Bible Commentaries

Verses 1-32

Ezekiel 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Ezekiel 18:2 Word Study on “sour grapes” Gesenius says the Hebrew word “sour grape” ( בֹּסֶר ) (H1155) means, “sour and unripe grapes.” Strong says it means, “an immature grape,” and comes from an unused root ( בֶּסֶר ) (H1154), which means, “to be sour.”

Ezekiel 18:2 Word Study on “set on edge” Gesenius and Strong say the Hebrew word “set on edge” ( קָהָה ) (H6949) means, “to be blunt.” BDB says it means, “blunt, dull.”

Ezekiel 18:2 Comments My wife and children love to eat unripe mangos and soy sauce. They are so sour they make the teeth sticky and feel “dull.” Evidently, some people in ancient times at unripe grapes for the simple reason that they liked the taste. As with my wife, they may have mixed them with something to reduce the sour taste.