tip, FLOR ALIM FRUT In the NT, the fruit of the carob tree. It is abundant in Syria, and the pods, containing a sweet marrow-like substance, are fed to cattle and pigs; occasionally it was eaten by the very needy. It also receives the name of “Pan de San Juan”, due to the tradition that John the Baptist used this food in the desert. It is used in the Gospel of Luke, mentioning that they were food for pigs; the prodigal son was so hungry that he wished he could feed himself with them (Luke 15:16).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
(Gr. ke·ra·ti·on).
In the illustration of the prodigal son, Jesus said that the hungry boy wanted to eat the carob beans that were fed to the pigs. (Lu 15:16) These pods grow on the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), an attractive evergreen tree that grows throughout Palestine, as well as in the rest of the Mediterranean area. The tree reaches a height of up to 9 m., with small shiny leaves similar to those of the ash tree. The fruit or pod has a shiny, leathery shell that is dark brown in color and, in keeping with its Greek name (ke·ra·ti·on, “little horn”), is shaped like a curved horn. The pods measure 15 to 25 cm. long and about 2.5 cm. Wide. Inside there are several seeds, like peas, separated from each other by an edible pulp that is sweet and sticky. Today carob beans are still widely used as feed for cattle, horses and pigs. It is common to graft the trees to produce a better quality fruit, which can also serve as food for man.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
keration (keravtion, 2769), little horn (diminutive of keras, horn; see HORN). It is used in the plural in Luk 15:16 of carob beans that were fed to swine.¶
Source: Vine New Testament Dictionary