Lexical Definition

‎אֶשְׁכּוֹל‎ ʼeshkôwl (esh-kole') cluster ^H:N-M
or אֶשְׁכֹּל ʼeshkôl (esh-kole'); probably prolonged from ‎אֶשֶׁךְ‎

cluster (of grapes).

• a bunch of grapes or other fruit

1) cluster
1a) of grapes
1b) of flowers (metaphor of lover)

See Greek: βότρυς

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֶשְׁכּוֺל‎ (‎אֶשְׁכֹּל‎ Song 7:8*) noun masculine^{Num 13:23} cluster (Ethiopic , Arabic , Aramaic ‎אִיתְכְּלָא‎; etymology dubious; Thes MV below √ ‎שׁכל‎, but no suitable meaning proven; Sta^{§ 258; 300} derives from √ ‎אשׁך‎ with afformative ‎ל‎) — ‎׳‎‎א‎ absolute Num 13:24 +; construct vNum 13:23 +; plural ‎אַשְׁכֹּלוֺת‎ Song 7:8* construct ‎אַשְׁכְּלֹת‎ Deut 32:32, ‎אֶשְׁכְּלוֺת‎ Song 7:9* suffix ‎אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ‎ Gen 40:10 —

1. cluster of grapes, ‎עֲנָבִים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Num 13:23 compare vNum 13:24 see also Gen 40:10 ‎הִבְשִׁילוּ‎ ‎עֲנָבִים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ its clusters ripened grapes; hence figurative of deeds of enemies of Israel, clusters of gall have they Deut 32:32 (|| ‎עִנְבֵי רוֺשׁ‎); figurative of Israel Isa 65:8 ‎׳‎‎יִמָּצֵא הַתִּירוֺשׁ בְּא‎; Mic 7:1 ‎אֵין אֶשְׁכּוֺל לֶאֱכוֺל‎ figurative of desolation of Israel under Yahweh's judgment; Song 7:9* in simile ‎שָׁדַיִךְ כְּאֶשְׁכְּלוֺת הַגֶּפֶן‎ compare v.Song 7:8* (where Thes MV think of clusters of dates, see ‎תָּמָר‎ palm-tree, ib.)

2. cluster of henna-flowers, ‎הַכֹּפֶר‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ (see ‎כפר‎), metaphor of the beloved one Song 1:14. (compare Grünwald^{Israel. Letterbode, Amst., xi. 148 f.})

Brown-Driver-Briggs References