קִיקָיוֹן

From the study of Jonah 4:10

Range of meaning

A plant name found only in Jonah 4:6–10. It is most often identified as the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis). The name looks related to Egyptian kiki and Greek kiki, which Herodotus (2.94) names as the castor plant whose oil Egyptians burned. The Mishnah (Shabbat 2:1) mentions 'qiq oil', and the Talmud (b. Shabbat 21a) connects it explicitly with Jonah's qiqayon. The castor plant grows very fast, reaches tree size, has big hand-shaped leaves that give good shade, and is easily killed by insect larvae.

Against the English

KJV and YLT say "gourd", following the LXX kolokynthē (a gourd or squash). WEB says "vine". BSB, ESV, NIV and NASB say "plant". "Gourd" makes modern readers picture a pumpkin-like fruit. "Vine" suggests a grapevine or creeper. The Hebrew says neither.

How it drifted

The LXX's "gourd" passed into Old Latin Bibles (cucurbita) and from there into English tradition through Tyndale and the KJV.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jerome's Vulgate used hedera, "ivy." Augustine wrote to him (Ep. 71) that a congregation in Oea, North Africa, had caused an uproar when their bishop read "ivy" in place of the familiar "gourd." Jerome replied (Ep. 112) that the Hebrew named a shrub with no exact Latin equivalent.

From the study of Jonah 4:6

Range of meaning

A plant named only in Jonah 4:6–10. The text says it grew quickly, gave real shade, and withered when a worm attacked it. Jonah 4:10 adds that it came up in a night and died in a night.

Against the English

KJV and YLT say "gourd". BSB and WEB say "vine". ESV and NASB say "plant". NIV and NLT say "leafy plant". None of them can be sure what species is meant.

How it drifted

"Gourd" goes back to the Greek Septuagint's kolokynthē. A modern reader pictures a pumpkin or squash lying on the ground, which does not fit a plant that shades a man's head. "Vine" fits a climbing gourd but may not be the actual plant.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word resembles Egyptian kiki, the castor-oil plant. Herodotus (Histories 2.94) reports that the Egyptians made oil from a plant they called kiki. The Mishnah (Shabbat 2:1) mentions "qiq oil", and the Talmud (b. Shabbat 21a) links qiq to Jonah's qiqayon. The Septuagint and Syriac translations say "gourd". Aquila and Symmachus, and Jerome in the Vulgate, say "ivy".

From the study of Jonah 4:9

Range of meaning

A plant name found only in Jonah 4:6–10. Most scholars connect it with Egyptian kiki, the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis). Herodotus (2.94) reports kiki as the Egyptian name for castor oil, and the Mishnah/Talmud speak of 'oil of qiq' (m. Shabbat 2:1; b. Shabbat 21a). That plant grows very fast, reaches several metres, has large hand-shaped leaves and is easily destroyed by caterpillars.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'gourd' (from the LXX and older Latin); NIV/ESV/BSB/NASB 'plant'; WEB 'vine'. Jerome's Vulgate has 'hedera' (ivy).

How it drifted

'Gourd' makes a modern reader picture a squash or pumpkin on the ground. The story needs a tall, leafy shade-giver that springs up overnight and withers just as fast.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX κολοκύνθη (gourd). Aquila, Symmachus and Theodotion, as reported by Jerome, κισσός (ivy). Vulgate 'hedera'. Augustine (Letter 71 to Jerome) reports a near-riot in the North African town of Oea when a bishop read 'ivy' instead of the familiar 'gourd'. Jerome defended his choice in his Jonah commentary, admitting Latin had no exact word.