsels (Is. Ivii 19; Heb. xiii :15; Prov. xii :14). (8) The fruit of the wicked is their evil works, in thought, word, or deed (Matt. vii :16) ; it is fruit Tinto death, as it tends to promote the spiritual and eternal death of themselves and others (Rom. vii :5, 13 ; Jain. i :15). Even their good-like fruit is fruit to themselves; springs from selfish prin ciples, is performed in their own strength, and di rected to selfish ends (Hos. X ; ZCC11. Viii :5) and it is withering fruit, which is not continued in, but they fall away, and grow worse and worse (Jude 12). (9) The fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, was his insolent blasphemies against God (Is. x:t2). (to) Liberal donations to such as are in need are called a fruit ; they proceed from a benevolent disposition, and are refreshing to such as receive them (Rom. xv :28; Phil. iv :17). (i 1) The fruit of men's ways or deeds, is the reward or punishment that follows on good or evil works (Prov. i :31; Is. iii :to).
Fruit is also employed symbolically in many other ways in the Scriptures, as of offspring, children (Exo(I. xxi :22 ; Ps. xxi :lo; Hos. ix:16) ; also in such phrases as "fruit of the womb" (Gen. xxx :2; Deut. vii :13, etc.) ; "fruit of the loins" (Acts ii :3o) ; "fruit of the body" (Ps. cxxxii :It ; Mic : vi :7).