The description of tree of "the knowledge of good and evil" leaves no trace to the exact species of the tree. For many years, this fruit was thought to be an apple. In the original Hebrew, however, at no point is mentioned the apple (tapuach, תפוח). The myth of the apple developed due to a mistake made by St. Jerome when he created the Latin version of the Bible, known as Vulgate in the year 382.
So what fruit was it then? Jewish sources offer several answers: nut, אגוז, egoz; citron, etrog, אתרוג; vine, gefen, גפן; wheat, חיטה, chitah; and fig, tenah, תאנה. The two most widespread interpretations are those of the vine and the fig, prevailing the one of the fig as it is the first tree that appears in Genesis. Moreover, the text recounts that when the first couple realized that they were naked, they sewed a loincloth using a leaf of the fig tree.
The ancient Hebrew language hides within it the secret meanings of the most fundamental principles of the western culture. The most influential stories have been written, using Hebrew words. Today, you have the opportunity to learn how to write, read and even speak Hebrew from the comfort of your home. Enroll today to eTeacher's online Hebrew course and discover one of the world's most ancient languages!
