עלה תאנה

Hebrew

Etymology

From עֲלֵה (alé) +‎ תְאֵנָה (te'ená); a reference to Genesis 3:7.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה • (alé-te'ená) m (plural indefinite עֲלֵי תְאֵנָה)

1. (literally) A fig leaf: a leaf of the fig plant.
   • Genesis 3:7 (with KJV translation):

     וַתִּפָּקַחְנָה עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי עֵֽירֻמִּם הֵם וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם חֲגֹרֹת׃

     vatipakákhna einéi sh'neihém vayeid'ú kí arumím hém vayitp'rú alé t'ená vaya'asú lahém khagorót.

     And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

2. (figuratively) A fig leaf: something intended to conceal something offensive; especially, something that is insufficient for this purpose.