רִמּוֹן
a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial ornament)
Definition
The Hebrew word רִמּוֹן (rimmôwn) primarily refers to the pomegranate, both as a fruit and the tree that produces it. In the Bible, it appears most frequently as a decorative motif on the high priest's robe (Exodus 28:33-34) and in the temple's architecture (1 Kings 7:18, 20), symbolizing beauty and abundance. It also denotes the actual fruit, celebrated as a sign of the Promised Land's fertility (Numbers 13:23, Deuteronomy 8:8) and later in poetic imagery (Song of Solomon 4:3, 6:7).
Biblical Usage
רִמּוֹן is used 25 times in the Old Testament across various contexts. Its most prominent usage is in the descriptions of the priestly garments and temple furnishings (Exodus 28, 39; 1 Kings 7), where it serves as a repeated ornamental design. It also appears in narratives as a marker of agricultural bounty in Canaan (Numbers 13:23, Deuteronomy 8:8) and in the complaint of the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 20:5). Poetic books like the Song of Solomon use it metaphorically for beauty and desirability.
Etymology
The noun רִמּוֹן derives from the root רָמַם (rāmam, H7426), meaning 'to be high' or 'exalted.' This connection likely references the pomegranate tree's upright growth or the elevated position of the fruit on the tree. The identical form is also the name of a location (e.g., Rimmon, Joshua 15:32), showing how place names were often drawn from natural features.
Semantic Range
The pomegranate holds theological significance as a symbol of God's provision, covenant, and beauty. On the high priest's robe, the alternating bells and pomegranates (Exodus 28:33-34) may symbolize both the proclamation of God's word (sound) and the fruitfulness of a life lived in obedience. As a fruit of the Promised Land, it represents the blessings of covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 8:8). Its use in the temple points to God's desire for beauty and order in worship, enriching our understanding of holiness as encompassing aesthetic excellence.
In ancient Israel, the pomegranate was a culturally important fruit, valued for its sweetness, many seeds (symbolizing fertility and abundance), and durable shape, which made it ideal for artistic representation. Its juice was used for wine and its rind for dye. The ornamentation on the priest's robe and temple pillars would have been immediately recognizable to Israelites as a symbol of life, blessing, and God's good creation, a meaning deeper than a mere decorative pattern.
פְּרִי (perî, H6529) — general term for 'fruit'. רִמּוֹן specifies the pomegranate. תַּפּוּחַ (tappûach, H8598) — 'apple' or general sweet fruit; sometimes contextually contrasted or paired with pomegranate (Song of Solomon 2:3, 7:8).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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