The Tree of Life depicted in the Bible is a literal and figurative tree. This tree belongs to Almighty God and Creator of the Universe. This tree bears fruit and when the fruit is eaten by a righteous person it has life sustaining properties. We find the first reference to the Tree of Life made by God in Genesis Chapter 2:9 Thus Jehovah God made grow out of the ground every tree desireable to one’s sight and good for food and also the tree of life in the middle of the gardenÖ. Again, the Tree of Life is mentioned in Chapter 3 of Genesis vs.24 And so He drove the man out and posted at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubs and the flaming blade of a sword that was turning itself continually to guard the way to the tree of life. This passage informs us that after Adam and Eve had eaten fruit from the forbidden tree that was also planted in the Garden of Eden, named the tree of knowledge of Good & Evil (which God had warned would bring certain death), Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden. The Bible shows that Adam and Eve were not permitted to eat from the Tree of Life as a consequence of their disobedience to God.



In Genesis it is clear that the tree of life was a literal tree from which Adam and Eve would have eaten, had they not disobeyed God, in order to live eternally. However, after they had sinned against their Creator they were no longer worthy to eat from this tree, to the extent that they were physically barred from entering the Garden of Eden. The fruitage from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil led to death, illness and imperfection to all of Adam and Eve’s descendants. At that point in time God, however, planned to send Jesus to redeem mankind from this dismal fate. Jesus is referred to as the Promised Seed, the Messiah (deliverer) who would return the prospect of everlasting life to all of humankind, which had been taken away by Adam. Subsequently, every individual, henceforth, was given the choice to either eat from the tree of life or from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil.

What significance does this tree of life bear in God’s Word? In particular, what allegorical meaning does the Bible convey to its readers?

The tree of life takes on a symbolic meaning in Revelation, the final book of the Bible, signifying the fruitage of prosperity and wisdom. Jesus speaks “ To him that conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Rev.Chp.2:7). King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs Chapter 3 vs. 13 – 18 also makes reference to the Tree of Life: “Happy is the man that has found wisdom and gets discernmentÖ..Its ways are of pleasantness and its roadways are peace. It is the tree of life to those taking hold of it, and those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy.” Also, in Jeremiah 17:7-8 we read, Blessed is the able-bodied man who puts his trust in God, and whose confidence God has become. And he will certainly become like a tree planted by the waters, that sends out its roots right by the watercourse; and he will not see when heat comes, but his foliage will actually prove to be luxuriant.

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In the preceding contexts it becomes clear that the tree of life takes on a symbolic meaning, representing everlasting life granted to those people who display fruitage of the spirit and fruits of righteousness aligned with God's principles. This is supported in Proverbs 11:30: The fruitage of the righteous one is a tree of life, and he that is winning souls is wise. Hence, the tree of life is applied to signify wisdom, righteousness and restoration. Restoration to mankind, who are deemed to be righteous by God, is also indicated in Bible passages such as:
· in the Book of Isaiah 61:3-4 Öand they must be called big trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah for him to be beautified. Any they must rebuild the long-standing devastated placesÖ
· And in Revelation 22:1 Ö.And on this side of the river and on that side there were trees of life producing twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruits each month. And the leaves of the trees were for the curing of the nations.

Therefore, allegorically the tree of life is depicted as a means by which individuals and nations are restored to optimal spiritual health. Moreover, the healing properties are also physical in that individuals will need to become healed in the literal sense in order to fully prosper in God's Kingdom.

To summarize, it is clear from reading these Bible passages that the 'tree of life means everlasting life' which is granted to all those who are righteous, wise and display implicit faith in God. Indeed, there will come a period in mankind's history when God's tree of life will be accessible to all individuals who subscribe to God's Kingdom in which righteousness, peace and wisdom dwell. In this new order, orchestrated and reigned by Christ Jesus, all survivors will partake of the fruit on the trees of life which will impart restoration of physical, spiritual and emotional health to humankind. More importantly, this tree will provide everlasting life to all those who desire to eat of its fruitage. Finally, their descendants will inherit eternity, as was originally intended by God. As we read in Psalms 1:3, And he will certainly become like a tree planted by streams of water That gives it own fruit in its season And the foliage of which does not wither, and everything he does will succeed.