Bible Dictionary
Vine of Sodom
The “vine of Sodom” is mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:32 as a picture of corruption producing bitter or worthless fruit. Its precise botanical identification is uncertain, though it has been associated with plants near the Dead Sea.
Definition
The “vine of Sodom” is an expression in Deuteronomy for a vine or plant whose fruit is corrupt and bitter. Its exact botanical identification is uncertain.
Biblical Usage
Moses uses the expression as a picture of utter corruption, comparing the fruit of a sinful people with bitter or worthless produce.
Historical Background
The expression has been associated with plants of the Dead Sea region, including the osher and the colocynth. Descriptions in the supplied material emphasize fruit that appears attractive but is bitter, hollow, or disintegrates when touched.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Referred to only in Deut. 32:32. Among the many conjectures as to this tree, the most probable is that it is the ‘osher of the Arabs, which abounds in the region of the Dead Sea. Its fruit are the so-called “apples of Sodom,” which, though beautiful to the eye, are exceedingly bitter to the taste. (See EN-GEDI.) The people of Israel are referred to here by Moses as being utterly corrupt, bringing forth only bitter fruit.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
occurs only in (32:32) It is generally supposed that this passage alludes to the celebrated apples of Sodom, of which Josephus speaks, “which indeed resemble edible fruit in color, but, on being plucked by the hand, are dissolved into smoke and ashes.” It has been variously identified. Dr. Robinson pronounced in favor of the ’osher fruit, the Asclepias (Calotropis) procera of botanists. He says, “The fruit greatly resembles externally a large smooth apple or orange, hanging in clusters of three or four together, and when ripe is of a yellow color. It is now fair and delicious to the eye and soft to the touch but, on being pressed or struck, it explodes with a puff: like a bladder or puff-hall, leaving in the hand only the shreds of the thin rind and a few fibres. It is indeed filled chiefly with air, which gives it the round form.” Dr. Hooker writes,” The vine of Sodom always thought might refer to Cucumis calocynthis, which is bitter end powders inside; the term vine would scarcely be given to any but a trailing or other plant of the habit of a vine.” His remark that the term vine must refer to some plant of the habit of a vine is conclusive against the claims of all the plants hitherto identified with the vine of Sodom.