The cedar became a temple, the fig, a covering, and the gopher an ark. A tree was connected with man’s sin. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3:1-7). Another tree played a key role in the price of man’s sin. At Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ died by crucifixion upon a tree.
The Fig Tree
The first species mentioned by name in the Bible is the fig (Gen 3:7). This tree has sometimes been labeled a hypocrite tree because the fruit is green and not easily detected among the leaves until it is nearly ripe. It is only by close examination in the early stages that the fruit can be detected. Jesus came to a fig tree, desiring fruit, but found only leaves. He cursed the tree, and it fried up from the roots (Mark 11:12-14, 20).
After they have sinned, Adam and Eve used fig leaves to try to hide their sinfulness from the eyes of a searching God (Gen 3:6-13).
One time a fig tree was used to enable someone to see Jesus (Luke 19:1-10). Zacchaeus climbed into a sycamore tree (a type of fig tree) to see Jesus as he passed that way. It is not unusual for a sycamore tree to reach a height of fifty feet.
The Olive Tree
Another tree of importance, especially in the land of Israel, was the olive. The tree became the Biblical symbol for the nation of Israel (Rom. 11:15-25). Its berries continue to be leading articles of Israeli commerce. This tree has been called an emblem of peace, prosperity, and wealth (Ps. 128). When the olive crop fails, it is considered to be a sign of divine wrath (Jer. 11:16-23).
Needing no irrigation, the olive tree thrives well in the Palestinian hills. Since animal fat cannot be kept for a long time, olive oil became the only source of fat for consumption and frying. Additionally, the oil served as a base for all cosmetics and cleaning products. Used in clay lamps, it was the main source for lighting.
Its economic value was much enhanced by the fact that the great river valleys of Egypt and Mesopotamia have unsuitable soil and climate for the cultivation of olives; therefore, olive oil became a major item of export.
Olive oil was also used in the tabernacle for light and ceremonial anointing by the priests of God (Exod. 30: 24- 25; Lev. 24:2-4). It even plays a role in the book of Genesis. When the dove returned with an olive leaf in its mouth, Noah knew the waters had receded from the earth.
The Cedar Tree
The cedar tree was chosen for the temple of God in Jerusalem (I Kings 6:9-20). There are several possible reasons for this tree’s having been chosen. “The wood is not attacked by insect pests; it is free from knots. It has remarkable lasting qualities.”
The cedar forests in Lebanon were famous, and the people traveled great distances just to see them. These trees grew to heights of 120 feet and girths of 40 feet. Their life span was often over two thousand years. The cedars of Lebanon are now very rare; their glory has passed.
The cedar tree was used to build not only the temple of the Lord but also Solomon’s house and other public edifices in Jerusalem. It was used for roofing the temple of Diana at Ephesus and that of Apollo at Utica, and other famous buildings.
The Oak Tree
Another tree known for its longevity is the oak. The sturdy oak stood as a witness to certain events. In the time of the patriarchs, Jacob took the false idols from the members of the household and buried them under an oak at Shechem (Gen. 35:4). It was by an oak tree that, years later, Joshua took idols from the nation of Israel, who promised to serve only the true God (Josh. 24:14-26). Was it the same tree? The scriptures do not tell us, but some scholars infer that this may be true.
When the land of Israel was oppressed by Midian, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Gideon under an oak tree. There the angel made a covenant with Gideon to deliver Israel from their oppression (Judg. 6:11-19).
Some oak trees also witnessed evil. The heathen worshipped idols in oak groves (Ezek. 6:13); Absalom, David’s son, died in an oak tree (II Sam. 18:6-17); and King Saul was buried under an oak tree. (I Chron. 10:12).
One of the most interesting uses of trees in the Scriptures is as a simile for a person’s life – a productive tree and a barren tree. The principle of the comparison still applies to our lives today.
nice one.
very good one, i never knew such details..thanks
I loved your article.
Wonderful article Athena! Very interesting and informative.As always an excellent write! I did a write quite some time about all the plants in the bible and ended up helping Sil international with a new bible for the Philapines.
A very thorough, well written article. Trees are very important in the Scriptures. Our pastor did a sermon series called “Between the Trees” The Bible is framed by trees, from the Garden of Eden to the Tree of Life in heaven which bore crops twelve times a year, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.
I loved this article, I have passed the link on to my son, he loves these sort of details.
A thorough research you have made . Very interesting.
Good research, I enjoyed reading this article. But I wanted to point out also that if one searches through a concordance and looks up every verse in the bible where there is mention of a tree, You may be surprised how many times trees are refering to people! I wrote 2 pages full of my interpretation of why humans are often related to “trees” and “to bear good fruit” and what being a “tree” means for us as human beings.
The burning bush, the good and evil tree, the olive tree, etc. are meant to be taken literally as God (plural). Science calls God cyanobacteria which is responsible for all multicelled life which is us.
Amazing site, where did you come up with the knowledge in this article? Im glad I found it though, ill be checking back soon to see what other articles you have.
Such a well written article with awesome pictures. I love trees their great for hugging and very significant in the bible.
Very insightful. Appreciate the article even though I’m not Christian
Did U overlook the life tree and the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Good writing!
where in the Bible does it state that the only way you can tell summer and winter time is by the leaves on the tree.
i need more information about bible
i had a dream once and Christ stood on a hill arm stretched out beside an olive tree that had a white fence around it,it stood alone on top the hill, Christ stretched out his hands and said”go tell others these are the signes of the times? and a olive hit the ground and all hell broke loose in the air and on the ground ( every kind of natural disaster)
Nice article.
Thanks for that, and one thing about a sycamore tree is that when Jesus said what he did it died from the (roots) and that is amazing, why? Because that is totally impossible for any human to do even to take it out of the ground from the roots a Sycamore tree’s roots are so deep into the ground that no one can cut it out take it out pull it out or even bomb it out of the ground part of its roots will still stay in and it will grow again, but that didn’t happen with the (if it was) Sycamore tree in (Mark 11:12-14, 20).
All things are possible to them that believe (in JESUS FINISHED WORK AT THE CROSS!!!!