In the Bible the following derivatives occur: None of the sources we commonly consult mentions it, but it might be that in an agricultural symbolic jargon a ripening of fruits was recognized to be similar as a growing high. In fact, were we to construct a noun that means "high thing" from the noun רם (rm), meaning "height," it would be spelled just like our noun רמון (rimmon). The original meaning is not preserved in the Septuagint, which has nor in the Vulgate, which uses sphaerula, both meaning simply a round ball. BDB Theological Dictionary does not interpret our name but does list it under רמון (rimmon), meaning pomegranate. Jewish traditions and writings refer to this fruit as a symbol of the years. The four forms רום (rwm), רמם (rmm), ראם (r'm), and ארם ('rm) are similar and have similar meanings. them around the hem between the pomegranates. The only negative meaning that seems to be associated with the pomegranate is “war” due to the core shape of the fruit resembling a grenade. worn for ministering, as the Lord commanded Moses.". Pomegranate in Judaism History . It was customary to place such ornaments upon the tops or heads of columns, and in other situations. Also in the Bible the pomegranate is of enormous portent. It's obvious that pomegranate in Judaism is very symbolic and important The verb ראם (ra'am) means to rise. have been designed after the crown-shaped area of the pomegranate. Clemens Alexandrinus assigns as a reason that it was supposed that this fruit sprang from the blood of Bacchus. found in 1 Kings 7:13-22, 2 Chronicles 4:13, Numbers 13:23, Song of Solomon Pomegranate in Judaism – Interesting Facts. The Hebrew for pomegranate is רִמוֹן. The The Greek word for pomegranate is ροα or ροια (from the verb ρεω, reo, meaning to flow, as in the familiar phrase panta rei; everything flows) and some scholars (Plato, for instance, in Cratylus) have argued that this word may have helped to form the name Rhea, which belonged to the "mother of gods" and mother of both Zeus and Hera the goddess of women and marriage. because it was probably ingrained in history for a reason. and concludes "The pomegranate, then, might be more accurately described as representing a liminal state in ancient Greek mythology, the threshold of life and death and the transition between the two". . 4:3, and Deuteronomy 8:8. the Torah scrolls are fashioned after pomegranates, The pomegranate fruit is mentioned In that sense, the words of this root could be interpreted as a state of over-ripeness, and this either because nobody picked the fruits when they were ready, or else they were picked but then discarded. It was quickly recognized as an unusually potent fruit; even modern scientists appear to be quite flabbergasted by the many propitious "physiological effects of pomegranate juice constituents" and produce colossal studies to show it (for instance the 244 page tome Pomegranates: Ancient Roots to Modern Medicine). If so, this mystic meaning should be traced into Spurious Freemasonry; for there, after all, if there be any antiquity in our Order, we shall find the parallel of all its rites and ceremonies. Note that the fourth and fifth century AD Italian grammarian Maurus Servius Honoratus believed that the name Rome also derived from the verb ρεω (reo), which may not be wholly true but perhaps helped establish that name as well as the use of the royal orb. This verb is used to indicate either literal height (Psalm 61:2, Job 22:12), the height of rank, statues or glory (Numbers 24:7, 2 Samuel 22:47, Proverbs 24:7), or the height of pride or arrogance (Deuteronomy 8:14, Psalm 131:1, Ezekiel 31:10). The scepter and orb became symbols of earthly rulers, including Christ Pantokrator. It's interesting to note that this fruit was used to decorate holy places Please click here to read The learned have not been able to agree as to 'he nature of this idol, whether he was a representation of Helios or the Sun, the god of the Phoenicians, or of Venus, or according to Grotius, in his Commentary on the passage in Kings, of Saturn, or what, according to Statius, Feems more probable, of Jupiter Cassius. Although the pomegranate was associated with several Greek goddesses, Sara Immerwahr finds "the multiplicity of its seeds with the idea of fruitfulness appropriate for Hera the marriage goddess" (The Pomegranate Vase: Its Origins and Continuity). Some believe that the handles of The form רמם (rmm), however, covers two separate verbs; one of which having nothing to with the rest of these words. Now the Hebrew word caphtorim, which has been translated chapiters and for which, in Amos (ix, 1), the word lintel has been incorrectly substituted, though the marginal reading corrects the error, signifies an artificial large pomegranate or globe. In modern Judaism the pomegranate still plays an important role. alternate around the hem of the robe. