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בַּכֻּרָה

𐤁𐤊𐤓𐤄

bakkurâh

H1073 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בכר to be first, to bear first, to be early

Definition

A fully ripened early fig, especially those that ripen before the main fig harvest. Refers specifically to the first, prime fruit that appears on a fig tree, highly valued for its quality and signifying the earliest phase of fruit bearing. In figurative contexts, signifies something that is precocious or first-developed, with implication of desirability or special value attached to the earliest produce.

Semantic Range

first-ripened fig, early fig, prime fig, early fruit, metaphor for something highly desired or early-developed, symbol of precociousness or fleeting delight

Root / Etymology

From the root בכר (ב-כ-ר), meaning 'to be first, to bear first, to be early.' The noun form בַּכֻּרָה is closely related to the more common בִּכּוּרִים ('firstfruits'), with this specific term denoting the early-ripened fig fruit, often by orthographical variation or phonetic development from the same root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בַּכֻּרָה appears only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible (notably Isaiah 28:4; Hosea 9:10), always with reference to the first-ripening figs, as opposed to the main fig harvest which comes later in the summer. In Israelite agricultural practice, first-ripe figs were a delicacy, highly anticipated and consumed immediately due to their sweetness and softness. Figuratively, the word is used to evoke something highly desired or fleeting, as in Hosea 9:10, where Israel is compared to the earliest fruit. The precise distinction between בַּכֻּרָה (individual first fig) and בִּכּוּרִים (general 'firstfruits' as offerings) underscores specificity: the former relates to the earliest fig, the latter to broader agricultural produce. Later translations, especially English ones, sometimes generalize it as 'firstfruit' or 'early fruit,' but the Hebrew term is fig-specific and context-bound. The use of this term predates the Judean or Second Temple period and is rooted in the agricultural vocabulary of the monarchic and earlier periods; it does not carry later religious connotations attached to temple offerings of firstfruits. In the Septuagint, it is usually rendered as 'prōtokaipos sukon' (first-ripened fig), supporting this specific sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

by orthographical variation for בִּכּוּרָה; a first-ripe fig; firstripe.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בכר (b-k-r) — to be first, to bear first, to be early

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1060 בְּכוֹר firstborn of
H1061 בִּכּוּר first yields of
H1062 בְּכוֹרָה firstborn-right
H1063 בִּכּוּרָה first-ripe fig
H1064 בְּכוֹרַת Bekorath

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1073-01 הַ/בַּכֻּר֑וֹת habakurot HTd/Ncfpa of-the-first-ripe the first-ripe figs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1073-01 Jeremiah 24:2 הַ/בַּכֻּר֑וֹת habakurot HTd/Ncfpa of-the-first-ripe the first-ripe figs
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