In the biblical narrative, fruit trees hold significant symbolic and practical importance, appearing frequently throughout the Scriptures. They are often associated with God's provision, blessing, and the moral and spiritual lessons imparted to His people.

Creation and Provision:
The account of creation in Genesis highlights the fruit tree as part of God's perfect provision for humanity. Genesis 1:11-12 states, "Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth vegetation, seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.' And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." Here, fruit trees are depicted as a fundamental component of the created order, designed to sustain life and reflect God's goodness.

Symbolism and Lessons:
Fruit trees are often used symbolically in Scripture to convey spiritual truths. In the Garden of Eden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life (Genesis 2:9) represent choices and consequences, illustrating the themes of obedience and divine wisdom. The fruit tree becomes a metaphor for the results of one's actions, as seen in Matthew 7:17-18 : "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."

Covenant and Blessing:
Fruit trees are also associated with God's covenant blessings. In Leviticus 26:4 , God promises, "I will give you rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit." This promise underscores the connection between obedience to God's commandments and the prosperity of the land, including the fruitfulness of its trees.

Judgment and Restoration:
Conversely, the absence or destruction of fruit trees is often a sign of judgment. In Joel 1:12 , the prophet laments, "The vine has dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple—all the trees of the orchard—are withered. Surely the joy of mankind has dried up." This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.

Eschatological Hope:
In prophetic literature, fruit trees are used to depict the hope of restoration and the coming of God's kingdom. Ezekiel 47:12 envisions a future where "all kinds of trees for food will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing." This vision points to a time of abundance and healing, reflecting the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises.

Practical and Cultural Significance:
In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, fruit trees were vital for sustenance and economic stability. The Law included specific instructions regarding the care and use of fruit trees, such as the prohibition against cutting down fruit trees during a siege (Deuteronomy 20:19-20), emphasizing their value and the principle of stewardship.

Throughout the Bible, fruit trees serve as a rich symbol of God's provision, the moral and spiritual condition of His people, and the hope of future restoration. They remind believers of the importance of bearing good fruit in their lives, reflecting the character and blessings of God.8256. shiqmah -- sycamore tree
... sycamore fruit, tree. Or (feminine) shiqmah {shik-maw'}; of uncertain derivation;
a sycamore (usually the tree) -- sycamore (fruit, tree). 8255, 8256. ...
/hebrew/8256.htm - 6k

The Six Days' Work Described.
... And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed after his
kind and in his likeness, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xi the six days work.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree.
... to the peculiarities of the fig; I think the same number would have been employed
for the purposes of the spiritual lesson, although a fruit tree of another ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xx the barren fig-tree.htm

This Conclusion Confirmed by the Usage of Holy Scripture in Its ...
... Let the earth," says He, "bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the
fruit-tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, after its kind. ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xxii this conclusion confirmed by.htm

The Gradual Development of Cosmical Order Out of Chaos in the ...
... when God declares, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed after
its kind, and according to its likeness, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xxix the gradual development of.htm

The Germination of the Earth.
... 1. "And God said Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the
fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself." [1535] It ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily v the germination of.htm

Death to Self is the Way Out into a Life of Sacrifice.
... But the law of creation is "the herb yielding seed and the fruit-tree yielding fruit
after its kind, whose seed is in itself." And let us count it all joy if ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the cross/death to self is the.htm

A Provision Ground
... introduced into architectural ornamentation, and to take the place of the Greek
acanthus, which they surpass in beauty"that is, of course, a Bread- fruit tree ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xvi a provision ground.htm

The Holy Nation
... The lovely picture of the blessed dwellers in their good land is closed by the promise
of abundant harvests from corn and fruit-tree; that is, all that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the holy nation.htm

Self-Denial.
... We are, to use an illustration, in all our life and existence like a fruit-tree,
broadly rooted, full grown, planted in fertile soil, adorned with a crown of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvi self-denial.htm

Death to Sin is the Way Out into a Life of Holiness.
... future. How hopeless the naked wood of a fruit tree would look to us in
February if we had never seen the marvel of springtime! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the cross/death to sin is the.htm

Fruit-tree (4 Occurrences)
Fruit-tree. Fruits, Fruit-tree. Fruit-trees . Multi-Version
Concordance Fruit-tree (4 Occurrences). Genesis 1:11 And ...
/f/fruit-tree.htm - 7k

Apple (8 Occurrences)
... to show that it was the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Dr. Tristram has
suggested that the apricot has better claims than any other fruit-tree to be ...
/a/apple.htm - 17k

Geba (22 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:2 And Saul was still waiting in the farthest part of Geba, under the
fruit-tree in Migron: there were about six hundred men with him; (BBE). ...
/g/geba.htm - 17k

Fruit-trees (5 Occurrences)
Fruit-trees. Fruit-tree, Fruit-trees. Frustrate . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Fruit-tree, Fruit-trees. Frustrate . Reference Bible.
/f/fruit-trees.htm - 8k

Fadeth (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 47:12 And by the stream there cometh up on its edge, on this side and on
that side, every 'kind of' fruit-tree whose leaf fadeth not, and not consumed ...
/f/fadeth.htm - 8k

Farthest (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:2 And Saul was still waiting in the farthest part of Geba, under the
fruit-tree in Migron: there were about six hundred men with him; (BBE). ...
/f/farthest.htm - 17k

Fig (45 Occurrences)
... spring. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A small fruittree (Ficus Carica)
with large leaves, known from the remotest antiquity. It ...
/f/fig.htm - 33k

Apple-tree (3 Occurrences)
... ap'-l ap'-l tre, (tappuach): A fruittree and fruit mentioned chiefly in Cant,
concerning the true nature of which there has been much dispute. ...
/a/apple-tree.htm - 11k

Appletree
... ap'-l ap'-l tre, (tappuach): A fruittree and fruit mentioned chiefly in Cant,
concerning the true nature of which there has been much dispute. ...
/a/appletree.htm - 10k

Seed-bearing (1 Occurrence)
... Genesis 1:11 And God said: 'Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and
fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon ...
/s/seed-bearing.htm - 6k

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? | GotQuestions.org

Was the forbidden fruit an apple? | GotQuestions.org

Was Adam and Eve's sin really about eating a piece of forbidden fruit? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus