Freethought & Rationalism Archive

butswana · 08-17-2007, 06:00 AM

What is the translation from the Hebrew? Was it an apple or is that just a middle ages translation?

Dean Anderson · 08-17-2007, 06:18 AM

The Hebrew word used does not even specify that it was a "fruit" in the modern English sense of the word (as opposed to a nut, berry, or other type of tree-borne food).

The same word is also used to denote the offspring of people and of cattle, and to denote the vegetables that Cain made an offering of.

The most accurate English translation as far as I can see would be the rather vague "The produce of the tree." - but I expect that some of our Hebrew scholars can correct me.

Toto · 08-17-2007, 12:27 PM

The Straight Dope

Quote:

Early Christian scholars often took the forbidden fruit to be an apple, possibly because of the irresistible pun suggested by the Latin malum, which means both "apple" and "evil." At least one early Latin translation of the bible uses "apple" instead of "fruit." A contributing factor no doubt was that apples were a lot more popular in Europe than in the Middle East, where it's generally too hot for them to thrive.

rob117 · 08-18-2007, 07:18 AM

Everyone knows it was a pickle.

storytime · 08-18-2007, 11:05 AM

What did the serpent have that Eve desired? Wasn't it knowledge? To make her wise? Wisdom?

"and now the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and least he put forth his hand and take also of the tree, and live forever..."

Who might have been characterized as the man symbolized as the serpent and false doctrine (evil knowledge) not good for the Adams family?

How did the family of Adam die out in 930 years as one day? (1000 yrs.=1 day rule) "In the day that thou eat the fruit of both good and evil, thou shalt surely die."

Did the devil wear Prada?

08-17-2007, 06:00 AM	#1
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	was it an apple in the garden of eden? What is the translation from the Hebrew? Was it an apple or is that just a middle ages translation?

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08-17-2007, 06:18 AM	#2
Dean Anderson Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 6,947	The Hebrew word used does not even specify that it was a "fruit" in the modern English sense of the word (as opposed to a nut, berry, or other type of tree-borne food). The same word is also used to denote the offspring of people and of cattle, and to denote the vegetables that Cain made an offering of. The most accurate English translation as far as I can see would be the rather vague "The produce of the tree." - but I expect that some of our Hebrew scholars can correct me.

08-18-2007, 07:18 AM	#4
rob117 Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York State Posts: 440	Everyone knows it was a pickle.

08-18-2007, 11:05 AM	#5
storytime Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 2,608	What did the serpent have that Eve desired? Wasn't it knowledge? To make her wise? Wisdom? "and now the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and least he put forth his hand and take also of the tree, and live forever..." Who might have been characterized as the man symbolized as the serpent and false doctrine (evil knowledge) not good for the Adams family? How did the family of Adam die out in 930 years as one day? (1000 yrs.=1 day rule) "In the day that thou eat the fruit of both good and evil, thou shalt surely die." Did the devil wear Prada?

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