רִמּוֹן (rim.mon)
rim.mon
pomegranate
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun rimmon refers to the pomegranate, encompassing the tree itself, its fruit, and decorative ornaments shaped like it. In the Old Testament, this word appears in contexts ranging from agricultural abundance to sacred craftsmanship, highlighting the fruit’s significance in both daily life and religious ritual.
Translators encounter rimmon in descriptions of the land’s bounty, such as Deuteronomy 8:8 listing it among the goods of Israel, or in Song of Solomon where it symbolizes beauty and fertility. It also features prominently in Exodus, where gold pomegranates adorned the hem of the high priest’s robe and the bronze pillars of the temple, serving as visual reminders of divine presence and order.
The word’s versatility lies in its ability to bridge the natural and the artificial. While it denotes a real fruit in poetic imagery, it also describes crafted items used in worship, reflecting how ancient Israelites integrated the physical world into their spiritual practices. This dual usage underscores the pomegranate’s role as both a gift of creation and a symbol of sacred artistry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The pomegranate appears throughout Scripture as a symbol of abundance and sacred beauty. In Deuteronomy 8:8, it represents the rich bounty of the land God provided for His people. This fruit was not merely food but a visual reminder of God’s generosity and care in daily life.
Its presence in the tabernacle and temple connects the natural world with worship. Gold pomegranates adorned the high priest’s robe (Exodus 28:33) and the temple pillars, blending artistry with devotion. These details show how ancient Israelites saw God’s glory in both creation and craftsmanship.
For your faith today, this word invites you to notice the good gifts around you. Whether in nature or in moments of quiet reflection, pomegranates remind us that God’s blessings are often detailed and intentional. They encourage gratitude for the ordinary things that point to His provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ pomegranates9×
- pomegranates4×
- and/ a pomegranate4×
- and/ pomegranates3×
- pomegranates of2×
- and/ pomegranate2×
- <the>/ pomegranate2×
- pomegranate/ my1×
- and/ the/ pomegranates1×
- and/ the/ pomegranate1×
- [the] pomegranate tree1×
- <the>/ pomegranate tree1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רִמּוֹנִים֙2×
- וְ/רִמּ֔וֹן2×
- וְ/רִמּ֑וֹן2×
- הָֽ/רִמֹּנִ֔ים2×
- הָ/רִמֹּנִֽים\׃2×
- רִמּוֹנֵ֕י1×
- רִמּוֹנִ֔ים1×
- רִמֹּנֵי֙1×
- רִמֹּנִים֙1×
- רִמֹּנִֽ/י\׃1×
- רִמּ֞וֹן1×
- וְ/רִמּוֹנִֽים\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 8:8
a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey;
This verse lists pomegranates among the seven species of Israel, highlighting the land's agricultural richness as a tangible blessing from God.
-
Exodus 28:33
On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold between and around them:
The command to place pomegranates on the high priest’s robe integrates this fruit into sacred service, symbolizing fruitfulness in ministry.
-
Song of Solomon 4:3
Your lips are like scarlet thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Here the beloved’s temples are compared to a pomegranate, using the fruit’s shape and color to evoke intimacy and aesthetic beauty.
-
I Kings 7:18
So he made the pillars; and there were two rows of pomegranates around the one network, to cover the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; and he did so for the other capital.
Solomon’s temple pillars feature rows of bronze pomegranates, reflecting the enduring nature of God’s covenant through permanent architectural details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does rimmon mean in the Bible?
Why are pomegranates mentioned in Exodus?
Is rimmon used metaphorically in Scripture?
What is the significance of pomegranates in the temple?
Every Occurrence (24 verses across 11 books)
Exodus 5 verses
On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold…
Exodus 28:34a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.
Exodus 39:24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
Exodus 39:25They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the…
Exodus 39:26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as Yahweh commanded…