King James Bible Dictionary

First mentioned in Genesis 3:7. The fig-tree is mentioned (Deuteronomy 8:8) as one of the valuable products of Palestine. It was a sign of peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10). Figs were used medicinally (2 Kings 20:7), and pressed together and formed into "cakes" as articles of diet (1 Samuel 30:12; Jeremiah 24:2).

Our Lord's cursing the fig-tree near Bethany (Mark 11:13) has occasioned much perplexity from the circumstance, as mentioned by the evangelist, that "the time of figs was not yet." The explanation of the words, however, lies in the simple fact that the fruit of the fig-tree appears before the leaves, and hence that if the tree produced leaves it ought also to have had fruit. It ought to have had fruit if it had been true to its "pretensions," in showing its leaves at this particular season. "This tree, so to speak, vaunted itself to be in advance of all the other trees, challenged the passer-by that he should come and refresh himself with its fruit. Yet when the Lord accepted its challenge and drew near, it proved to be but as the others, without fruit as they; for indeed, as the evangelist observes, the time of figs had not yet arrived. Its fault, if one may use the word, lay in its pretensions, in its making a show to run before the rest when it did not so indeed" (Trench, Miracles).

The fig-tree of Palestine (Ficus carica) produces two and sometimes three crops of figs in a year, (1) the bikkurah, or "early-ripe fig" (Micah 7:1; Isaiah 28:4; Hosea 9:10, R.V.), which is ripe about the end of June, dropping off as soon as it is ripe (Nahum 3:12); (2) the kermus, or "summer fig," then begins to be formed, and is ripe about August; and (3) the pag (plural "green figs," Song of Solomon 2:13; Gr. olynthos, Revelation 6:13, "the untimely fig"), or "winter fig," which ripens in sheltered spots in spring.

Common to Palestine
Numbers 13:23; Deuteronomy 8:8

Common to Egypt
Psalms 105:33

Employed as a remedy
2 Kings 20:7; Isaiah 38:21

Traffic in
Nehemiah 13:15

Dried and preserved
1 Samuel 30:12

Cakes of, sent by Abigail to David
1 Samuel 25:18-35

Aprons made of fig leaves, by Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:7

FIG, noun [Latin ficus; Heb.]

1. The fruit of the fig tree, which is of a round or oblong shape, and a dark purplish color, with a pulp of a sweet taste. But the varieties are numerous; some being blue, others red, and others of a dark brown color.

2. The fig tree.

FIG, verb transitive

1. To insult with ficoes or contemptuous motions of the fingers. [Little used.]

2. To put something useless into one's head. [Not used.]

FIG'-APPLE, noun A species of apple.

FIG'-GNAT, noun An insect of the fly kind.

FIG'-LEAF, noun The leaf of a fig tree; also, a thin covering in allusion to the first covering of Adam and Eve.