אֲבַטִּחִים

# Melon (H0020) The Hebrew word *aváttîachîm* (אֲבַטִּחִים) refers to melons, a type of fruit. Based on the lexical data provided, this term appears only once in the biblical text, making it a hapax legomenon—a word that occurs just a single time in the Hebrew scriptures. This limited attestation means we cannot track how the word was used across different contexts or periods. The singular appearance of this term likely reflects the specialized nature of the vocabulary rather than the fruit's actual frequency in ancient Israelite life. Melons were cultivated in the ancient Near East, and their mention in a single biblical passage suggests the writer used the specific word when describing a particular situation involving this food. Without additional occurrences, we cannot determine whether the word carried any metaphorical significance or was used exclusively in literal, descriptive contexts.