gōrd , goord ( קיקיון , ḳı̄ḳāyōn ): The Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible , 390-405 ad) has hedera ("ivy"), which is impossible. Philologically ḳı̄ḳāyōn appears to be connected with κίκι , kı́ki , which was the Egyptian name for the castor oil plant ( Ricinus communis ). This grows plentifully all over the Orient, and under favorable conditions may reach a height of 10 to 15 ft.; its larger leaves afford a grateful shade. The requirements of the narrative in Jonah 4:6 are, however, much more suitably met by the "bottle gourd" ( Cucurbita lagenaria ), the Arab ḳar‛ah . This is a creeping, vinelike plant which may frequently be seen trained over the rough temporary sun-shelters erected in fields or by the roadside in Palestine and Mesopotamia.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
WikipediaThe ISBE is a classic Bible reference compiled from nearly 10,000 entries written by over 200 different Bible scholars and teachers. In addition to the encyclopedia articles, all of the major words of the Bible are represented and defined.
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