Dr. Steven Johnson | October 8, 2026
In the Midwest, we have all 4 distinct seasons. Now is one of my favorite seasons, fall. The fall colors can be amazing, with reds, yellows, and oranges. We have many different kinds of trees: hardwoods, softwoods, fruit trees, and some evergreen trees. God uses trees as a symbol in the Bible that every person can relate to, even children, and then uses it to teach us wisdom and truth. Who hasn’t drawn a tree and included roots, a trunk, branches, leaves and fruit? This article will hit a few of the many trees listed in the Bible. The word "tree" appears in the Bible hundreds of times. It starts in Genesis 1:11 with, “And God said, Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed,” and ends with Revelations 22:19 “......God will take away his share in the Tree of Life....”
Some of the various types of trees talked about in the Bible are:
The Date Palm
The Date palm, this tree is tall, strong, and green. It was seen around watering places and had fruit that could be eaten fresh or dried. The palm tree was used in the decoration of the temple, symbolizing beauty, prosperity, spiritual endurance and unwavering faith in God (1 Kings 6:29). When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13). Revelations 7: 9-12 describes a great multitude of people waving palm branches and crying out in worship of our God forever.
The Cedar Tree
The Cedar Tree was used for constructing King David’s and King Soloman’s palaces and in the construction of the second Temple. The cedar trees were tall, strong, and smelled good. They symbolized royal power, strength, growth, wealth, and divine provision. The cedar wood was also used in the purification process for lepers (Leviticus14:4). Even with as strong a tree as the cedar was, it symbolized Pharaoh King of Egypt and his destruction. Nothing can withstand God’s power (Exodus 31).
The Cypress Trees produced strong, long lasting, and durable wood. It was used to make the doors, among other things, in Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:34). It may have been the wood that Noah’s Ark was built out of (Genesis 6:14). The Cypress tree also symbolized restoration and blessing (Isaiah 55:13-14).
The Olive Tree
The Olive Trees are talked about many times in the Bible. The wood was used to make two Cherubim in the center of the Temple (1 Kings 6:23) and doorposts in the Temple. God chose this simple and common tree to make an important part of the Temple. The Olive tree is also a symbol showing how believers will be part of Christ. Romans 11 talks about the wild shoot (Gentiles- non-Jews) being grafted into the true vine (God) that was first revealed to the Jews, and later to the gentiles to be grafted in too.
The Olive leaf was also a symbol of peace (Genesis 8:11). When the dove brought back an olive leaf in its mouth; it symbolized that the worldwide flood was over and God's judgment was complete, and peace reigned on Earth. Psalms 52:8 says, “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.” The olive oil was used to anoint Kings, symbolizing the sovereignty of God. To produce olive oil; the olives are beaten and crushed. After the Last Supper, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives (Gethsemane) where he prayed (Matt 26:39, 42, and 44), “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” He prayed for it three times. Jesus was then betrayed by Judas, led away, beaten, and crushed for us and died on the cross. Christ was crushed and His Holy Spirit would be poured out to us as believers. The making of olive oil symbolizes what Christ did for us.
The Fig Tree
The Fig Tree was first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 3:7. Adam and Eve had sewn fig leaves together to cover their nakedness, since they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They knew they had sinned against God and didn’t want God to see their nakedness. Also, Jeremiah 24 mentions the Fig Tree as a metaphor when talking about good and bad figs. The good figs are the exiles from Judah that eventually will rebuild Israel, while the bad figs are the horrible King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials, and they will be totally destroyed. Figs are also mentioned in 1 Samuel 25:18-22 when Abigail gave David 200 cakes of figs as a peace offering. They are mentioned in Matt 7:15-20 when Jesus discusses false prophets and how you can recognize them by their fruit, and if their fruit is bad you need to cut the tree down and throw it into the fire. In Mark 11:12-25 Jesus looked at a fig tree and there was no fruit for it was out of season. He said to the tree you will never bare fruit again. He then went to the temple in Jerusalem and drove out all the money changers and merchants. The parable showed the people and the religious leaders acted religiously lacking spiritual fruit. God wants our hearts (fruit), not just leaves. In Luke 21:29-33 Jesus told a parable; “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things take place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away.” The fig tree in the Middle East is one of the first trees to sprout leaves, signifying summer is coming. This metaphor indicates that believers will see the signs that signify the Kingdom of Heaven is near, and all the hardships prophesied are soon over (winter), and Christ will return.
