(חיּים עץ, ‛ēc ḥayyīm; ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς, xúlon tḗs zōḗs): The expression “tree of life” occurs in four groups or connections: (1) in the story of the Garden of Eden, (2) in the Proverbs of the Wise Men, (3) in the apocryphal writings, and (4) in the Apocalypse of John.
The tree was in the midst of the Garden, and its fruit of such a nature as to produce physical immortality (Genesis 2:9; 3:22). After guiltily partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the sinful tendency having thus been implanted in their natures, the man and woman are driven forth from the Garden lest they should eat of the tree of life and live forever (Genesis 3:22). The idea seems to be that, if they should eat of it and become immortalized in their sinful condition, it would be an unspeakable calamity to them and their posterity. For sinful beings to live forever upon earth would be inconceivably disastrous, for the redemption and development of the race would be an impossibility in that condition. Earth would soon have been a hell with sin propagating itself forever. To prevent such a possibility they were driven forth, cherubim were placed at the entrance of the Garden, the flame of a sword revolving every way kept the way of the tree of life, and this prevented the possibility of man possessing a physical immortality. It is implied that they had not yet partaken of this tree and the opportunity is now forever gone. Immortality must be reached in some other way.
The interpretation of the story is a standing problem. Is it mythical, allegorical, or historical? Opinions vary from one of these extremes to the other with all degrees of difference between. In general, interpreters may be divided into three classes:
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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Tree of Life, Garden of Eden
Bible reference(s): Genesis 2:9, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 3:24, Proverbs 3:18, Proverbs 11:30, Proverbs 13:12, Proverbs 15:4, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 22:2, Revelation 22:14, Revelation 22:19, 2 Esdras 2:12, 2 Esdras 8:52
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.