As the story goes, each pomegranate is said to contain 613 seeds (arils), the same as the number of mitzvot or commandments in the Torah.
Do pomegranates always have 613 seeds?
Yet, there are those who claim that the pomegranates from the Chatam Sofer’s time had an average of 613 seeds, or that there were rare pomegranates with exactly that number. Today, in any case, pomegranates have anywhere from 200 to 1,200 seeds (you are welcome to count for yourself!).
Why do pomegranates have 613 seeds?
Pomegranate seeds are said to number 613—one for each of the Bible’s 613 commandments. The pomegranate was revered for the beauty of its shrub, flowers, and fruit—symbolising sanctity, fertility, and abundance. The Song of Solomon compares the cheeks of a bride behind her veil to the two halves of a pomegranate.
How many seeds are in one pomegranate?
Inside the thick-skinned fruit are approximately 600 arils, or edible seeds, which can be enjoyed raw or processed into a juice ( 1 ).
What does the pomegranate mean in Judaism?
“Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol of righteousness, knowledge, and wisdom because it is said to have 613 seeds, each representing one of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah,” Damien Stone writes in Pomegranate: A Global History.
What are the 613 commandments of the Torah?
THE 613 MITZVOT
- To know there is a God. (Exodus 20:2)
- To have not other gods. (Exodus 20:3)
- To know that He is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
- To love Him. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
- To fear Him. (Deuteronomy 10:20)
- To sanctify His Name.
- Not to profane His Name.
- To worship Him as He has ordered and not destroy holy objects.
Is pomegranate in the Bible?
The Bible only mentions pomegranates in the Old Testament. The hems of Jewish priestly vestments are decorated with a stylised form of this fruit (Ex. 28, 33f; 39, 24-26) and, as such, a pomegranate is a metaphor for the richness of the promised land of Israel (Deut.
How many seeds are in a 613 pomegranate?
The pomegranate is also a symbol for righteousness, because its 613 seeds correspond to the 613 mitzvos in the Torah.
Which fruit has the most seeds?
Not all fruits contain the same number of seeds. Fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and melons usually have lots of seeds. Generally, oranges, apples, and pears contain about 10 seeds. Other fruits, such as avocados, plums, and peaches, have only one seed.
What does eating the pomegranate mean in lore Olympus?
After consuming it, Hades was officially recognized as King by the domain, obtaining the ability to command the prison of Tartarus, as well as rule over the deities, souls of the dead, and other inhabitants of the Underworld.
How many pomegranate should I eat a day?
The USDA recommends you eat 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit per day. Pomegranates are a nutrient-dense and low-calorie way to help hit this target. Each pomegranate, equal to about 1 cup of seeds, contains 174 calories with very little fat — 2 grams, or 3 percent daily value (DV).
Do you chew pomegranate seeds?
Edible Seeds
Enjoy the fresh fruit by first chewing on the seeds to release the juice from the sacs, then swallow seeds. The seeds provide roughage to help with digestion. Alternatively, you can also chew the seeds to release the juice, then spit them out.
Can your body digest pomegranate seeds?
Yes, the pomegranate seeds are absolutely edible. In fact, the seeds and the juices surrounding the seeds (together called arils) are the parts of the fruit that you’re supposed to eat.
What do pomegranate seeds symbolize?
Pomegranates represent fertility, but also a pause in fertility—in myth and in life. In ancient Greece, Dioscorides recommended pomegranate seeds and rind as birth control.
Is pomegranate kosher for Passover?
Trying to track down the question of Welch’s / fermented wine for Lord’s supper, I stumbled across the fact that pomegranate juice is kosher for Passover. No special process or oversight necessary. Special rabbinical oversight is necessary to make grape juice kosher for Passover.
Is pomegranate an ancient fruit?
The pomegranate originated in the region extending from Iran to northern India. This delicious fruit has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region and was introduced to California in the 17th century by Spanish immigrants.
Are the 10 Commandments part of the 613 laws?
The Ten Commandments, also known as Aseret HaDibrot (“Ten Sayings” in Hebrew) or Decalogue, are the first ten of the 613 commandments given by God to the Jewish people.
Why is the number 613 important?
The 613 commandments (Hebrew: תרי”ג מצוות: taryag mitzvot, “613 Mitzvot”) – 613 is the traditional number of mitzvot in the Jewish Torah, even though the actual number of commands exceeds 2,000, such that the number 613 reflects some underlying yet unstated concept.
Who wrote the Torah?
The Talmud holds that the Torah was written by Moses, with the exception of the last eight verses of Deuteronomy, describing his death and burial, being written by Joshua.
What are the pomegranates in Song of Solomon?
In Song of Solomon, the body is closely associated with fruit, as both become edible things. The lovers want to partake of one another. What the pomegranates in Song of Solomon demonstrate is that love is synonymous with tasty consumption.
What fruit is mentioned in the Bible?
Fruits and Nuts
- Apples (Song of Solomon 2:5)
- Almonds (Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8)
- Dates (2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3)
- Figs (Nehemiah 13:15; Jeremiah 24:1-3)
- Grapes (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 23:24)
- Melons (Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8)
- Olives (Isaiah 17:6; Micah 6:15)
- Pistachio Nuts (Genesis 43:11)