Tree of life (biblical)

This article is about the concept in Abrahamic religions. For the general cultural motif, see Tree of life. For other meanings, see Tree of life (disambiguation).
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In Judaism and Christianity, the tree of life (Hebrew: עֵץ הַחַיִּים, romanized: ‘ēṣ haḥayyīm; Latin: Lignum vitae)[1] is first described in chapter 2, verse 9 of the Book of Genesis as being "in the midst of the Garden of Eden" with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (עֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע; Lignum scientiae boni et mali). After the fall of man, "lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever",[2] cherubim and a flaming sword are placed at the east end of the Garden to guard the way to the tree of life.[3] The tree of life has become the subject of some debate as to whether or not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the same tree.[4]

Stained glass window in St Mary the Virgin parish church, Iffley, Oxfordshire, made in 1995

In the Bible outside of Genesis, the term "tree of life" appears in Proverbs (3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4) and Revelation (2:7; 22:2,14,19). It also appears in 2 Esdras (2:12; 8:52) and 4 Maccabees (18:16), which are included among the Jewish apocrypha.

According to the Greek Apocalypse of Moses, the tree of life is also called the Tree of Mercy. Adam believed the oil of the tree of Life would relieve him of his ailments and sent Seth and Eve to the doors of the Garden to beg for some oil of the tree of Life.[5]

  1. ^ Lizorkin-Eyzenberg, Eli (July 7, 2016). "The Power of Hebrew". Israel Study Center. Retrieved March 26, 2017.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ Genesis 3:22
  3. ^ Genesis 3:24
  4. ^ Mettinger 2007, pp. 5–11; Makowiecki 2020, pp.441-457
  5. ^ "The Apocalypse of Moses". www.pseudepigrapha.com. Retrieved 2022-02-23.