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to Pomegranate in Judaism is one of those Some scholars have concluded that the three are etymologically related. fruitfulness. It nevertheless illustrates what the pomegranate stands for: mental maturity and the discernment and responsibilities that come with it. The first Otherwise, pomegranates have been used throughout time as a remarkable decorative feature in cuisine, art and even textiles such as fine rugs and leathers. Modern rabbis reject this conclusion, but the legend lives on, especially in empty heads. Bryant (Analysis of Ancient Mythology in, page 237) says that the Ark was looked upon as the mother of mankind, and on this account it was figured under the semblance of a pomegranate; for as this fruit abounds with seeds, it was thought no improper emblem of the Ark, which contained the rudiments of the future world. It occurs only once, in Zechariah 14:10 (although some scholars state that even this one occurrence should be ascribed to the verb רום, rum, treated above), and has some peculiar derivations: The Hebrew root ארם ('rm) is assumed to have existed because there's a word in the Bible that could only have come from a root like that. "somethings". © Copyright 2015 - 2018 In the description of the pillars which stood at the porch of the Temple (see First Kings via, 15), it is said that the artificer "made two chapiters of molten brass to set upon the tops of the pillars." There are repeated mentions of this fruit in Nineteenth century rabbis Chatam Sofer and the Malbim enthusiastically interpreted Berakoth 57a (which explains Song of Solomon 4:3 to state that even empty heads are as full of divine legislation as a pomegranate is of seeds; a notion also forwarded in Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15 and Hebrews 10:16) and proclaimed that a pomegranate had 613 seeds (there are 613 commands in the Hebrew Bible). One of Hera's own symbols was the pomegranate. righteousness. Rosh Hashana customs include eating this fruit during the holiday represents King Solomon's temple had Promised Land were promised luscious fruit when they arrived and some people When something is mentioned a few times in history, it may be something you Torah, which also number 613. From the Hebrews, who used it mystically at the Temple, it passed over to the Freemasons, who adopted it as the symbol of plenty, for which it is well adapted by its swelling and seed-abounding fruit. clothing for kings during Biblical times. is in Chapter 39, verses 25 and 26. Sanconiathon thinks this temple was built by the descendants of the Cabiri. God in His amazing goodness and provision desires to richly bless His children. This is not at all too far a fetch; in our society today recreational intoxication is also referred to as "getting high". the Bible and in historic writings that recorded the history of Judaism over Why is the pomegranate in Judaism so important? pass over as unimportant. When the Babylonians invaded Israel and deposed king Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:6), they also destroyed the pillars and took the bronze to Babylon along with the king bound in bronze fetters (2 Kings 25:17, Jeremiah 52:22-23). The Israelites who traveled to the to the history of Judaism as a whole. Rows and rows of pomegranates crowned the temple and the pillars, declaring God’s goodness and blessing to his covenant people. Why? The pomegranate fruit here is a symbolism of fruitfulness. and being fruitful. He compares her temples behind her veil to the halves of a pomegranate (4:3 and 6:7), which probably (also?) There seems, therefore, to have been attached to this fruit some mystic signification, to which it is indebted for the veneration thus paid to it. We also see that pomegranates were used to decorate Solomon’s temple – 400 of them! 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Another piece of evidence that the Hebrews probably associated their word רמון (rimmon) with the verb רום (rum) is that this word also served as the name of Rimmon, the chief deity of Aram, also from רום (rum). רמון The pomegranate in the Bible. The pomegranate which in Hebrew is called Rimon is considered to be one of seven agricultural species or special products of Israel known as שבעת המינים‎, Shiv'at HaMinim, the others being wheat, barley, grapes, figs, olives, and dates. . " The root רמם (rmm II) isn't used as a verb in the Bible, but it exists in Arabic with the meaning of to grow rotten or decay. The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be indicates her intellectual immaturity. Long before Abraham left Babylon, the pomegranate had gone before him and was cultivated and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region. of the coin. Some Seven Species. It's interesting to note that this fruit was used to decorate holy places for Jewish feasts and the image of it was sewn into expensive and elaborate clothing for kings during Biblical times. But be all that as it may, the Hebrew variant רמון (rimmon) very obviously (and arguably deliberately) appears like it was derived from the verb רום (rum), meaning to be high. is mentioned several times however, it's important to make sure you take note 613 seeds, that those seeds are representative of the commandments in the our terms of use! It's obvious that pomegranate in Judaism is very symbolic and important to the history of Judaism as a whole. Those verses say," And they made bells of pure gold and attached Pausanias (2nd century AD) tells of a statue made by Polycleitus (5th century BC), which depicts Hera seated on a huge ivory and gold throne, holding a scepter in one hand and a pomegranate in the other (and adds: "About the pomegranate I must say nothing, for its story is somewhat of a holy mystery"; 2.17.4). The pomegranate, as a symbol, was known to and highly esteemed by the nations of antiquity. Pomegranates feature strongly in Song of Songs, speaking of love, beauty, fruitfulness and fertility. Quite tellingly, when fruit has ripened, its destiny is limited to two options: it can either be used to seed the next generation or turned into wine (or other consumable product) or else rot away. People eat it during the celebrations of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and today the tops of the rollers of Torah scrolls are often adorned with pomegranates.