Garlic
“So called from its odor”
Summary
A pungent bulb vegetable that the Israelites remembered fondly from Egypt and longed for during their wilderness wanderings.
☩Biblical Reference
Garlic is mentioned only once in Scripture, when the Israelites murmured in the wilderness, remembering the leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt. The same Hebrew word (shum) and Arabic equivalent (thum) still designate garlic throughout the East. Ancient authors confirm that garlic was cultivated in Egypt and was a staple food for laborers, including those who built the pyramids.
☩Nature and Uses
Garlic is the bulb of Allium sativum, a plant originally from Central Asia but cultivated throughout the Orient from ancient times. It is eaten cooked in stews and as a condiment, though its penetrating odor permeates the breath and houses of those who consume it. In Eastern cultures, garlic is also used as a charm against the evil eye and other malign influences.
Related Verses1 mention
Numbers· 1 verse
See Also
References
- 1.George Morrish, "Garlic," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Garlic," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Garlic," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).