King James Bible
King James Version (KJV)
Vine
One of the most important products of Palestine. The first mention of it is in the history of Noah (Gen. 9:20). It is afterwards frequently noticed both in the Old and New "Testaments, and in the ruins of terraced vineyards there are" evidences that it was extensively cultivated by the Jews. It was cultivated in Palestine before the Israelites took possession of it. The men sent out by Moses brought with them from the Valley "of Eshcol a cluster of grapes so large that "they bare it" "between two upon a staff" (Num. 13: 23). The vineyards of" "En-gedi (Cant. 1:14), Heshbon, Sibmah, Jazer, Elealeh (Isa." "16:8-10; Jer. 48:32, 34), and Helbon (Ezek. 27:18), as well as" "of Eshcol, were celebrated." "The Church is compared to a vine (Ps. 80:8), and Christ says of "himself, "I am the vine" (John 15:1). In one of his parables" also (Matt. 21:33) our Lord compares his Church to a vineyard "which "a certain householder planted, and hedged round about," etc. "Hos. 10:1 is rendered in the Revised Version, "Israel is a "luxuriant vine, which putteth forth his fruit," instead of" "Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself," of the Authorized Version. Referred to only in Deut. 32:32. Among the many conjectures as "to this tree, the most probable is that it is the `osher of the" "Arabs, which abounds in the region of the Dead Sea. Its fruit" "are the so-called "apples of Sodom," which, though beautiful to" "the eye, are exceedingly bitter to the taste. (See" [657]EN-GEDI.) The people of Israel are referred to here by "Moses as being utterly corrupt, bringing forth only bitter" fruit. "Heb. hometz, Gr. oxos, Fr. vin aigre; i.e., "sour wine." The" "Hebrew word is rendered vinegar in Ps. 69:21, a prophecy" fulfilled in the history of the crucifixion (Matt. 27:34). This was the common sour wine (posea) daily made use of by the Roman "soldiers. They gave it to Christ, not in derision, but from" "compassion, to assuage his thirst. Prov. 10:26 shows that there" "was also a stronger vinegar, which was not fit for drinking. The" "comparison, "vinegar upon nitre," probably means "vinegar upon" "soda" (as in the marg. of the R.V.), which then effervesces."