The Garden of Eden is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, found in Genesis chapters 2 and 3. At the center of the Garden were two significant trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. These two trees played an important symbolic role in the Garden of Eden narrative.
The tree of life represented immortality and life in perfect communion with God. Genesis 2:9 states, “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.” The tree of life was placed in the middle of the Garden, representing its central importance. Eating from the tree of life meant Adam and Eve could enjoy eternal life in paradise.
In contrast, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented moral awareness and the ability to make choices. Genesis 2:16-17 states, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” God directly commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from this tree, or they would die. Eating the forbidden fruit meant disobeying God’s command and seeking moral insight apart from Him.
The placement of these two important trees in the Garden set up a scenario of moral choice. Adam and Eve had to choose whether to trust and obey God or seek autonomy and eat the forbidden fruit. Their act of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil demonstrated humanity’s desire to determine good and evil independently. This represented the Fall and human separation from God due to sin.
In summary, here are three main reasons there were two trees in the Garden of Eden:
- The tree of life represented God’s offer of eternal life, communion with Him, and flourishing in paradise.
- The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented moral awareness, independence from God, and the ability to choose between obedience and disobedience.
- Together the two trees framed a scenario of moral choice for Adam and Eve that would demonstrate the consequences of sin and separation from God.
The Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden
The tree of life was located “in the midst of the garden” (Genesis 2:9). Its fruit had special life-giving properties, representing God’s offer of eternal life to humanity at that time. Eating from the tree meant Adam and Eve could enjoy living forever in paradise in perfect relationship with God. They could access the tree freely before their disobedience and the Fall.
The tree of life represented many things in Genesis 2-3:
- Ongoing nourishing life from God (Proverbs 3:18)
- Eternal life and immortality in God’s presence (Genesis 3:22)
- Perfect communion and relationship with God in paradise (Revelation 2:7)
- God’s blessing of abundant life (Revelation 22:2)
Access to the tree of life was lost after Adam and Eve were banished from Eden. Genesis 3:22-24 states:
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 to work the ground from which he was taken. 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.
God did not allow fallen humanity to access the tree, live forever, and deepen their separation from Him. However, the tree of life appears again in Revelation 2:7, where God promises it to those who overcome by His power:
“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.”
For believers, the tree of life represents promised eternal life in heaven with Jesus (Revelation 22:2). What was lost in the Garden of Eden will one day be restored by God’s grace.
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was located in the Garden near the tree of life (Genesis 2:9). God directly commanded Adam not to eat from this tree in Genesis 2:16-17:
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Eating the forbidden fruit from this tree represented rebellion against God’s command and seeking moral insight apart from Him. The tree became a test of obedience that set up the Fall.
The phrase “knowledge of good and evil” means moral knowledge or insights. Eating this fruit meant Adam and Eve sought to determine good and evil for themselves, apart from God’s guidance. This represented independence from God and the desire to make moral choices autonomously.
Several factors made this tree and its fruit significant:
- It was pleasing to the eye – Genesis 3:6.
- It represented moral insight and becoming “like God” – Genesis 3:5.
- It became a source of temptation from Satan – Genesis 3:1-5.
- It led to disobedience, sin and separation from God – Genesis 3:6-7.
Eating from this tree led to dire consequences for Adam and Eve, including loss of paradise, pain, suffering and death. However, it also began human moral awareness and consciousness. We became aware of good, evil, and sin in a way that was impossible before the Fall.
Interestingly, Genesis 3:22 indicates that God seemed to at least allow the possibility that Adam and Eve would “take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” This has led some to think God may have allowed Adam and Eve to repent and return to the Garden if they humbled themselves. However, that possibility was closed off once they were banished from Eden.
Together the Two Trees Represented Moral Choice
Taken together, the two trees represented a scenario of moral choice for Adam and Eve. God invited them to demonstrate their trust and love by not eating the forbidden fruit. He provided abundant life from the tree of life, yet also allowed choice through the tree of moral knowledge. Adam and Eve had to choose whether to love and obey God or rebel against His command.
This scenario revealed key truths about God’s creation:
- God created humanity with free will to make meaningful choices.
- Obedience leads to blessing while disobedience leads to curse.
- God wants worship and love that flows from choice, not compulsion.
- Humans often choose moral autonomy over relationship with God.
The two trees powerfully symbolized the options before Adam and Eve. The tree of life meant choosing relationship with God unto eternal life. The forbidden tree meant seeking independence from God to determine good and evil and ending in death. Tragically, Adam and Eve chose the latter.
Yet even after the Fall, God continued to pursue humanity. He offered redemption through the eternal life found in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). What was lost in a garden is restored through Jesus’ sacrificial love on the cross. The tree of life blooms again for those who put their faith in Christ.
Other Biblical References to the Two Trees
Outside of Genesis 2-3, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil receive limited direct mention in Scripture. However, there are several possible allusions and connections.
Proverbs 3 – Wisdom and Understanding
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. (Proverbs 3:18)
Wisdom is described as a source of blessing and life to those who embrace her. This echoes the original purpose of the tree of life in the Garden.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. (Proverbs 3:19)
This verse associates wisdom with God’s creation. Genesis 2-3 connect moral wisdom and understanding with the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Proverbs 13 – The Desire for Life and Wisdom
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)
The tree of life represents desires fulfilled according to God’s blessing and provision.
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. (Proverbs 13:3-4)
Moral choices in our speech can lead to life or ruin. The trees in Eden also represented moral choice leading to life or curse.
Revelation 2:7 – Paradise Restored
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. (Revelation 2:7)
Here, Jesus promises access to the tree of life in future paradise for those who overcome. This strongly connects the original tree of life with eternal life and immortality for God’s people.
Revelation 22:2 – Healing of the Nations
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 22:2)
In the New Jerusalem, the tree of life blossoms with abundant monthly fruit for healing. The original purpose for flourishing life is powerfully restored.
Revelation 22:14 – Access Restored
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 22:14)
Those who are redeemed through Christ’s blood will once again have access to the tree of life. What was lost in Genesis is graciously restored in Revelation.
Theological Significance of the Two Trees
The two trees in the Garden of Eden carry deep theological significance related to humanity’s moral choice, purpose and redemption. Biblical scholars highlight several key meanings from Genesis 2-3:
- Moral Choice: The two trees framed a choice between obedience and life versus disobedience and death for Adam and Eve. This sets up humanity’s struggle with sin.
- Human Purpose: God created us for relationship with Himself. The trees help us understand God’s original intent for humanity to walk in intimacy and eternal life with his Creator, which was broken at the Fall.
- Promise of Redemption: Even after the Fall, God continued to pursue humanity and provided redemption through Jesus Christ. The restoration of the tree of life in future paradise points to the hope of salvation for God’s people.
- Need for Redemption: The loss of access to the tree of life symbolizes humanity’s separation from God and need for salvation. Restoration only comes through God’s grace.
In the Garden of Eden, the trees powerfully symbolized humanity’s moral choice and the essence of sin – seeking autonomy rather than intimacy with God. Yet even after Adam and Eve’s disobedience, God continued to offer redemption. He provided a way back to the tree of life through Christ.
The tree of life reminds us that God invites us into intimate relationship with Himself. Our ultimate purpose is found in eternal life and flourishing when we walk in communion with our Creator. Although sin cuts us off from God’s presence, He provided restoration through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.