Plants of the Bible - Part 2 - Jesus and New Testament Stories

Top 2. Mar 25, 2005 9:48 PM

» Georgene A. Bramlage - Re: Wow!!

In response to Wow!! posted by Red:

Thank you! The article was hard to write because it took a lot of thought. But it was a pleasure because I could feel the sand and dust of
Israel through my toes, and the hot sun beating down on my back. The olive garden and the oasis were cool, while the fields were hot and dry. The mustard plants made me sneeze and I pricked my fingers on the thorn bushes.

Again, I hope students will also enjoy my word
pictures and perhaps transport themselves back to the Israel of 2000 years ago.

Georgene (AKA Cercis)

-- posted by Georgene A. Bramlage

Top 3. Mar 26, 2005 11:10 PM

» biogardener - Mustard Seed, wrong translation?

I was told by a Bible scholar quite some time ago that Jesus was not talking about what we call mustard plants now but about a smaller seed of a tree. That is why he says that the birds nest in the branches of the tree. The term "herb" at the time of the Bible translation simply meant "plant," so this explanations sounds plausible to me. Birds are pretty smart in choosing plants in which to build nests.

I can't remember the name of the tree I was told it most likely was, but it does not grow in North America anyway.

-- posted by biogardener

Top 4. Mar 27, 2005 2:04 AM

» Dubh_Sidhe - Re: Mustard Seed, wrong translation?

In response to Mustard Seed, wrong translation? posted by biogardener:

Beautifully expressed, Georgene!

-- posted by Dubh_Sidhe

Top 5. Mar 28, 2005 7:01 PM

» Georgene A. Bramlage - Re: Mustard Seed, wrong translation?

In response to Mustard Seed, wrong translation? posted by biogardener:

Ah...Traute,

This is only one of those things of which scholars continuously argue (debate!).

The size always bothered me until I started looking into some of the "research" done about the possible "types" of mustard...but then I realized six feet + (2 meters +) is pretty big if you are a very small bird or person smile

This particular site Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages states very definitely that Brassica nigra is not biblical mustard, but does not offer any good alternatives.

Here is the first sentance from an article published (1999) by Purdue U. in a series of Ethnobotanical "Leaflets,"...Most modern commentators agree that it was the ordinary black mustard, 'Brassica nigra', but there are still a few who disagree... and the article goes on from there to present pro and con arguments. The article also presents some ideas for alternate plants...none of which are acceptable to its author.

So, at this point, I stand behind the pure, uncultivated Brassica nigra, black mustard of botany.

-- posted by Georgene A. Bramlage

Top 6. Mar 30, 2005 11:40 AM

» Tina_Coruth - Re: Re: Mustard Seed, wrong translation?

In response to Re: Mustard Seed, wrong translation? posted by Dubh_Sidhe:

Georgene, I have to agree with Lee - beautifully expressed!

-- posted by Tina_Coruth