Lexical Summary paggah: Encounter, meeting, entreaty Original Word: פַג Strong's Exhaustive Concordance green fig From an unused root meaning to be torpid, i.e. Crude; an unripe fig -- green fig. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition an early fig NASB Translation figs (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַּגָּה] noun feminine (compare Late Hebrew) early fig; — plural suffix מַּגֶּיהָ Songs 2:13. פגל (√ of following; meaning dubious; Arabic Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Immediate Context The term פַג (pag) appears only once in the Hebrew canon, at Song of Songs 2:13, where it denotes the tender, still-green fig that first swells on the branches: “The fig tree forms its early fruit, the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Rise up and come away, my darling.” The single occurrence sets the word within a scene of springtime renewal, courtship, and invitation. Agricultural Background in Ancient Israel Fig trees bear two main crops each year. The initial buds, called pagim in rabbinic Hebrew, develop on the previous year’s wood and reach edible sweetness by late spring or early summer (Micah 7:1). Their appearance was a reliable herald of changing seasons (Matthew 24:32). Farmers prized these first fruits both for nourishment after winter scarcity and as a pledge of the larger harvest to come. Poetic Function in Song of Songs Within Song of Songs 2:10-13 the green fig joins other flourishing images—turtledove, blossoming vines, fragrance—to paint a tableau of love awakened. The unripe fig signals promise, potential, and imminence. The beloved’s summons, “Rise up,” rests on observable evidence that the season of dormancy has ended; covenant love may now move from anticipation to consummation. Biblical Symbolism of Early Figs 1. Sign of Nearness: Just as green figs assure the farmer of summer’s arrival, so Jesus used the fig tree’s budding to teach alertness to prophetic fulfillment (Matthew 24:32-33; Luke 21:29-31). Redemptive-Historical Trajectory The solitary Old Testament use of pag prefigures a recurring motif: God initiates life before visible completion. He brings Israel out of Egypt as “the first fruits of His harvest” (Jeremiah 2:3), yet the full redemption awaits Messiah. Likewise, the Spirit’s indwelling is called “a pledge” (Ephesians 1:14), comparable to early figs that guarantee the forthcoming crop. Practical Ministry Implications • Discipleship: Leaders should recognize and nurture early signs of grace without demanding instant perfection. Homiletical Outline Example 1. Observation: Noticing the pag—the first stirrings of divine activity (Song of Songs 2:13). Related Biblical Imagery • Early Rain and Latter Rain (Joel 2:23) – parallel stages of provision. Conclusion Though occurring only once, פַג (pag) enriches Scripture’s agricultural and spiritual tapestry. The green fig embodies promise on the verge of fulfillment, calling believers to discern God’s timely movements, embrace His invitations, and anticipate the abundant harvest secured in Christ. Forms and Transliterations פַגֶּ֔יהָ פגיה fagGeiha p̄ag·ge·hā p̄aggehāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Songs 2:13 HEB: הַתְּאֵנָה֙ חָֽנְטָ֣ה פַגֶּ֔יהָ וְהַגְּפָנִ֥ים ׀ סְמָדַ֖ר NAS: has ripened its figs, And the vines KJV: putteth forth her green figs, and the vines INT: the fig has ripened figs and the vines blossom 1 Occurrence |
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) is be thick and soft, flaccid; Late Hebrew מִּגּוּל = Biblical Hebrew, compare LevyNHWB under the word).