Definition and meaning
The biblical meaning of mandrakes refers to the aromatic plant of the belladonna family, which produces a fragrant fruit that is similar to an apple. This fruit produces an effect of extreme relaxation, almost narcotic, in fact it was used as a medicine in ancient times mainly when small operations were carried out.
The mandrake is considered a “herb of the Mediterranean” and of the high regions of the Himalayas. It has a foul odor and used to be used as a narcotic before surgery. Many stories were woven around it, such as that it was essential to be invulnerable or to discover treasures.
It was an important fruit at the time, and its lack was associated with bad future moments. The mandrake has a lot of history, and even the ancients said that this plant had almost magical qualities, and that it was capable of enhancing sexual desire.
This explanation also appears in the Bible (Gen. 30: 14-16; Cnt. 7:13). 745.
MANDRAKES VERSES
An ancient reference to its use as a fertility drug appears in “Genesis” (30:14), the first book of the “Torah” (the Law or Pentateuch) and the “Tanakh” – the Jewish bible, known to Christians. like the “Old Testament” – when Raquel tells Lea that she can spend the night with her husband in exchange for mandrakes, hoping these plants will help her conceive. However, that root was also used to commit cruel and vile acts by murderers. It is also said that they used to give wine with mandrake to those who were going to be crucified, so that the end would come sooner. And that later, the plant grew where the body fluids of the assassins fell, under the gallows.
We can find the word MANDRAKES in some of these passages: Genesis 30:14.
“Reuben went in time of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to Leah his mother; and Rachel said to Leah: Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
Witches were said to add mandrake to potions and that was what made their brooms fly around the world.
“If you consume it, you hallucinate, you become dizzy and your heart rate accelerates, and vision and cognition could also be impaired. If the dose is high enough, it can kill you”