The Tree of Life

[Sundance]

Peace and Blesings to my Abrahamic brothers and sisters! I've been listening to this Dub Reggae song a lot, which I LOVE:

It got me thinking:

“What does Tree of Life signify for Jews? What about for Christians? Do Muslims have an interpretation? And Bahá’ís, how do we look at this?”

So, I'm here to ask y'all: what does the Tree of Life signify in your faith?

 

[Tumah]

Its the Torah. This is an explicit verse in Prov. 3:18

 

[Sundance]

Its the Torah. This is an explicit verse in Prov. 3:18

Wow! So, Tumah, if etz chaim (the Tree of Life) in Judaism is The Torah, then what about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the creation story?

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Peace and Blesings to my Abrahamic brothers and sisters! I've been listening to this Dub Reggae song a lot, which I LOVE:
It got me thinking:
“What does Tree of Life signify for Jews? What about for Christians? Do Muslims have an interpretation? And Bahá’ís, how do we look at this?”
So, I'm here to ask y'all: what does the Tree of Life signify in your faith?

Please notice that we are introduced to the ' tree of life ' at Genesis 2:9
Once sinners Adam and Eve No longer had access to the ' tree of life ' - Genesis 3:22-24 - then they would die within that ' thousand-year day ' - Genesis 5:5; Genesis 5:27
Since we are innocent of what father Adam and mother Eve did, then God quickly made provision to balance the Scales of Justice for us - Genesis 3:15
Through that promised 'seed' Christ, mankind will see the return of the edenic ' tree of life ' on Earth for the healing of earth's nations - Revelation 22:2
Jesus will fulfill God's promise to father Abraham that ALL families of Earth will be blessed - Genesis 12:3 - and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed - Genesis 22:18
Blessed with the benefits of healing for mankind - Isaiah 33:24; Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:26.
From paradise ( Eden ) lost in Genesis, to paradise ( Eden ) regained on Earth for righteous mankind - Matthew 5:5; Psalms 37:10-11,29; Proverbs 2:21-22; Revelation 22:2

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Its the Torah. This is an explicit verse in Prov. 3:18

Aside from the ' tree of life ' - Genesis 2:9, we have the ' figurative or symbolic ' tree of life mentioned such as ' wisdom ' she being a tree of life at Proverbs 3:18.
Wisdom is like a tree of life for those taking hold of wisdom in that wisdom will supply what we need now and into an everlasting future - Proverbs 16:20-22
The fruitage of righteousness can be a tree of life - Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4
According to Revelation, under Christ, mankind will again see the edenic ' tree of life ' on a beautiful paradisical Earth - Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2

 

[Tumah]

Aside from the ' tree of life ' - Genesis 2:9, we have the ' figurative or symbolic ' tree of life mentioned such as ' wisdom ' she being a tree of life at Proverbs 3:18.

The wisdom there is referring to the wisdom of the Torah. (Deut. 4:6). That's why it continues off the previous paragraph that speaks about Torah.

Wisdom is like a tree of life for those taking hold of wisdom in that wisdom will supply what we need now and into an everlasting future - Proverbs 16:20-22

Not relevant.

The fruitage of righteousness can be a tree of life - Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4

11:30 is saying that the actions of the righteous is like the Tree of Life. Again, because the Torah gives life (Deut. 30:19) and the righteous manifest the Torah by performing its commandments.
13:12 is saying that getting what you longed for is like the Tree of Life, because it enlivens the person.
15:4 The first word "מרפא" has two translations: healing and soft (as an antonym to strong not as an antonym to hard). The first translation is saying, that the way to heal the tongue is through the Tree of Life (ie. the Torah). Its also alluding to the fact that the way to defeat the snake who is called "the master of the tongue" (Eccl. 10:11) is through Torah study. The second translation is saying that a soft tongue leads to the Tree of Life. And this fits the saying of the Rabbis, "a fence for wisdom, is quietness".

According to Revelation, under Christ, mankind will again see the edenic ' tree of life ' on a beautiful paradisical Earth - Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2

Whatever.

 

[raph]

From my own Bahai interpretation, the tree of life is the revelation of God, the eternal tree with many twigs (messengers). Go to this tree, the eternal covenant, revelations of the most high that will never end, and you will live even though you die.

