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What Are All The Mentions Of Trees, Fruits, and Plants In The Bible About Anyway?

There are A LOT of Trees in the Bible

Have you ever noticed that the Bible mentions trees regularly? It seems to be a recurring theme throughout the Bible. In fact, the word “tree” is mentioned 257 times throughout the whole Bible. 213 of those times are in the Old Testament alone! With the exception of God and people, trees are the most mentioned living creature in the Bible. 

Trees Mentioned in the Bible

But Let Us Not Forget About Fruit

The word fruit pops up a total of 198 times throughout the Bible! 

Fruits Mentioned in the Bible

So, What Significance Do Trees and Plants and Fruit Hold?

Every major character in the Bible has an association with a tree or a plant. Every major Biblical event has an association with a tree or plant. The Bible starts with a tree and ends with a tree. 

God Provides:  Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1: 11-12)

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:29-30)

Noah Knew the Flood had Ended: When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. (Genesis 8:11)

Abraham Sitting: The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. (Genesis 18:1)

Moses Talks to God: There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:2-4)

Joseph is a Vine: Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. (Genesis 49:22)

Zacchaeus and the Sycamore: So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:4)

The Blind Man: He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” (Mark 8:24)

Job Wishes he was a Tree: At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant. (Job 14:7-9)

The Disciples Gathered on the Mount of Olives:  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.  (Luke 22:39)

Paul Suggested Christians are Branches Grafted into Trees: If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 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.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:16-20)

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! (Romans 11:24)

Micah Refers to the Second Coming of Christ: Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. (Micah 4:4)

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Mustard Seed: He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though 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 13:31-32)

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 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 13:18-19)

Pay your Tithing: Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. (Proverbs 3:9)

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree: Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:13-14)

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (Mark 11:20-21)

Following Him will Lead to Blessings: The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. (Deuteronomy 28:4)

Heed the Warning of Not Following Him: The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. (Deuteronomy 28: 18)

….. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit. (Deuteronomy 18:30)

Mary Magdalene Confuses Jesus for a Gardner:  He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” (John 20:15)

Eden Becomes Restored: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 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: 1-2)

Jesus is referred to as a tree: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16)

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Fig Tree:  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?’ ”Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9)

Remain in Christ and LOVE: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:1-17)

 Jesus wants us to help others: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” (John 4:34-38)

The Righteous will Flourish: The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;  he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him (Psalms 92:12-15)

Ancestors of the Israelites: When I found Israel,  it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. (Hosea 9:10)

Stay True to your Values: The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored. (Proverbs 27:18)

God Knows What Path we are Taking: 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. (Matthew 12:33)

You Must Repent for your Wrongdoing:  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 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 3:8-10)

Jesus Died for us on a Tree: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Galatians 3:13)

The Faithful get to Eat from the Tree of Life: 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 2:7)

Even Though Some Mentions are Literal, Most Mentions are Metaphors

What does the myriad of metaphors about trees, fruit, and plants represent? 

Well, for one, many references are about God providing the nourishment and strength we need in order to be with Him again. But there are so many meanings wrapped up in this. They are:

• Christ
• Our Faith
• Our Choices
• Our Tithes
• Our Relationship with Christ
• Blessings and Curses
• Redemption
• Abundance
• The Holy Spirit
• The Creation of Man
• The Fall of Man

The Takeaway?

We need to root ourselves in the words and actions of the Lord. We must Follow him without ceasing. If we do so, He will bless us and we will partake in the fruit of the Tree of Life. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

 

Discovering Faith: The Story of Rahab

Who is Rahab?

Rahab is a Canaanite woman. She lived in Jericho and was a prostitute. We are introduced to her in The Book of Joshua Chapter 2. 

What is Rahab’s Story?

Joshua and the Israelites planned to storm the city of Jericho, the gateway city to The Promised Land. Jericho was a fortress, the city hidden behind walls. Even so, those who were less fortunate lived in homes that were not permitted to be inside the city walls. Due to Rahab’s financial circumstances coupled with her occupation, it is here that she lived. Joshua sent out two Israelite spies whose mission was to get a lay of the land. 

