בַּכֻּרוֹת (bik.ku.rah)
bik.ku.rah
early fig
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The word bikkurah refers specifically to the early or first-ripe fig, a fruit highly prized in ancient Israel for its sweetness and tender texture. It is distinct from the main harvest, representing a delicacy available only for a brief window in late summer. The plural form bikkurot appears in passages like Jeremiah 24:2, where it describes the two baskets of figs brought to the temple, one containing very good early figs and the other bad ones.
While its primary meaning is agricultural, the term carries a theological weight by association with the concept of firstfruits. In prophetic literature, particularly in Micah and Isaiah, this specific fruit serves as a vivid metaphor for God’s people. The quality of the figs reflects the spiritual condition of the community: some are chosen and precious, while others are rejected or spoiled. This imagery allows the prophets to communicate complex judgments about covenant faithfulness through a familiar, tangible object.
Translators typically render this word as "early fig" or "first-ripe fig," preserving the concrete nature of the original text. The distinction between the good and bad figs in Jeremiah 24 highlights how the same source can produce vastly different outcomes based on their inherent quality, a point that resonates deeply with readers familiar with the agricultural rhythms of the region.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The early fig was a rare treat in ancient Israel, available for only a short time before the main harvest. It represented something precious and fleeting, a gift that had to be appreciated immediately. When prophets used this image, they were not just talking about fruit; they were describing God’s careful attention to His people. Some are like the sweet figs, chosen and cherished, while others are spoiled by their own choices.
This word reminds us that our spiritual condition matters deeply to God. He notices the quality of our hearts, just as a farmer notices the ripeness of his crop. It is an invitation to examine ourselves, not with fear, but with hope. We can trust that God sees what is truly good in us and offers grace for what is broken.
Whether we feel like the prized early fig or the rejected fruit, we are known by Him. The image encourages honesty about our state while pointing to His faithful care. He desires a relationship marked by genuine faithfulness, not just outward appearance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ early figs1×
- like/ early fig[s]1×
- like/ an early fig1×
- early fig[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּ/בִכּוּרָהּ֙1×
- כְּ/בִכּוּרָ֤ה1×
- הַ/בַּכֻּר֑וֹת1×
- בִּכּוּרָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 24:2
One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first-ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
This verse contrasts two baskets of figs to show how God distinguishes between those who remain faithful and those who have turned away, using the quality of the fruit as a metaphor for spiritual standing.
-
Hosea 9:10
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.
Here the early fig symbolizes Israel’s initial purity and God’s delight in them before they fell into idolatry, highlighting the tragedy of losing that first love.
-
Micah 7:1
Misery is mine! Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard. There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig.
The prophet uses his desire for an early fig to express the deep spiritual famine and loneliness he feels due to the absence of faithful people in the land.