The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God is proud of His creations called trees. He made them pleasing to the eye and good for food. He gave two of the trees special gifts. One was the gift of knowledge of good and evil and the other was the tree of life. Adam and Eve were banned from eating from either of them but when they ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they were banned from the Garden of Eden so that they couldn't partake of the other tree.
Genesis 3:6"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." (This describes how temptation turns into sin: it is pleasing to the eye and desirable which turned into action.Genesis 3:22And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
That was when sin entered the world and Satan and his cohorts had free reign over humans to steal and kill and destroy. But on the other end of Earth's life there will be no tree of knowledge of good and evil but the tree of life will be available for eating to our heart's content and Satan will be gone forever. Revelation 22:2 - "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." That paradise would not be available had another tree not been involved: the one on which Jesus was hung. The cross was fashioned from a tree and sometimes the cross is called a tree because of the Greek word used "xylon." Xylon describes both the part and the whole. Even a bench would be called a xylon because it was made from a tree.
Parts of trees are also mentioned in the Bible, like the olive branch and the root of Jesse. Jesus has been compared to the Rose of Sharon. Olive tree oil is compared to the Holy Spirit. It is used for anointing and, of course, many other tasks.
TREES USED IN DECOR
Exodus 25:31-36
“Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold."
Kings 6:29
On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers.
1 Kings 6:32
And on the two olive-wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.
1 Kings 6:35
He carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers on them and overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.
1 Kings 7:36
He engraved cherubim, lions and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and on the panels, in every available space, with wreaths all around.
On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers.
1 Kings 6:32
And on the two olive-wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.
1 Kings 6:35
He carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers on them and overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.
He engraved cherubim, lions and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and on the panels, in every available space, with wreaths all around.
Exodus 28:33-34
"33 Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. 34 The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. 35 Aaron must wear it when he ministers." The pomegranates grew on its own fruit tree but these were made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn. Those are royal colors.
“‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten." It is a good idea even today to give the tree a chance to mature. Pick the baby fruits off of the tree the first year so all of the growth goes to the roots, possibly do the same the second year.
Romans 11:17-24
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” This speaks of grafting which happens in fruit and flowering trees but it also has a message for us.
“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."
HOW TO RAISE FRUIT TREES
Leviticus 19:23“‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten." It is a good idea even today to give the tree a chance to mature. Pick the baby fruits off of the tree the first year so all of the growth goes to the roots, possibly do the same the second year.
Leviticus 23:40
On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.Deuteronomy 28:40
You will have olive trees throughout your country but you will not use the oil, because the olives will drop off.If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” This speaks of grafting which happens in fruit and flowering trees but it also has a message for us.
TITHING EVERYTHING FROM THE LAND
Leviticus 27:30“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."
The many different varieties of fruits along with grains, oil and honey.
Deuteronomy 8:8
a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;
Ezekiel 31:1-9
In the eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:
“‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?
3 Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon,
with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
its top above the thick foliage.
4 The waters nourished it,
deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
all around its base
and sent their channels
to all the trees of the field.
5 So it towered higher
than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
and its branches grew long,
spreading because of abundant waters.
6 All the birds of the sky
nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
gave birth under its branches;
all the great nations
lived in its shade.
7 It was majestic in beauty,
with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
to abundant waters.
8 The cedars in the garden of God
could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees
compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
could match its beauty.
9 I made it beautiful
with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden
in the garden of God.
a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;
POWERFUL TREES
In the eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:
“‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?
3 Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon,
with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
its top above the thick foliage.
4 The waters nourished it,
deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
all around its base
and sent their channels
to all the trees of the field.
5 So it towered higher
than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
and its branches grew long,
spreading because of abundant waters.
6 All the birds of the sky
nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
gave birth under its branches;
all the great nations
lived in its shade.
7 It was majestic in beauty,
with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
to abundant waters.
8 The cedars in the garden of God
could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees
compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
could match its beauty.
9 I made it beautiful
with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden
in the garden of God.
TREES USED IN AN OLD TESTAMENT PARABLE
(Jotham's Parable)
- Judges 9:6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.
- Judges 9:8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
- Judges 9:9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
- Judges 9:10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
- Judges 9:11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
- Judges 9:12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
- Judges 9:13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
- Judges 9:1 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
- Judges 9:15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’"
Neither the olive tree, fig tree, nor grapevine wanted to give up what they had to rule as king of the trees. The lowly thornbush was willing but was a threat to the trees including the great Cedars of Lebanon. The parable serves as a warning to be careful who you choose as king.
THE DIVINER'S TREE
But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.” The diviner's tree is reflective of its name. It is used by people seeking knowledge from omens, sorcerers, mediums and such instead of God. Seeking the knowledge they provide is forbidden by God and He made no bones about it. It led to King Saul's demise.
THE TAMARISK TREE
1 Samuel 22:6 Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. The Tamarisk tree was a tall tree that lived as long as 1,000 years. It provided a towering landmark. It was also known as an oak tree and though our oak trees grow tall, they do not compare to those in the holy land. It makes me think of the land when it was full of giants -- men, plants, trees and probably every living thing. Joshua discovered this when he went to spy on the land before the Hebrew people laid siege to it. In this verse, Saul was under the tree. He was the king before David and he was seeking to kill David.
2 Samuel 5:23
So David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. (Why did much sin occur under spreading trees?)
Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
THE FIG TREE
1 Kings 4:25
During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.SPREADING TREES
Kings 14:23They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. (Why did much sin occur under spreading trees?)
2 Kings 16:4
He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.
2 Kings 17:10
They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree.
He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.
2 Kings 17:10
They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree.
Jeremiah 3:6
During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there.
During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there.
Jeremiah 3:13
Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’” declares the Lord.
Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’” declares the Lord.
Deuteronomy 12:2
Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.
Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.
Isaiah 57:5
You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags.
You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags.
Ezekiel 6:13
And they will know that I am the Lord, when their people lie slain among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oak—places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols.
TREES THAT SING AND PRAISE
Psalm 96:12
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Psalm 148:7-9
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Psalm 148:7-9
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
TREES FOR EATING
Deuteronomy 20:19
When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?
TREES FOR BUILDING
Nehemiah 8:15
and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.
and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.
Deuteronomy 20:20
However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.
RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE COMPARED TO BEST TREES
Psalm 1:3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Jeremiah 17:8
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Matthew 3:10
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.Matthew 7:17
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
GOD DECLARES HIS RULE OVER TREES
Ezekiel 17:24
All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”
Ezekiel 31:18
“‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. ‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
“‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. ‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
DREAMS ABOUT TREES
Daniel 4:
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. 13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.Zechariah 1:8
During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.
Zechariah 1:10
Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”
During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.
Zechariah 1:10
Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”
OLIVE TREES
Zechariah 4:3Zechariah 4:11
Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
According to AI, these verses refer to the two anointed leaders -- Zerubbabel (the political
governor:) and Joshua (the high priest) -- whom God empowere to rebuild the Jerusalem
Temple after the Babylonian exile.
BE PRODUCTIVE LIKE TREES
Matthew 13:32Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Matthew 21:18-19
Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
Luke 13:19
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
Luke 17:6
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
THE FATE OF BAD TREES
Luke 6:43-44“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
Luke 13:6-7
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
HUMOROUS TREES
Mark 8:24
He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”TREE FOR SHORT PEOPLE
Luke 19:4
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
Romans 11:24
After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
Romans 11:24
LIKE BEGETS LIKE
James 3:12
My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
THE ULTIMATE GIFT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE
Revelation 2:7
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.Revelation 22:2
Down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.Revelation 22:14
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.Revelation 22:19
And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
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