The Acadia Tree
The Acadia Tree was first spoken of in Exodus 25:10,13,23, and 28; Exodus 26:15, it was used to make the Ark of the Covenant, Table of Bread, poles to carry them and the frames to hold up the Tabernacle. It is very strong and resistant to insects and decay. Many biblical scholars believe that the wood being covered with gold symbolizes Christ’s dual nature to be fully human (the wood) and fully divine (pure gold).
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge In Genesis 2, the Bible talks about the trees in the Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden had every kind of tree, and Adam and Eve could eat and enjoy every tree in the Garden, except the two trees in the center of the garden; the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life was a symbol of eternal life and fellowship with God and they could eat of this tree. God intended for Adam and Eve to live forever and live in the garden with Him. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was also in the center of the Garden, but God commanded in Genesis 2:17 that they couldn’t eat of that tree or they would die. Why would He not let them eat of that tree? The Tree of Knowledge represented several things: first it represented good and evil, it didn’t tell us exactly what was evil (He does that later in the Bible), secondly, it represents the idea of mankind either following God’s wisdom or man following his own desires, and third, God gave mankind free will. When Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and choose to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they basically choose to turn their back on God and His perfect world. When that happened, they knew they had sinned (Genesis 3:7); in Genesis 3:22-24 God sent them out of the Garden of Eden and placed a Cherubin and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of Live. Why would He do that? He did that to protect them from living in their sin forever and being separated from God forever. God is a loving God. He didn’t want us to live in our sins and be separated from Him forever, so He sent his Son to earth, to live a perfect life and be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. No matter what we do, we can never be good enough to meet the perfect standard that God requires of us to live with Him in heaven (Romans 6:23).
The Ultimate Tree
The ultimate tree is the CROSS on which our savior died for our sins (John 3:16). 1 Peter 2:24 says” He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” In Matthew 27:50-54 and Mark 15:37-39, they describe Jesus dying on the cross and at the exact same time the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. That was physically impossible to do by humans but not with God. The tearing of the curtain symbolized that we could now gain access to God by Jesus’ death on the cross, and the centurion uttered, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” Revelations2:7 says, “He who has an ear, to hear what the spirit says to the Churches. To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of Life, which is in Paradise of God.” Christ Jesus is the one who helps us conquer and if we believe in Him; we can be with Him forever and ever. Revelations 22:1-5 describes the tree of Life in New Jerusalem and how wonderful that will be. The rest of the chapter tells us Christ will return soon for His followers. Are you ready to meet Jesus when He returns? If not, you can be ready to meet Him if you believe in Him. If you want to know how to meet Him either I or someone at Bellator Christi would love to introduce Him to you.
About the Author
Steven served 36 years as a dentist in his hometown of Buffalo Center, Iowa, before retiring from his practice. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa Dental School in 1987. He currently resides in Mankato, Minnesota with his wife, Laurie. Dr. Johnson is a devout disciple of Christ. He faithfully attends Wooddale Church of Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Dr. Johnson’s desire is to continue to honor the memory of his late spouse, Michelle, with the passion she held so dear--writing articles that glorified God. He hopes to offer believers further reasons to trust in the risen Savior and desires to share the gospel with the lost, prompting them to accept Christ as their Savior. Dr. Johnson serves as a contributor, publisher, and on the leadership team of Bellator Christi.
