The apple, a fruit commonly associated with sweetness and nourishment, holds a significant place in biblical literature and Christian tradition. While the specific term "apple" as understood in modern times may not directly appear in the original Hebrew and Greek texts, the fruit is often mentioned in translations and interpretations of the Bible, symbolizing various spiritual and moral themes.

Biblical References:

1. Song of Solomon 2:3 : "Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste." In this poetic and allegorical book, the apple tree is used as a metaphor for beauty, love, and desire. The imagery of the apple tree provides a sense of delight and satisfaction, symbolizing the beloved's unique and cherished nature.

2. Proverbs 25:11 : "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Here, the apple is used metaphorically to describe the value and beauty of well-chosen words. The imagery of "apples of gold" suggests something precious and aesthetically pleasing, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and eloquence.

3. Song of Solomon 8:5 : "Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth." The apple tree serves as a backdrop for intimate and significant moments, symbolizing life, fertility, and the nurturing aspects of love.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In Christian tradition, the apple has often been associated with the account of the Fall of Man in Genesis, although the fruit in the Garden of Eden is not explicitly named as an apple in the biblical text. The Latin Vulgate translation used the word "malum," which can mean both "apple" and "evil," leading to the apple's association with the forbidden fruit. This connection has permeated art and literature, symbolizing temptation, sin, and the knowledge of good and evil.

The apple's symbolism extends beyond its association with sin. In the Song of Solomon, the apple represents love, beauty, and the sweetness of life. It is a symbol of the beloved's desirability and the joy found in romantic and divine love. The apple tree's shade offers protection and comfort, reflecting the security and peace found in a loving relationship.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, apples were a valued fruit, known for their sweetness and nutritional benefits. They were cultivated and enjoyed in various forms, from fresh fruit to dried delicacies. The apple's presence in biblical texts reflects its cultural significance and the universal appreciation for its qualities.

Throughout Christian history, the apple has been depicted in religious art and iconography, often as a symbol of the Fall or as an emblem of redemption when held by Christ or the Virgin Mary. This dual symbolism highlights the apple's role in illustrating the human condition and the hope of salvation.

In summary, the apple in biblical literature serves as a rich symbol of love, wisdom, temptation, and redemption. Its presence in scripture and tradition invites reflection on the complexities of human experience and the divine truths revealed through metaphor and allegory.Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Nave's Topical Index

Songs 2:3,5
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Nave's Topical Index

Songs 7:8
I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also your breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of your nose like apples;
Nave's Topical Index

Songs 8:5
Who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I raised you up under the apple tree: there your mother brought you forth: there she brought you forth that bore you.
Nave's Topical Index

Joel 1:12
The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languishes; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
Nave's Topical Index

8598. tappuach -- apple tree, apple
... apple tree. From naphach; an apple (from its fragrance), ie The fruit or
the tree (probably includ. Others of the pome order, as ...
/hebrew/8598.htm - 6k

Much Fruit
... may labor to give his apple tree the digging and manuring, the watering and the
pruning it needs; he can do nothing to produce the apple: "The fruit of the ...
/.../murray/the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/much fruit.htm

Under the Apple Tree. "I Sat Down under his Shadow with Great ...
... for it sets forth a plain man's faith in a plain salvation; it is the likeness of
a soul under the apple tree, resting in the shade, and feasting on the fruit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/under the apple tree i sat.htm

Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work
... Bearing fruit unto every good work.' The words, suggest again the great thought,
that as an apple-tree or a vine is planted solely for its fruit, so the great ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/xii bearing fruit in every.htm

Where to Find Fruit
... fir tree, he adds, "From me is thy fruit found." Our gracious God is like a fir
tree for shade, but like the apple tree among the trees of the wood for fruit. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/where to find fruit.htm

Blighted Blossoms
... As the leaves unfolded and grew larger, there appeared here and there a little apple
that gave promise of maturing into full-ripened fruit. But, alas! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk five blighted blossoms.htm

On Earthly Things
... [Ps.1:3]. The apple is the fruit of the saints in virtue: in the Song of Songs,
ans he shall eat the fruit of his own apples. [Cant.5:1]. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iii on earthly things.htm

Judged by Fruit
... branches. Everybody can tell the apple tree then, and knows what a pear or
a plum tree is when they see the fruit hanging upon it. You ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xi judged by fruit.htm

The Apple Trees
... CHAPTER XIX THE APPLE TREES. ... A man who owns this is a fruitful tree in the garden
of God, and on such a tree alone will the sound fruit be found. ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xix the apple trees.htm

How Love Spreads Its Excellence Over the Other virtues, Perfecting ...
... of grafted trees always follow the graft, for if the graft be apple it will ... to all
the fruits which the grafts produce, yet so that each fruit preserves the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v how love spreads.htm

Letter xv. --To Adelphius the Lawyer .
... Homer never saw "the apple with bright fruit [2231] " as we have it here, approaching
to the hue of its own blossom in the exceeding brilliancy of its colouring ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/letter xv to adelphius the lawyer.htm

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