King James Bible Dictionary

In Numbers 6:4 (Heb. zag) it means the "skin" of a grape. In 2 Kings 4:42 (Heb. tsiqlon) it means a "sack" for grain, as rendered in the Revised Version. In Luke 15:16, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, it designates the beans of the carob tree, or Ceratonia siliqua. From the supposition, mistaken, however, that it was on the husks of this tree that John the Baptist fed, it is called "St. John's bread" and "locust tree." This tree is in "February covered with innumerable purple-red pendent blossoms, which ripen in April and May into large crops of pods from 6 to 10 inches long, flat, brown, narrow, and bent like a horn (whence the Greek name keratia, meaning little horns'), with a sweetish taste when still unripe. Enormous quantities of these are gathered for sale in various towns and for exportation." "They were eaten as food, though only by the poorest of the poor, in the time of our Lord." The bean is called a "gerah," which is used as the name of the smallest Hebrew weight, twenty of these making a shekel.

A pod
Numbers 6:4; 2 Kings 4:42

Eaten by the prodigal son
Luke 15:16

HUSK, noun The external covering of certain fruits or seeds of plants. It is the calyx of the flower or glume of corn and grasses, formed of valves embracing the seed. The husks of the small grains, when separated, are called chaff; but in America we apply the word chiefly to the covering of the ears or seeds of maiz, which is never denominated chaff. It is sometimes used in England for the rind, skin or hull of seeds.

HUSK, verb transitive To strip off the external integument or covering of the fruits or seeds of plants; as, to husk maiz.

HUSK'ED, participle passive Stripped of its husks.

1. Covered with a husk.

HUSK'INESS, noun The state of being dry and rough, like a husk.

HUSK'ING, participle present tense Stripping off husks.

HUSK'ING, noun The act of stripping off husks. In New England, the practice of farmers it to invite their neighbors to assist them in stripping their maiz, in autumnal evenings, and this is called a husking

This word in (Luke 16:16) describes really the fruit of a particular kind of tree, viz. the carob or Ceratonia siliqua of botanists. It belongs to the locust family. This tree is very commonly met with in Syria and Egypt, it produces pods, shaped like a horn, varying in length from six to ten inches, and about a finger's breadth, or rather more; it is dark-brown, glossy, filled with seeds and has a sweetish taste. It is used much for food by the poor, and for the feeding of swine.

HUSK'Y, adjective Abounding with husks; consisting of husks.

1. Resembling husks; dry; rough.

2. Rough, as sound; harsh; whizzing.