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Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
The fig tree holds significant symbolic and practical importance in the Bible, appearing in various contexts throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It is often associated with prosperity, peace, and judgment, serving as a metaphor for Israel and the spiritual state of God's people.

Old Testament References:
The fig tree is first mentioned inGenesis 3:7, where Adam and Eve use fig leaves to cover themselves after realizing their nakedness. This early reference sets the stage for the fig tree's symbolic role in Scripture.

InDeuteronomy 8:8, the Promised Land is described as "a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey." Here, the fig tree represents abundance and blessing, highlighting the fertility and prosperity of the land God promised to the Israelites.

The fig tree is also used as a symbol of peace and security. In1 Kings 4:25, during Solomon's reign, "Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon." This imagery conveys a time of peace and prosperity under wise leadership.

Prophetic Symbolism:
The prophets frequently use the fig tree as a symbol of judgment and restoration. InJeremiah 8:13, God declares, "I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, and there will be no figs on the tree, and the leaf will wither. What I have given them will be taken away." Here, the absence of figs signifies divine judgment and the removal of blessings due to Israel's unfaithfulness.

Conversely, the restoration of the fig tree is a sign of hope and renewal. InJoel 2:22, the prophet encourages the land to rejoice, for "the fig tree and the vine yield their riches." This promise of restoration follows a period of judgment, symbolizing God's mercy and the return of His favor.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, the fig tree continues to serve as a powerful symbol. Jesus uses the fig tree in His teachings and parables to convey spiritual truths. InMatthew 21:18-19, Jesus curses a barren fig tree, causing it to wither immediately. This act serves as a metaphor for the spiritual barrenness of Israel and a warning against fruitlessness in the lives of believers.

The parable of the fig tree inLuke 13:6-9 further illustrates this theme. A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and when it bore no fruit for three years, he ordered it to be cut down. However, the vineyard keeper pleaded for one more year to cultivate it, hoping it would bear fruit. This parable emphasizes God's patience and the opportunity for repentance and spiritual growth.

Eschatological Significance:
The fig tree also holds eschatological significance. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus uses the fig tree as a sign of the end times. InMatthew 24:32-33, He says, "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door." The budding fig tree symbolizes the nearness of Christ's return and the fulfillment of prophetic events.

Conclusion:
Throughout Scripture, the fig tree serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing prosperity, judgment, and hope. Its presence in biblical narratives and teachings underscores the importance of spiritual fruitfulness and the consequences of spiritual barrenness. The fig tree's eschatological role further highlights its significance in God's redemptive plan.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 8:8
A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Strong's Hebrew

8384. teenah --fig tree
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definitionfig tree NASB Word Usagefig (1),
fig tree (17),fig trees (6), figs (14), figs on thefig tree (1)....

Library

Second Sunday in Advent Behold theFig-Tree and all theTrees...
... Second Sunday in Advent Behold thefig-tree and all thetrees; when they now shoot
forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand....

The Malignity of the Devil as an Imitator in all Things; Two Kinds...
... Discourse X."Domnina. Chapter V."The Malignity of the Devil as an Imitator
in All Things; Two Kinds ofFig-Trees and Vines....

The Allegory of theTrees Demanding a King, in the Book of Judges...
... And thetrees said to thefig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the
fig-tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness...

The BarrenFig-Tree. Lk 13:6-9
... Afford him small amends: He hears the LORD his will make known,. To cut the barren
fig-trees down. How difficult his post,. What pangs his bowels move,....

The BarrenFig-Tree.
... Within this favoured spot the owner is willing to make room for one or more
fig-trees, for the sake of the fruit which in such favourable circumstances he...

BarrenFig-Tree. Temple Cleansed.
... variety as early as May in the mountains of Lebanon, a hundred fifty miles north
of Jerusalem, and Professor Post, of Beyrut, states thatfig-trees there have...

TheFig-Tree.
... The adjoining village of Bethphage derived its name from the GreenFig.[29] Indeed,
"fig-trees may still be seen overhanging the ordinary road from Jerusalem...

The WitheredFig Tree
... All vineyards have had in themfig trees covered with leaves, which have been
conspicuous from the foliage of their profession, and yet have brought forth no...

The BarrenFig-Tree;
... In these secluded pleasant spots the Easterns spend much of their time, under their
own vines orfig-trees, sheltered from the world and from the oppressive...

The Three Parables of Warning: to the Individual, to the Nation...
...Fig-trees, as well as palm and olive-trees, were regarded as so valuable, that to
cut them down if they yielded even a small measure of fruit, was popularly...