But the Bab is also called the personified tree of life and Bahaullah is the nightingale who is sitting on the tree and singing.

 

[savagewind]

The wisdom there is referring to the wisdom of the Torah. (Deut. 4:6). That's why it continues off the previous paragraph that speaks about Torah.

I think the wisdom Proverbs 3:18 mentions is the spirit which WROTE the Torah. The difference can be seen between a book and its author. They are not the same.

 

[Tumah]

I think the wisdom Proverbs 3:18 mentions is the spirit which WROTE the Torah. The difference can be seen between a book and its author. They are not the same.

Well obviously wisdom is a quality and not a "spirit" so that doesn't make a lot of sense.
Its true that Isaiah 11:3 uses the phrase "spirit of wisdom", but obviously its a poetic way of saying the same thing that is being said in Ex. 31:3 and not that Jesse's son will be filled with a bunch of different spirits.

 

[savagewind]

Well obviously wisdom is a quality and not a "spirit" so that doesn't make a lot of sense.
Its true that Isaiah 11:3 uses the phrase "spirit of wisdom", but obviously its a poetic way of saying the same thing that is being said in Ex. 31:3 and not that Jesse's son will be filled with a bunch of different spirits.

People who wrote the wisdom of God are in association with the tree of life imo. It is as though they eat from it or sit under it. They know it and it knows them.
You say, the wisdom called, "she, the tree of life" is the Torah. Is the tree of life anything else, or only just the Torah?

 

[Tumah]

People who wrote the wisdom of God are in association with the tree of life imo. It is as though they eat from it or sit under it. They know it and it knows them.
You say, the wisdom called, "she, the tree of life" is the Torah. Is the tree of life anything else, or only just the Torah?

Wisdom is not an entity. Its a quality or attribute. It can't know someone.
"She" is used in reference to wisdom, because the word is feminine and there are no gender-neutral words in Hebrew. "Leg" is also a "she" in Hebrew. Not because a leg is actually a feminine spirit, but because the word is feminine.
To my knowledge that's all the Tree of Life is, although I reserve the right to change my stance in the event of new information.

 

[savagewind]

Wisdom is not an entity. Its a quality or attribute. It can't know someone.
"She" is used in reference to wisdom, because the word is feminine and there are no gender-neutral words in Hebrew. "Leg" is also a "she" in Hebrew. Not because a leg is actually a feminine spirit, but because the word is feminine.
To my knowledge that's all the Tree of Life is, although I reserve the right to change my stance in the event of new information.

All good things come from God, an entity. Wisdom is a good thing. It is a part of Something intelligent, so I think it CAN know.

 

[Tumah]

All good things come from God, an entity. Wisdom is a good thing. It is a part of Something intelligent, so I think it CAN know.

I really don't know how that makes sense to you. I am an entity and my intelligence (or lack thereof) is a part of me. It doesn't seem to have any awareness that I know of.

 

[savagewind]

I really don't know how that makes sense to you. I am an entity and my intelligence (or lack thereof) is a part of me. It doesn't seem to have any awareness that I know of.

I have seen some weird things, so I know there is something intelligent between God and human intelligence.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Wisdom is not an entity. Its a quality or attribute. It can't know someone.
"She" is used in reference to wisdom, because the word is feminine and there are no gender-neutral words in Hebrew. "Leg" is also a "she" in Hebrew. Not because a leg is actually a feminine spirit, but because the word is feminine.
To my knowledge that's all the Tree of Life is, although I reserve the right to change my stance in the event of new information.

Any thoughts about Ezekiel 47:12 ?

First of all, knowledge does bring people to life spiritually, and what Ezekiel foretold is in harmony with Revelation 22:2
There will be literal physical healing for earth's nations in fulfillment to God's promise to father Abraham that ALL families of Earth will be blessed, and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed. Blessed with the benefit of healing for earth's nations - Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18
Mankind will see the return of the Genesis ' tree of life ' again on Earth for mankind's benefit as it was of benefit in Eden.- Hallelujah !

 

[Tumah]

Any thoughts about Ezekiel 47:12 ?

