Bible Encyclopedias
Gourd

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.