Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, orchards were significant agricultural sites where various fruit trees were cultivated. The concept of an orchard is closely tied to the agrarian lifestyle of the ancient Near East, where the cultivation of fruit-bearing trees was essential for sustenance and economic prosperity. Orchards are mentioned in several passages throughout the Bible, symbolizing abundance, blessing, and sometimes judgment.
Biblical References:1.
Song of Solomon 4:13 · "Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest fruits, with henna and nard." In this poetic book, the orchard is used metaphorically to describe the beauty and richness of the beloved. The imagery of an orchard filled with pomegranates and other choice fruits evokes a sense of fertility and delight.
2.
Ecclesiastes 2:5 · "I made myself gardens and parks and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees." Here, Solomon reflects on his accomplishments, including the creation of gardens and orchards. This passage highlights the king's wealth and the importance of orchards as a symbol of prosperity and human achievement.
3.
Isaiah 1:30 · "For you will be like an oak whose leaves are withered, like a garden without water." While not directly mentioning an orchard, this verse uses the imagery of a garden to convey desolation and judgment. The absence of water, essential for the flourishing of an orchard, symbolizes spiritual dryness and the consequences of turning away from God.
4.
Joel 1:12 · "The vine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple—all the trees of the orchard—are withered. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away." In this prophetic book, the withering of the orchard trees serves as a metaphor for the devastation brought by locusts and drought, representing divine judgment and the loss of joy and sustenance.
Symbolism and Significance:Orchards in the Bible often symbolize fertility, abundance, and divine blessing. The presence of fruit-bearing trees in an orchard is a sign of God's provision and the land's productivity. In contrast, the withering or destruction of orchards can symbolize judgment, desolation, and the consequences of sin.
The cultivation of orchards required careful planning, planting, and maintenance, reflecting the diligence and stewardship expected of God's people. The imagery of an orchard is also used to describe the spiritual life, where believers are called to bear fruit in keeping with repentance and righteousness.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Israel, orchards were an integral part of the agricultural landscape. Common fruit trees included figs, olives, pomegranates, and dates. These fruits were not only staples in the diet but also held economic value, being traded and used in various religious and cultural practices.
The care of orchards involved knowledge of the seasons, soil, and water management, underscoring the connection between the land and the people. The cyclical nature of planting and harvest in orchards mirrored the spiritual cycles of growth, fruitfulness, and renewal in the life of the believer.
Overall, orchards in the Bible serve as a rich metaphor for God's provision, human responsibility, and the spiritual truths of growth and fruitfulness in the life of faith.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Orchard[GARDEN]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A garden.
2. (n.) An enclosure containing fruit trees; also, the fruit trees, collectively; -- used especially of apples, peaches, pears, cherries, plums, or the like, less frequently of nutbearing trees and of sugar maple trees.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ORCHARDor'-cherd:
(1) pardec, from Old Persian, "a walled-in enclosure"; paradeisos, a word in classical Greek applied to the garden of Babylon (Diodorus Siculus xi.10) and to a game park (Xenophon, Anab. i.2, 7). SeeNehemiah 2:8, "forest," margin "park";Songs 4:13, "orchard," margin "paradise" (of pomegranates);Ecclesiastes 2:5, "parks," the King James Version "orchards"; see PARADISE.
(2) kepos, "garden" or "orchard": "a white thorn in an orchard" (Baruch 6:71).
Greek
1638. elaion -- an oliveorchard, ie spec. the Mt. of Olives... elaion. 1639 . an olive
orchard, ie spec. the Mt.
... Word Origin from elaia Definition
an olive
orchard, ie spec. the Mt. of Olives NASB Word Usage Olivet (3).
...1068. Gethsemani -- Gethsemane, an oliveorchard on the Mt. of...
... Gethsemani. 1069 . Gethsemane, an oliveorchard on the Mt.... Word Origin of Hebrew
origin gath and shemen Definition Gethsemane, an oliveorchard on the Mt....
