בֹּ֫סֶר (bo.ser)
bo.ser
unripe grape
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun boser refers to unripe or sour grapes in the Hebrew Bible. It describes fruit that has not yet reached full sweetness, carrying a sharp, acidic taste rather than the pleasant flavor of mature produce. This word appears in only three verses, primarily within the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Isaiah.
In these contexts, boser is often used metaphorically to describe something bitter or unpleasant. For example, it illustrates the harsh reality of consequences or divine judgment, contrasting sharply with the imagery of ripe, sweet fruit that signifies blessing and abundance. The sourness of the grape serves as a vivid symbol for the difficult experiences faced by the people.
Translators typically render boser as "unripe grapes" or "sour grapes," capturing both its literal meaning and its symbolic weight. By using this specific agricultural detail, the biblical authors convey a tangible sense of disappointment or pain, making the spiritual lesson more immediate and relatable to ancient audiences familiar with vineyard cultivation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The image of unripe grapes carries a sharp, acidic taste that contrasts with the sweetness of a full harvest. In Scripture, this word often points to the bitter reality of consequences when actions are taken out of season or in rebellion. It reminds us that spiritual maturity requires patience and trust in God's timing.
When we face difficult seasons, it is easy to feel like those sour grapes—unready for the blessing ahead. Yet these verses offer a profound shift: personal responsibility replaces collective blame. Each person stands before God with their own heart, not defined by the failures of ancestors or peers.
This truth brings both weight and freedom. We are accountable for our own choices, but we are also released from carrying burdens that were never ours to bear. In this accountability lies a path toward genuine repentance and renewed hope in God's faithful justice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ sour grape[s]1×
- sour grape[s]1×
- and/ unripe grape[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בֹ֥סֶר1×
- הַ/בֹּ֖סֶר1×
- בֹ֑סֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 31:29
“In those days they will say no more, “‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
This verse records the proverb people used to blame previous generations for their current suffering, highlighting a cultural shift away from collective guilt.
-
Jeremiah 31:30
But everyone will die for his own iniquity. Every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.
Here God directly counters the proverb by establishing individual accountability, ensuring that each person faces the consequences of their own actions.
-
Isaiah 18:5
For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and he will cut down and take away the spreading branches.
The unripe grape here symbolizes premature judgment or intervention before the natural time of harvest, illustrating God's sovereign control over timing.