The Tree of Life is the biblical symbol of God’s life-giving presence and the gift of everlasting life that comes from Him alone. It first appears in the garden of Eden as the tree from which fallen humanity was barred after sin. It reappears in the New Jerusalem as the tree that yields its fruit every month and whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. Access to the Tree of Life is restored through Jesus Christ, who gives eternal life to all who overcome by faith.
In the beginning God planted a garden in Eden and placed the Tree of Life in its midst, along with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. After Adam and Eve sinned, God drove them out of the garden and stationed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the Tree of Life, lest they take of its fruit and live forever in their fallen state. The tree thus became a sign of the life that was lost through disobedience and the life that can be restored only by God’s gracious provision. The wisdom literature speaks of wisdom herself as a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. In the final vision of Scripture the Tree of Life stands on either side of the river of the water of life in the New Jerusalem. It bears twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. The curse is gone. Those who wash their robes have the right to the Tree of Life and may enter the city by the gates. The same Jesus who gives living water also restores access to the Tree of Life.
- The Tree of Life represents the life that comes from God alone — unbroken fellowship and everlasting vitality.
- Access was lost through sin and guarded by divine judgment.
- The tree reappears in the New Jerusalem as the full restoration of what was lost in Eden.
- Its fruit and leaves speak of continual provision and the healing of the nations.
- Jesus is the way back to the Tree of Life; those who overcome by faith receive the right to eat of it.
- The final vision of the tree assures that the curse is removed and life with God is permanent.
- What was barred to fallen humanity is freely given to the redeemed in Christ.
- Source of Life – Stands for the life that God alone can give and sustain.
- Lost Access – After the fall, humanity was barred from the tree so that sin would not be made permanent.
- Wisdom’s Picture – Proverbs presents wisdom as a tree of life to those who take hold of her.
- Restored in Glory – In the New Jerusalem the tree is freely accessible to the redeemed.
- Perpetual Fruit – Yields twelve kinds of fruit, one each month, speaking of unending provision.
- Healing Leaves – The leaves are for the healing of the nations, showing the complete removal of the curse’s effects.
- Right Granted by Christ – Those who overcome and wash their robes are given the right to the Tree of Life.
- Genesis 2:9 – “And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
- Genesis 3:22-24 – “Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—’ therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden… He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”
- Revelation 22:1-2 – “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
- Revelation 22:14 – “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”
- Revelation 2:7 – “He who has an ear, let him 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 the paradise of God.”
- Proverbs 3:18 – “She [wisdom] is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.”
- Proverbs 11:30 – “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”
- Proverbs 13:12 – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
- Proverbs 15:4 – “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
- Ezekiel 47:12 – “And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
- Revelation 22:19 – “And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
- John 5:26 – “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”
- John 6:51 – “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”
- John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
- 1 John 5:11-12 – “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
- Genesis 3:15 – The promise of the offspring who would crush the serpent’s head, opening the way back to life.
- River of Life
- Living Water
- New Jerusalem
- Paradise of God
- Eternal Life
- Healing of the Nations
- No More Curse
- Cherubim
- Garden of Eden
- Overcomer
- Wisdom
- Right to the Tree of Life
The Tree of Life was lost through sin and is restored through Christ. In Eden it stood as the sign of unbroken life with God; after the fall it was guarded so that fallen humanity would not live forever under the curse. In the New Jerusalem the tree stands freely accessible, yielding its fruit each month and offering its leaves for the healing of the nations. The way back is not by human effort but by the blood of the Lamb. Those who wash their robes have the right to the Tree of Life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He gives living water now and will grant the full enjoyment of the Tree of Life in the age to come. The curse is lifted. The tree is open. Come, take, and live forever.
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