Tree of life (biblical)

In Judaism and Christianity, the tree of life (Hebrew: עֵץ הַחַיִּים) is first described in chapter 2, verse 9 of the Book of Genesis. There is some debate as to whether the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the same tree.

"And from the ground the Lord God caused to grow … the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and bad." (Genesis 2:9)

Quotes

• וַיַּצְמַח יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים מִן־הָאֲדָמָה כׇּל־עֵץ נֶחְמָד לְמַרְאֶה וְטוֹב לְמַאֲכָל וְעֵץ הַחַיִּים בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּן וְעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע׃
  • Genesis 2:9 (MT)
  • Translation:
    • And from the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and bad.
      • JPS translation

Quotes about the tree of life

• According to Gen. ii. 9, there stood in the midst of the Garden of Eden a "tree of life," apparently by the side of the "tree of knowledge of good and evil." Although Gen. iii. 3 seems to presuppose but one tree there, Gen. iii. 22 asserts that, after the primitive pair had eaten of the tree of knowledge, they were expelled from Eden lest they should put forth their hands and take of the tree of life and live forever. The view of the writer was that Eden contained a tree the magical power of the fruit of which conferred immortality upon him who partook of it, though Yhwh prohibited mortals from partaking of this fruit.
  • Emil G. Hirsch and George A. Barton: "Tree of life", Jewish Encyclopedia

See also

• Tree of life (Kabbalah)
• Tree of the knowledge of good and evil