Easton's Bible Dictionary I.e., "grained apple" (pomum granatum), Hebrews rimmon. Common in Egypt (Numbers 20:5) and Palestine (13:23; Deuteronomy 8:8). The Romans called it Punicum malum, i.e., Carthaginian apple, because they received it from Carthage. It belongs to the myrtle family of trees. The withering of the pomegranate tree is mentioned among the judgments of God (Joel 1:12). It is frequently mentioned in the Song of Solomon (Cant. 4:3, 13, etc.). The skirt of the high priest's blue robe and ephod was adorned with the representation of pomegranates, alternating with golden bells (Exodus 28:33, 34), as also were the "chapiters upon the two pillars" (1 Kings 7:20) which "stood before the house." Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The fruit of the tree Punica Granatum; also, the tree itself (see Balaustine), which is native in the Orient, but is successfully cultivated in many warm countries, and as a house plant in colder climates. The fruit is as large as an orange, and has a hard rind containing many rather large seeds, each one separately covered with crimson, acid pulp. 2. (n.) A carved or embroidered ornament resembling a pomegranate. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia POMEGRANATE pom'-gran-at, pom-gran'-at, pum'-gran-at (rimmon (tree and fruit); the Hebrew name is similar to the Arabic, Aramaic and Ethiopic; rhoa): 1. A Tree Characteristic of Palestine: One of the most attractive and most characteristic of the fruit trees of Syria, probably indigenous to Persia, Afghanistan and the neighborhood of the Caucasus, but introduced to Palestine in very ancient times. The spies brought specimens of figs and pomegranates, along with grapes, from the Vale of Eshcol (Numbers 13:23). Vines, figs and pomegranates are mentioned (Numbers 20:5) as fruits the Israelites missed in the wilderness; the promised land was to be one "of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates" (Deuteronomy 8:8), a promise renewed in Haggai 2:19. In the lamentation in Joel 1:11, 12 we have the pomegranate, the palm tree and the apple tree represented as withered, "for joy is withered away from the sons of men." 2. The Fruit: The pomegranate tree, Punica granatum (Natural Order, Granateae) occurs usually as a shrub or small tree 10-15 ft. high, and is distinguished by its fresh green, oval leaves, which fall in winter, and its brilliant scarlet blossoms (compare Songs 7:12). The beauty of an orchard of pomegranates is referred to in Songs 4:13. The fruit which is ripe about September is apple-shaped, yellow-brown with a blush of red, and is surmounted by a crown-like hard calyx; on breaking the hard rind, the white or pinkish, translucent fruits are seen tightly packed together inside. The juicy seeds are sometimes sweet and sometimes somewhat acid, and need sugar for eating. The juice expressed from the seeds is made into a kind of syrup for flavoring drinks, and in ancient days was made into wine: "I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice (margin "sweet wine") of my pomegranate" (Songs 8:2). The beauty of a cut section of pomegranate-or one burst open naturally, when fully ripe-may have given rise to the comparison in Songs 4:3; Songs 6:7: "Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate." The rind of the pomegranate contains a very high percentage of tannic acid, and is employed both as a medicine and for tanning, particularly in making genuine morocco leather. Whether the pomegranate tree in Migron under which Saul is said (1 Samuel 14:2) to have abode with his 600 men was really a tree or a place, Rimmon, is doubtful. See RIMMON. 3. The Pomegranate in Art: A large number of references to the pomegranate are to the use of the form of the fruit in ornamentation, in which respect it appears among the Hebrews to have something of the position of the lotus bud as a decorative motive in Egypt. It was embroidered in many colors on the skirts of Aaron's garments, together with golden bells (Exodus 28:33; Exodus 39:24-26 compare Ecclesiasticus 45:9). Hiram of Tyre introduced the pomegranate into his brass work ornamentation in the temple: "So he made the pillars; and there were two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars" (margin "So the Syriac The Hebrew has `pomegranates' ") (1 Kings 7:18). "And the pomegranates were two hundred, in rows round about upon the other capital" (1 Kings 7:20 compare also Psalm 7:42; 2 Kings 25:17; 2 Chronicles 3:16; 4:13). E. W. G. Masterman

Multi-Version Concordance Pomegranate (11 Occurrences) Exodus 28:34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as Yahweh commanded Moses. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 20:5 Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink." (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Deuteronomy 8:8 a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey; (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 14:2 Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people who were with him were about six hundred men; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Song of Songs 4:3 Your lips are like scarlet thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Song of Songs 6:7 Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Song of Songs 7:12 Let's go early up to the vineyards. Let's see whether the vine has budded, its blossom is open, and the pomegranates are in flower. There I will give you my love. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Song of Songs 8:2 I would lead you, bringing you into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joel 1:12 The vine has dried up, and the fig tree withered; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all of the trees of the field are withered; for joy has withered away from the sons of men. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Haggai 2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven't brought forth. From this day will I bless you.'" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)