Original Word: אֲבַטִּיחַ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: abattiyach
Pronunciation: ah-vat-tee'-akh
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-at-tee'-akh)
Definition: a melon
Meaning: A melon.

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be round.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct corresponding Strong's Greek entries for the Hebrew word אֲבַטִּיחַ, as the term is specific to the Hebrew Bible and does not have a direct equivalent in the Greek New Testament.

Usage: The term אֲבַטִּיחַ appears in the context of the Israelites' longing for the foods they had in Egypt, specifically mentioned as one of the desirable foods they remembered.

Context: The Hebrew word אֲבַטִּיחַ (avatiach) is translated as "melon" and is found in the Old Testament in the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. This term is specifically mentioned in Numbers 11:5, where the Israelites express their craving for the foods they enjoyed in Egypt, including melons. The verse reads: "We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic."

In the ancient Near Eastern diet, melons were a refreshing and hydrating fruit, valued for their sweet taste and high water content, which would have been particularly desirable in the arid climate of the region. The mention of melons in this passage highlights the Israelites' nostalgia for the abundance and variety of food available in Egypt, contrasting with the monotony of manna provided during their desert wanderings.

The specific type of melon referred to by אֲבַטִּיחַ is not explicitly identified in the text, but it is generally understood to be a type of sweet, juicy fruit similar to what we know today as watermelons or other similar melons. The cultivation and consumption of melons were common in ancient Egypt, and they were likely introduced to the Israelites during their time there.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
watermelon
NASB Translation
melons (1).

אֲבַטִּחִים noun [masculine] plural water-melons (Mishna אבטיח, Samaritan ; compare Löw^{No. 297}; Arabic etc.; perhaps loan-word in Hebrew compare Sta^{§ 258}; modern Egyptian ba‰‰ich, bi‰‰ich compare references in Di Numbers 11:5; on formation compare Lag^{BN 10}, who compare Ethiopic aq‰ala) — Egyptian fruit, ׳הָא Numbers 11:5 ("" הִקִּשֻּׁאִים, ֶ˜החָצִיר, הַבְּצָלִים, הַשּׁוּמִים); ᵐ5 τοὺς πέπονας.

melon

Of uncertain derivation; a melon (only plural) -- melon.

הָֽאֲבַטִּחִ֔ים האבטחים hā’ăḇaṭṭiḥîm hā·’ă·ḇaṭ·ṭi·ḥîm haavattiChimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts