- GRAFT the process of inoculating fruit-trees (Romans 11:17-24). It is
peculiarly appropriate to olive-trees. The union thus of branches to a stem
is used to illustrate the union of true believers to the true Church. - GRAIN used, in Amos 9:9, of a small stone or kernel; in Matthew 13:31,
of an individual seed of mustard; in John 12:24, 1 Corinthians 15:37, of
wheat. The Hebrews sowed only wheat, barley, and spelt; rye and oats are
not mentioned in Scripture. - GRAPE the fruit of the vine, which was extensively cultivated in
Palestine. Grapes are spoken of as “tender” (Cant. 2:13, 15), “unripe” (Job
15:33), “sour” (Isaiah 18:5), “wild” (Isaiah 5:2,4). (See Revelation 14:18;
Micah 7:1; Jeremiah 6:9; Ezekiel 18:2, for figurative use of the word.) (See
VINE.) - GRASS (1.) Hebrews hatsir, ripe grass fit for mowing (1 Kings 18:5; Job
40:15; Psalm 104:14). As the herbage rapidly fades under the scorching
sun, it is used as an image of the brevity of human life (Isaiah 40:6, 7;
Psalm 90:5). In Numbers 11:5 this word is rendered “leeks.”
(2.) Hebrews deshe’, green grass (Genesis 1:11, 12; Isaiah 66:14;
Deuteronomy 32:2). “The sickly and forced blades of grass which spring
up on the flat plastered roofs of houses in the East are used as an emblem
of speedy destruction, because they are small and weak, and because,
under the scorching rays of the sun, they soon wither away” (2 Kings
19:26; Psalm 129:6; Isaiah 37:27).
The dry stalks of grass were often used as fuel for the oven (Matthew
6:30; 13:30; Luke 12:28).
- GRASSHOPPER belongs to the class of neuropterous insects called
Gryllidae. This insect is not unknown in Palestine.
In Judges 6:5; 7:12; Job 39:30; Jeremiah 46:23, where the Authorized
Version has “grasshopper,” the Revised Version more correctly renders the
Hebrew word (‘arbeh) by “locust.” This is the case also in Amos 7:1; Nah.
3:17, where the Hebrew word gob is used; and in Leviticus 11:22;
Numbers 13:33; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Isaiah 40:22, where hagab is used. In all
these instances the proper rendering is probably “locust” (q.v.).