The entry STRONG H20 – אֲבַטִּחִים (abattiḥím) refers to:
Of uncertain derivative; melon (plural only):- melon.
"melons"
Lexical details:
Transliteration: abattichim (plural of אֲבַטִּיחַ – abattiáḥ, singular).
Meaning: melons, probably sweet melons or even watermelons (according to some translations).
Language: Biblical Hebrew.
Usage: Plural masculine noun.
Unique occurrence in the Bible:
Numbers 11:5 — When the Israelites complain in the wilderness and remember the food in Egypt:
"Stuffy snowflake snowflake snowflake snowflakes הַקִּשֻּׁאִים וְאֵת הָאֲבַטִּחִים וְאֶת־הֶחָצִיר Pages Businesses Arts & Entertainment
— "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt by the bucket, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
Historical and cultural context:
The text reflects a nostalgia for the fresh and abundant food the Israelites ate in Egypt.
The term אֲבַטִּחִים probably refers to melons or watermelons cultivated in the Nile valley, well known for their flavor and refreshing value in warm climates.
Some versions translate as “melons” and others as “watermelons”; in modern Hebrew, אֲבַטִּיחַ refers specifically to watermelon.
In summary:
אֲבַטִּחִים (abattichim) = melons or watermelons.
It appears only once in the Bible, in Numbers 11:5, as part of a list of desirable foods.
It comes from the root which also forms the modern word watermelon in current Hebrew.