Strong's Hebrew
6508. pardes -- a preserve, park... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition a preserve, park NASB Word Usage
forest (1),
orchard (1), parks (1). forest,
orchard. Of
...3759. karmel -- a plantation, garden land, fruit, garden growth
... From kerem; a planted field (garden,orchard, vineyard or park); by implication,
garden produce -- full (green) ears (of corn), fruitful field (place...
1593. gannah -- a garden
... Word Origin fem. of gan Definition a garden NASB Word Usage garden (6), gardens
(9),orchard (1). garden. Feminine of gan; a garden -- garden. see HEBREW gan....
Library
Thy Plants are a Paradise of Pomegranates, with the Fruits of the...
... CHAPTER IV. 13. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates, with the fruits
of theorchard; cypress with spikenard. Thy fertility...
"The Axe is Laid to the Root. "
... THE DEVIL'SORCHARD.... Not so with these: John is speaking about the trees to be burned.
But we may be asked"What are the trees in the devil'sorchard?...
The Cat came Back
... Jimmy was lying on an old cot out in theorchard, getting some of the nice spring
sunshine on his thin body.... He was out in theorchard on his knees....
A Downward Step.
... At last the time came to start. With beating heart Bessie counted the hours that
must pass before she could run in theorchard and eat the luscious fruit....
Events During the War
... It was during the war and sometime before Katherine's death that Mr. Hammond
used to cross ourorchard going to and from his work....
A Doomed People
... found. The entire night Jesus spent in prayer, and in the morning He came
again to the temple. On the way He passed a figorchard. He...
An Account of the Several Annual Conferences, and of the General...
... My little horse was ready to fail. I was steeped with water up to the waist. About
7 o'clock, with hard pushing, we reached the CrabOrchard....
Chapter iv.
... 13. Thy plants are anorchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphor
with spikenard; 13. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates...
Last Journey of Jesus to Jerusalem.
... After having passed the day disputing in the temple, toward evening Jesus descended
into the valley of Kedron, and rested a while in theorchard of a farming...
The vision of Paul.
... frequently also the sea exclaimed saying: Lord God Almighty, men have defiled thy
holy name in me; permit me to arise and cover every wood andorchard and the...
Thesaurus
Orchard (3 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ORCHARD.
... (2) kepos, "garden" or "
orchard": "a white
thorn in an
orchard" (Baruch 6:71). Multi-Version Concordance
...Forest (67 Occurrences)
... plural "orchards" (RV, "parks"), and Cant. 4: 13, rendered "orchard" (RV
marg., "a paradise"). "The forest of the vintage" (Zechariah...
Park (2 Occurrences)
... the keeper of the king's forest," the Revised Version margin "park" (Nehemiah
2:8). The same word occurs in Songs 4:13, "Thy shoots are anorchard (the Revised...
Orchards (7 Occurrences)
Orator (3 Occurrences)
Nard (5 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:13 Your shoots are anorchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits:
henna with spikenard plants, (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV...
Fruit (318 Occurrences)
... whether moist or dried. (3.) "Orchard-fruits" (Hebrews yitshar), as dates,
figs, citrons, etc. Injunctions concerning offerings...
Disposition (3 Occurrences)
... n.) The state or the manner of being disposed or arranged; distribution; arrangement;
order; as, the disposition of the trees in anorchard; the disposition of...
Paradise (6 Occurrences)
... The word occurs in the Hebrew Scriptures but 3 times: Songs 4:13, where it is
translated "anorchard"; Nehemiah 2:8, where it is translated "a forest" (the...
Plant (92 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) To furnish, or fit out, with plants; as, to plant a garden, anorchard,
or a forest. 11. (n.) To engender; to generate; to set the germ of. 12....
Resources
What will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Mount Carmel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgIs Göbekli Tepe where the Garden of Eden was located? | GotQuestions.orgOrchard: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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