Large, woody plants with trunk, branches, leaves and roots, noted for their long lives. Scripture refers to many different varieties of tree.
God's creation of trees
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Acacia
Exodus 37:1–5 See also Exodus 25:1–16, Exodus 25:23, Exodus 26:15, Exodus 26:26, Exodus 27:1, Exodus 27:6, Exodus 30:1, Exodus 36:36, Exodus 37:25, Exodus 38:1; Deuteronomy 10:3; Isaiah 41:19
Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.
Almond tree
Jeremiah 1:11–12 See also Genesis 30:37–39; Exodus 25:31–34 parallel Exodus 37:17–20; Ecclesiastes 12:5
And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied. “You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”
Almug-wood
(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones. The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen again to this day.)
Balsam tree
2 Samuel 5:22–25 parallel 1 Chronicles 14:13–16
Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Broom tree
Job 30:4 See also 1 Kings 19:3–4; Psalm 120:4
They plucked mallow among the shrubs, and the roots of the broom tree were their food.
Cedar tree
Ezekiel 31:3 See also 1 Kings 4:33, 1 Kings 10:27; Psalm 92:12–15
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
Cypress tree
Isaiah 44:14 See also Genesis 6:14; Isaiah 41:19, Isaiah 60:13; Ezekiel 27:6
He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
Fig-tree
Micah 4:4 See also Deuteronomy 8:7–9; Luke 21:29–31
And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
Fir tree
Isaiah 41:19–20 See also Isaiah 60:13
I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together, so that all may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
Myrtle
Isaiah 55:13 See also Isaiah 41:19; Zechariah 1:8–11
Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”
Oak tree
Joshua 24:26 See also Genesis 35:4, Genesis 35:8; Judges 6:11–19; 2 Samuel 18:9–14; 1 Kings 13:13–14; Psalm 29:9, Psalm 56:1; Isaiah 1:29–30, Isaiah 2:12–13, Isaiah 6:13, Isaiah 44:14, Isaiah 57:5, Isaiah 61:3; Ezekiel 6:13, Ezekiel 27:6; Hosea 4:13; Amos 2:9; Zechariah 11:2
Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was near the sanctuary of the LORD.
Olive tree
Psalm 52:8 See also Judges 9:8–9; Zechariah 4:1–14; Romans 11:24
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.
Palm tree
Numbers 33:9 See also Exodus 15:27; 1 Kings 6:29, 1 Kings 6:35; 2 Chronicles 3:5; Psalm 92:12; Song of Solomon 7:8; Ezekiel 40:16, Ezekiel 41:17–20
They set out from Marah and came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.
Pine tree
Isaiah 60:13 See also 1 Kings 6:15, 1 Kings 9:11; 2 Kings 19:23 parallel Isaiah 37:24; Isaiah 14:8, Isaiah 41:19, Isaiah 55:13; Ezekiel 27:5, Ezekiel 31:8; Hosea 14:8; Zechariah 11:2
The glory of Lebanon will come to you— its cypress, elm, and boxwood together— to adorn the place of My sanctuary, and I will glorify the place of My feet.
Plane trees
Genesis 30:37 See also Ezekiel 31:8
Jacob, however, took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled the bark, exposing the white inner wood of the branches.
Poplar tree
Isaiah 44:4 See also Genesis 30:37; Hosea 4:13
They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.
Sycamore-fig tree
1 Kings 10:27 parallels 2 Chronicles 1:15, 2 Chronicles 9:27
The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.
Terebinth tree
Isaiah 6:13 See also Hosea 4:13
And though a tenth remains in the land, it will be burned again. As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled, so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”
Willow tree
He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow. It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches and sent out shoots.
Great trees
Genesis 13:18 See also Genesis 14:13, Genesis 18:1; Deuteronomy 11:30
So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
Symbolic use of trees
As a symbol of permanence or long life
As a symbol of well-being
As a means of execution
Deuteronomy 21:23; Acts 5:30; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24
As bearers of fruit
Matthew 3:10, Matthew 7:17–19, Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43–44
The trees of life and knowledge
Genesis 2:9; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 22:2, Revelation 22:14
As an example of distorted vision
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.