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Caper-Berry

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CAPER-BERRY ( abîyyônah ). Ecclesiastes 12:5 RV [Note: Revised Version.]; AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘desire.’ The RV [Note: Revised Version.] tr. [Note: translate or translation.] is supported by the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] , Pesh. and the Mishna. The caper-berry is the fruit of Capparis spinosa , a common Palestine plant, which, largely on account of its habit of growing out of crevices in walls, has been identified with the Hyssop (wh. see). Various parts of the caper plant are extensively used as medicine by the fellahîn . The familiar capers of commerce are the flower buds. The ‘failure’ of the caper-berry in old age may have been its ceasing to act as a stimulant, either as an aphrodisiac or a stomachic.

E. W. G. Masterman.