The spies ended up going to Rahab’s house. The king of Jericho caught wind of the spies. 

So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land.” (Joshua 2:3)

Instead of telling the king where the two men were, she responded, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.  At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (Joshua 2:4-5)

As the Canaanites went hunting the two men, Rahab went to the rooftop. She had been harboring a secret all along. What she didn’t tell the king was that she had hidden the two men under stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. 

She spoke to the two spies. and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.  We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” (Joshua 2: 9-13)

The Israelite spies promised Rahab that her life and the lives of her family would be spared. They instructed her to tie a scarlet cord to a window and to ensure that her family members would be inside of her house when the invasion took place. Rahab let the men climb out her window and informed the men to hide in the hills for three days and they would not be caught. After 3 days, the men started their journey back to report to Joshua. In Joshua 6:17 we see that Joshua showed mercy to Rahab and her family. During the invasion, Joshua tells his army, “the city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.”

The entire city of Jericho was destroyed. All of the men, women, young and old, cattle and donkeys. 

Joshua 6:25 continues to tell us that not only was Rahab and her family spared, they were welcomed with open arms to join the Isrealites:

But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

What Significance is in Rahab’s Story?

Rahab was a known lady of the night. She was a Canaanite and an enemy of the Israelites. Yet, Rahab had enough insight and sudden faith to recognize that the Israelites were following the promise of God. She acknowledged that it was her responsibility to save these men. 

She, who was once a sinner, chose to follow God. 

Hebrews 11:31 reads:

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

James 2:25-26 reads:

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Rahab became a woman of faith. 

We are not perfect, we have all sinned, and we will continue to do so throughout our lives. But we do not have to be defined by our sins. We can learn from them, we can grow from them. We can choose to do better next time. We can have the faith that God will forgive us for our sins and continue to help us. 

A Cool Note

Matthew 1:1-6 tells us the lineage of Jesus:

 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of King David.

This means that Jesus is a direct descendant of Rahab. 

To Sum it All Up

Granted, Rehab was an unlikely candidate to become a tool in God’s plan. But she put her trust in the Lord, and because of her faith and the actions she took, the Israelites were one step closer to The Promised Land. She became righteous and her sins were forgiven. As mentioned above in James 2:26, faith without deeds is dead. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

Just to clear up some confusion:

Psalm 87:4 and Psalm 89:10 refer to Rahab as well as Isaiah 30:7 and Isaiah 51:9, and then again in Job 9:13 and Job 26:12. If you go and read the verses, you might experience some confusion. 

Rahab is a Hebrew term. It is a more poetic way of referring to Egypt.  In the mentioned scriptures above, they are referring to Rahab as Egypt. 

Rachab is the name for Rahab of Jericho. This change is because of translation. In Hebrew, the correct spelling of her name is Rachab, however, the spellings are the same once translated into English. 

 

36 Bible Verses about Faith

Why Do We Need Faith?

When we are leading our lives in faith, we are:

• Following His word
• Adept at warding off temptation
• Granting God authority to help us when we call upon Him
• Wholly put trust in Our Lord
• Receive spiritual blessings
• Embolden and restore faith in others

By taking the time to reflect on your faith, you have an opportunity to rejuvenate your intimate relationship with Him.

We’ve compiled a list of 36 Bible verses focused on faith. Read them as a reminder as to why your faith is important. 

Verses Referring to Faith

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

John 11:40

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:10

 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:23

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:3

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:52

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.

Ephesians 3:16-17

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Matthew 21:22

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

John 6:35

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

Psalm 119:30

For we live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Romans 10:10

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Hebrews 11:11

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1:17

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:31

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10:17

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 1 Timothy 6:12

 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

James 5:14-15

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:5

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.”

Matthew 21:21

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.

Habakkuk 2:4

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:17

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Jude 1:20-21

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Romans 1:11-12

Free Printable

Print this free printable out and place it somewhere you see often so you can be reminded of the importance of faith. 

Plato once said, “we are twice armed if we fight with faith”. In all of your endeavors, remember to keep your faith.

-Torrance Church of Christ