Vine of Sodom
Encyclopedia
Vine
of Sodom
- referred to only in Deut. 32:32. Among the many conjectures as to this tree
, the most probable is that it is the osher (Calotropis procera) of the Arabs, which grows from Jordan
to southern Egypt
. Another conjecture equates it with the colocynth
(Citrullus colocynthis).
Its fruit are called "apples of Sodom", which, though beautiful to the eye, are bitter to the taste. (See Ein Gedi
.)
The people of Israel
are referred to here by Moses
as being utterly corrupt, bringing forth only bitter fruit.
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
of Sodom
Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities mentioned in the Book of Genesis and later expounded upon throughout the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and Deuterocanonical sources....
- referred to only in Deut. 32:32. Among the many conjectures as to this tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
, the most probable is that it is the osher (Calotropis procera) of the Arabs, which grows from Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
to southern Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Another conjecture equates it with the colocynth
Colocynth
Citrullus colocynthis, commonly known as the colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, egusi, or vine of Sodom , is a viny plant native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, especially Turkey , Nubia, and Trieste...
(Citrullus colocynthis).
Its fruit are called "apples of Sodom", which, though beautiful to the eye, are bitter to the taste. (See Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi is an oasis in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the caves of Qumran.-Etymology:The name En-gedi is composed of two Hebrew words: ein means spring and gdi means goat-kid. En Gedi thus means "Kid spring."...
.)
The people of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
are referred to here by Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
as being utterly corrupt, bringing forth only bitter fruit.