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Sycamore (Shiqmah, συκομωραία)

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: S By: George A. Morrish

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Ficus Sycomorus

This is a tree large enough for a man to rest in its branches, as Zacchaeus did (Luke 19:4⁴And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. (Luke 19:4)). It was known in Egypt, and was plentiful in Palestine. Amos was a “gatherer of sycamore fruit.” David had a special overseer of such trees (1 Kings 10:27²⁷And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. (1 Kings 10:27); 1 Chron. 27:28²⁸And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash: (1 Chronicles 27:28); Psa. 78:47⁴⁷He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. (Psalm 78:47); Isa. 9:10¹⁰The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. (Isaiah 9:10); Amos 7:14¹⁴Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: (Amos 7:14)). It is supposed to be the sycamore-fig, or fig-mulberry (Ficus sycomorus). Its wood is very durable. The Egyptian mummy coffins made of it have remained sound after the entombment of thousands of years.

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Concise Bible Dictionary: S

• Susanchites

• Sycamine (συκάμινος)

• Sycamore (Shiqmah, συκομωραία)

• Syria-maachah

• Syria, Syrian

• Syriac, Syrian Tongue

• Syrophenician