Every Fruit Mentioned in the Bible & Its MeaningFruits are a very important part of the Biblical narrative. From practical use as namesake for towns like Anab (grape) mentioned in Joshua 11:21 to metaphorical uses when discussing topics like evangelism, fruit appears in many ways in the Bible – and not all of them are literal. To fully understand the Bible means we need to know what each Biblical fruit symbolizes and we need to understand the context in which they appear. Show
Read on to find out more about the fruits mentioned in the Bible and what they mean. How Many Times is Fruit Mentioned in the Bible?The word “fruit” itself is used over 60 times in the New Testament. The original Greek word used in the Bible is καρπός (karpos) and can be used both literally and figuratively. A majority of the references to “fruit” in the Bible are meant figuratively, referring to the results of something, like “fruits of your labor.” One such mention can be seen in Matthew 13:23: “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” In this passage, fruit is a metaphor for salvation, in the form of a person who hears the calling and reaps many, many times what they sow. Fruit is also used as a metaphor for evangelism, like in John 4:35-36: “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.” This passage teaches people that the goal of evangelism is helping people enter a new life with Christ – not to gain glory. The Epistle to the Galatians also defined the concept of the “Fruit of the Holy Spirit.” There are nine fruits or must-have attributes for a person living in accordance with the Holy Spirit. They are:
The Many Contexts of Fruit in the BibleFruit (and all of its types, like grapes, apples, and figs) are used in many ways throughout the Bible. The eight most common contexts where you can find fruit in the Bible are:
Every Mention of Fruit in the BibleThere are over 60 mentions of fruit in the Bible, so we cannot list them all in this article. Below are some of our favorite Bible verses that mention fruit:
The Concept of First FruitsThe Bible introduced the concept of “first fruits,” often used when talking about giving or generosity. “First fruits” is originally mentioned in Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.” What this means is that offering the results of a first harvest is a sign of obedience to God. Today’s “first fruits” are often money and in-kind donations. First fruits are different from tithes because tithing occurs every time you get a paycheck or commission, while first fruits are given at “harvest time.” Everyone has different definitions of “harvest time” and, thus, different times of offering first fruits. For example, you could give extra money to the church when you land a major sale or get your annual bonus. The Meaning of Each FruitEach fruit mentioned in the Bible holds different meanings and roles in the narrative. Here are six fruits found in the Bible and what they mean: GrapeGrapes and grape byproducts are the most-mentioned plant in the Bible. To grow grapes, you need to prune the vines, as mentioned in Isaiah 5:6 and John 15:2. Interestingly, the Greek word for “prune” is the same for “cleanse,” likely pointing to how cleansing is the key to growth. Just as grapes grow when pruned, a person needs to cleanse or “prune” themselves to remove sin and grow in Christ. FigFigs and fig trees are mentioned in many passages of the Bible because of their importance in biblical times. Many mentions of figs were made in passages like 1 Kings 4:25: “During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.” Another notable appearance of the fig tree is found in the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree, detailed in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke. Here, the fig tree symbolizes Israel, meaning that Jesus rebuked the Jews who have not accepted Him as Messiah. OliveIn biblical times, olives were often used as food, oil, and material for soap. Genesis 8:10-11 also detailed how the olive branch became a symbol of peace – when Noah’s raven returned with an olive leaf, it signified that the flood was over. PomegranatePomegranates have a special meaning in Jewish tradition because the fruit is said to have 613 seeds, just as the Torah has 613 commandments. This fruit, which is often eaten on Rosh Hashanah, also represents knowledge and wisdom. DatePeople in biblical times used the date tree for many purposes. They ate its fruit, weaved its leaves into baskets, turned its trunks into structures, and fermented its sap to make wine. The date palm tree itself is often used in the Bible to symbolize peace, victory, and fertility. AppleBible translations use the idiom “apple of my eye” in several passages like Proverbs 7:2 and Psalm 17:8. Many may also know the apple as being the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate in the Garden of Eden. However, it’s worth noting that “apples” in the Bible referred to four different Hebrew words: Tappuah, ‘iyshown, babah, and bath. This means that apples, as we know them, may not even be mentioned directly in the Bible. It’s possible that early Latin translations of the Bible introduced apples into the narrative and became the forbidden fruit because, in Latin, malum means “evil” while malus means “apple.” ConclusionBecause fruits are mentioned many times in the Bible, fully understanding God’s Word means we need to understand their symbolism and context. Bible verses that mention fruit like Proverbs 7:2 and Matthew 12:33 also provide great guidelines to living life. H1 What’s a Rich Text element?H2 What’s a Rich Text element?H3 What’s a Rich Text element?H4 What’s a Rich Text element?H5 What’s a Rich Text element?H6 What’s a Rich Text element?The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content. H4 Static and dynamic content editingA rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila! H4 How to customize formatting for each rich textHeadings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system. Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system. What are the 12 fruits in the Bible?1832 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.”
What are the 7 fruits of the Bible?The seven species listed are wheat, barley, grape, fig, pomegranates, olive (oil), and date (date honey) (Deuteronomy 8:8). Their first fruits were the only acceptable offerings in the Temple.
What does the fruit tree symbolize in the Bible?Read Genesis 1:11-12
Not just one variety of tree, but various kinds. They are not mentioned just for their beauty, but because each gave fruit with seeds in it. They were given for us to use. This shows God's generosity to us in abundance and variety.
What are the 12 fruits of the tree of life in the Bible?FAITH DOCTRINE REFERENCE (12 Fruits)
The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity [1].
|