σῦκον

a fig

Definition

The Greek word σῦκον specifically refers to the fruit of the fig tree, a common and important food source in the ancient Mediterranean. In the New Testament, it always denotes a literal, ripe fig, as seen when Jesus looks for fruit on a fig tree (Mark 11:13). Its usage in proverbial sayings by Jesus (Matthew 7:16, Luke 6:44) and James (James 3:12) leverages the well-known natural fact that a fig tree produces only figs, not other kinds of fruit, to illustrate principles of discernment and consistency.

Biblical Usage

Σῦκον is used four times, always in illustrative sayings rather than simple narrative descriptions. It appears in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and James. In Matthew 7:16 and Luke 6:44, Jesus uses it in the context of discerning true character by visible results ('you will know them by their fruits'). In Mark 11:13, it is part of the narrative of the cursing of the barren fig tree. James 3:12 uses it in a rhetorical question about the impossibility of a single source producing contrary things, paralleling Jesus' teaching.

Etymology

The word σῦκον is the native Greek term for 'fig,' with no clear derivation from a simpler root within Greek. It is related to the Greek word for the fig tree itself, συκῆ (syke, G4808). The term passed into Latin as 'ficus' and is a cognate with words in other ancient languages of the region, reflecting the fruit's deep cultural and agricultural roots in the Near East and Aegean.

Semantic Range

Theologically, σῦκον is significant not for the object itself but for its role in Jesus' teachings and actions. It is central to the metaphor of spiritual fruitfulness and judgment. The barren fig tree in Mark 11:13-14, 20-21 becomes a acted parable of Israel's spiritual barrenness and impending judgment. In the ethical teachings of Jesus and James, the fig exemplifies the principle that a person's or teaching's inherent nature will inevitably produce corresponding outward evidence, a key concept for discernment in the Christian life.

The fig was a dietary staple and symbol of peace and prosperity in the ancient Near East and Greco-Roman world. A fruitful fig tree represented blessing (e.g., Micah 4:4), while a barren one symbolized judgment and desolation. Understanding this cultural symbolism enriches the reading of passages like Mark 11, where Jesus' action with the fig tree is a dramatic prophetic sign, not merely a critique of a tree being out of season. The fruit was eaten fresh, dried, or pressed into cakes.

συκῆ (syke, G4808) — This is the word for the fig tree itself, the plant that produces the σῦκον (fig fruit).

Word Details

Scripture References