First of all, knowledge does bring people to life spiritually, and what Ezekiel foretold is in harmony with Revelation 22:2
There will be literal physical healing for earth's nations in fulfillment to God's promise to father Abraham that ALL families of Earth will be blessed, and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed. Blessed with the benefit of healing for earth's nations - Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18
Mankind will see the return of the Genesis ' tree of life ' again on Earth for mankind's benefit as it was of benefit in Eden.- Hallelujah !

I have absolutely no idea what you want. This was a response to the question about what the tree of life was. I don't see any relation between that and whatever in the world is the point you're trying to make here.
Hallelujah.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I have absolutely no idea what you want. This was a response to the question about what the tree of life was. I don't see any relation between that and whatever in the world is the point you're trying to make here.
Hallelujah.

In Genesis the ' tree of life ' stood for 'eternal life or everlasting life' on Earth.
Adam could live forever on Earth because of having access to the tree of life.
Once Adam had his downfall he No longer had access to the tree of life.

The Genesis tree of life ' was ', but that does Not mean the ' tree of life ' will always be 'past tense' as ' was' because according to Revelation 22:2; Ezekiel 47:12 mankind on Earth will see the return of the ' tree of life ' on Earth for the purpose of healing ( medicine ) for earth's nations.
Isaiah believed the time will come when No one will say, " I am sick......." - Isaiah 33:24. Even death will be No more on Earth - Isaiah 25:8

 

[Tumah]

In Genesis the ' tree of life ' stood for 'eternal life or everlasting life' on Earth.
Adam could live forever on Earth because of having access to the tree of life.
Once Adam had his downfall he No longer had access to the tree of life.

The Genesis tree of life ' was ', but that does Not mean the ' tree of life ' will always be 'past tense' as ' was' because according to Revelation 22:2; Ezekiel 47:12 mankind on Earth will see the return of the ' tree of life ' on Earth for the purpose of healing ( medicine ) for earth's nations.
Isaiah believed the time will come when No one will say, " I am sick......." - Isaiah 33:24. Even death will be No more on Earth - Isaiah 25:8

Well this is putting together some things that don't seem to be related.
Isaiah 25 seems to have G-d causing death to end, not the eating of a fruit.
Isaiah 33, seems to equate the end of sickness with the lack of sin, not the eating of a fruit.
Ezekiel 47 says the leaves will cause healing, not the fruit. Nor does it relate these trees to a tree that causes eternal life at all.

But more important than all of that is: Why are you telling me this? I'm not the OP. I don't care how you interpret the tree of life. The OP asked, not me. Tell him.

 

[arthra]

“What does Tree of Life signify for Jews? What about for Christians? Do Muslims have an interpretation? And Bahá’ís, how do we look at this?”
So, I'm here to ask y'all: what does the Tree of Life signify in your faith?

Thanks for the great question DJ_sXe!

It appears to me that the "Tree of Life" in the Baha'i Writings can be seen as a spiritual allegory for the Manifestation of God. I'll provide a few excerpts for the Tree of Life here:

All the parts are subordinate and obedient to the whole. The contingent beings are the branches of the tree of life while the Messenger of God is the root of that tree. The branches, leaves and fruit are dependent for their existence upon the root of the tree of life.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - p. 364

"...in the supreme Paradise the tree of life is the expression for the center of absolutely pure sanctity -- that is to say, of the divine supreme Manifestation."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 124


I also have a Calligraphic representation of the Sudratul Muntaha which means the "tree beyond which there is no passing".

See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidrat_al-Muntaha

 

[Sundance]

Thanks for the great question DJ_sXe!

It appears to me that the "Tree of Life" in the Baha'i Writings can be seen as a spiritual allegory for the Manifestation of God. I'll provide a few excerpts for the Tree of Life here:

All the parts are subordinate and obedient to the whole. The contingent beings are the branches of the tree of life while the Messenger of God is the root of that tree. The branches, leaves and fruit are dependent for their existence upon the root of the tree of life.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - p. 364

"...in the supreme Paradise the tree of life is the expression for the center of absolutely pure sanctity -- that is to say, of the divine supreme Manifestation."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 124


I also have a Calligraphic representation of the Sudratul Muntaha which means the "tree beyond which there is no passing".

See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidrat_al-Muntaha

You're very welcome, art! Thank you immensely for your beautiful perspective on this question?