📖 Biblical Definition
The Tree of Life stood in the midst of the garden of Eden (Gen 2:9). After the fall, access was guarded by cherubim with a flaming sword (Gen 3:24). Wisdom is called a tree of life in Proverbs (3:18, 11:30). Revelation 22 restores it: in the midst of the new Jerusalem's street, on either side of the river, with twelve manner of fruits, leaves for the healing of the nations.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The tree in the midst of Eden; access blocked after the fall; restored in the New Jerusalem (Rev 22).
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The tree appears in Eden (Gen 2-3), in Wisdom literature (Prov 3:18, 11:30, 13:12, 15:4 — metaphorical), and in Revelation (2:7, 22:2, 22:14, 22:19) as eschatological reality.
📖 Key Scripture
Genesis 2:9 — "The tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."
Genesis 3:24 — "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword."
Revelation 22:2 — "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often forgets the tree's Edenic and eschatological reality; the same tree blocked at Genesis 3 is opened at Revelation 22.
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The biblical arc is unmistakable: tree planted, tree withheld, tree restored. Christ's cross (a tree, Gal 3:13) is the bridge between Eden's closed tree and Revelation's opened tree.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew etz hachayim.
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Hebrew etz — tree; chayim — life; etz hachayim, tree of life.
Usage
"Tree planted; tree withheld; tree restored."
"Christ's cross is the bridge."
"Twelve manner of fruits; leaves for healing of nations."