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The word 'tree' appears in the King James Version of the Bible 287 times, 46 times just in Genesis, 33 in Ezekiel and 47 times in the New Testament.
The Bible names dozens of different kinds of trees growing in Israel. Mostly we know which trees they mean, but sometimes it names trees that are completely unknown to us. One example is the "gopher tree" that God told Noah to use to build the Ark in Genesis 6:14. In the New International and other more modern versions, the Hebrew name "gopher" is usually translated as a cypress - a tall tree that was commonly used for building in Jesus' times.
Most of the trees spoken of in the Bible are native to this land. Some were brought here in antiquity by travelers who from time immemorial used this country as a land bridge between the great Empires of Babylon & Assyria in Asia Minor and Egypt in the north of Africa.
The first time the word tree appears is in Genesis: 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, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12
Later God created the Garden of Eden and filled it with trees for food and for the pleasure of mankind, and in the middle of the Garden stood the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge that Adam and Eve were not to touch: And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9. Thus we come to possibly the most famous tree of all in the Bible, the one whose fruit the serpent used to tempt Eve - and that she and Adam ate which then caused God to banish them from the Garden of Eden. Most of us know this fruit as an apple – but the Bible only says it was the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:6
The first time the word tree appears in the New Testament is in Matthew 3:10-11 where Matthew quotes John the Baptist saying: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Perhaps the most memorable imagery of a tree that Jesus used was when the Disciples asked Him by what signs they would be able to recognize the End of Days. His answer to them was: And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Luke 21:27-31 The last time the New Testament uses the word tree is in the Book of Revelation: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:13-14.
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Some trees are mentioned only once in the Bible, others appear many times. Here is the list of the most well-known species. For each one we show photos, give you a short introduction, and tell you where they appear in the Bible.
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