Bible Dictionaries
Sycamore

Easton's Bible Dictionary

More properly sycomore (Heb. shikmoth and shikmim, Gr. sycomoros), a tree which in its general character resembles the fig-tree, while its leaves resemble those of the mulberry; hence it is called the fig-mulberry (Ficus sycomorus). At Jericho, Zacchaeus climbed a sycomore-tree to see Jesus as he passed by (Luke 19:4 ). This tree was easily destroyed by frost (Psalm 78:47 ), and therefore it is found mostly in the "vale" (1 Kings 10:27; 2 Chronicles 1:15 : in both passages the RSV has properly "lowland"), i.e., the "low country," the shephelah, where the climate is mild. (Amos 7:14 ) refers to its fruit, which is of an inferior character; so also probably (Jeremiah 24:2 ). It is to be distinguished from our sycamore (the Acer pseudo-platanus), which is a species of maple often called a plane-tree.