Apple vs fig

[Brenda Creech]

I think another reason people usually assume it was an apple is that Eve ate it without cutting or peeling it. When I was in the land of Israel the figs grew so much larger and juicier than what we get here in the U S, and they were some of my favorite fruits while I was there. I don't think it really matters what kind of fruit it was as long as it grows on trees.

That's interesting to know about the figs, thanks for pointing that out! It doesn't matter if it was a fig or an apple or something else entirely; however, I just found it interesting because I had never heard that before. I am thoroughly enjoying everyone's comments!

[Brenda Creech]

I have always thought that it was the apple, but know that you mention it I really don't know. Though if I had to guess it is an apple.

No one really knows, but I think an apple is what the majority of us have always assumed, so we just go with that!

[Brenda Creech]

I can't say for sure the fruit that Adam and Eve ate, but all I can say is that I enjoyed how the author described the fruit using a fig.

I agree! I enjoyed the description and I think that is why I started thinking about the question!

[Brenda Creech]

It doesn't tell us anywhere in the Bible what fruit Adam and Eve are from the tree of knowledge in the Bible. I always have heard that it was an apple. I had never heard anyone say it was a fig or any other fruit. God told them (Adam and Eve) not to eat of the "fruit." To my knowledge, the apple is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, however, the fig tree is. In Mark 11:12-25 Jesus curses the fig tree as a sign the Jewish people don't accept him as the Messiah.

Could the fruit Adam and Eve had eaten in the garden have been a fig as the author portrays? Or was it actually an apple? Or, will we ever know for sure?

Below are my thoughts.

Apple v Fig

I believe a Fig is a much better fit than an apple, for many reasons, some are below.

1. Adam and Eve used "Fig" leaves in an attempt to cover themselves. So they were close to a fig tree.

2. They "sewed" the Fig leaves to themselves: sewed could be translated to stick or stuck and fig juice is very sticky, apple’s have very little juice produced from normal eating.

3. Eve “saw” that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye. The only way you can "see" if a fruit is good for food is to watch it being eaten. A juicy soft fig, or a hard apple: which one is easier to see that “it is good for food” when it is being eaten?

4. The fig tree is a major theme in the Bible and especially in the times of Jesus. It makes sense that there is a good reason why the Fig tree plays such a significant role in the bible, my good reason is that it was the fruit on the tree of knowledge.

5. Israel and the Jews are closely associated with and or connected with the law. Israel and the fig tree are again close to synonyms. The law and the fig tree are connected in that way and others.
Do not eat from the tree in the midst of the garden was the first law.

My conclusion: A fig is far more likely than an apple.

Ahhh! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts as to why you chose a fig over an apple in the book! I had never thought about it until I read this book. I knew the Bible didn't say what the fruit was so I just went with what I was told as a child. The truth is we will probably never know, but you gave some very good reasons for your conclusion that will probably make many who read the book stop and think twice! Thanks!

[ardalgarcia]

It doesn't tell us anywhere in the Bible what fruit Adam and Eve are from the tree of knowledge in the Bible. I always have heard that it was an apple. I had never heard anyone say it was a fig or any other fruit. God told them (Adam and Eve) not to eat of the "fruit." To my knowledge, the apple is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, however, the fig tree is. In Mark 11:12-25 Jesus curses the fig tree as a sign the Jewish people don't accept him as the Messiah.

Could the fruit Adam and Eve had eaten in the garden have been a fig as the author portrays? Or was it actually an apple? Or, will we ever know for sure?

I hadn't realised it was never mentioned in the Bible! To be honest, it sort of surprises me that it would even be a fruit we still eat today but that's probably me just imagining a really exotic Garden of Eden.

[Adanna Inya]

We will never truly know what fruit it was. That's just it. And these gaps often makes me question whether the Bible is complete.

[Aditi Sapate]

I haven't read the Bible, but I know of such ambiguities in religious books. I guess that's the beauty of it, and we'll never know for sure.

[Brenda Creech]

It doesn't tell us anywhere in the Bible what fruit Adam and Eve are from the tree of knowledge in the Bible. I always have heard that it was an apple. I had never heard anyone say it was a fig or any other fruit. God told them (Adam and Eve) not to eat of the "fruit." To my knowledge, the apple is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, however, the fig tree is. In Mark 11:12-25 Jesus curses the fig tree as a sign the Jewish people don't accept him as the Messiah.

Could the fruit Adam and Eve had eaten in the garden have been a fig as the author portrays? Or was it actually an apple? Or, will we ever know for sure?

I hadn't realised it was never mentioned in the Bible! To be honest, it sort of surprises me that it would even be a fruit we still eat today but that's probably me just imagining a really exotic Garden of Eden.

I think many times we take what we hear from our parents, preachers, and others that say the Bible says a certain thing when it actually doesn't. That is all the more reason to read it ourselves! I always just went with the flow and believed it was an apple when all the Bible says is a 'fruit.'

[Brenda Creech]

We will never truly know what fruit it was. That's just it. And these gaps often makes me question whether the Bible is complete.

I believe the Bible is complete. I think God left some things out to make us 'think' and 'search' for an answer. Some things we don't need to know and some things will be revealed in God's time. But, as you said, we will never know for sure!

[Brenda Creech]

I haven't read the Bible, but I know of such ambiguities in religious books. I guess that's the beauty of it, and we'll never know for sure.

I agree, that is the beauty of it! Some things about God, and the Bible, are obviously meant to be left a mystery!

[Leen282]

It doesn't tell us anywhere in the Bible what fruit Adam and Eve are from the tree of knowledge in the Bible. I always have heard that it was an apple. I had never heard anyone say it was a fig or any other fruit. God told them (Adam and Eve) not to eat of the "fruit." To my knowledge, the apple is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, however, the fig tree is. In Mark 11:12-25 Jesus curses the fig tree as a sign the Jewish people don't accept him as the Messiah.

Could the fruit Adam and Eve had eaten in the garden have been a fig as the author portrays? Or was it actually an apple? Or, will we ever know for sure?

Below are my thoughts.

Apple v Fig

I believe a Fig is a much better fit than an apple, for many reasons, some are below.

1. Adam and Eve used "Fig" leaves in an attempt to cover themselves. So they were close to a fig tree.

2. They "sewed" the Fig leaves to themselves: sewed could be translated to stick or stuck and fig juice is very sticky, apple’s have very little juice produced from normal eating.

3. Eve “saw” that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye. The only way you can "see" if a fruit is good for food is to watch it being eaten. A juicy soft fig, or a hard apple: which one is easier to see that “it is good for food” when it is being eaten?

4. The fig tree is a major theme in the Bible and especially in the times of Jesus. It makes sense that there is a good reason why the Fig tree plays such a significant role in the bible, my good reason is that it was the fruit on the tree of knowledge.

5. Israel and the Jews are closely associated with and or connected with the law. Israel and the fig tree are again close to synonyms. The law and the fig tree are connected in that way and others.
Do not eat from the tree in the midst of the garden was the first law.

My conclusion: A fig is far more likely than an apple.

It's very interesting to learn about your reasoning, thanks for sharing.

[Claude Belemu]

It doesn't tell us anywhere in the Bible what fruit Adam and Eve are from the tree of knowledge in the Bible. I always have heard that it was an apple. I had never heard anyone say it was a fig or any other fruit. God told them (Adam and Eve) not to eat of the "fruit." To my knowledge, the apple is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, however, the fig tree is. In Mark 11:12-25 Jesus curses the fig tree as a sign the Jewish people don't accept him as the Messiah.

Could the fruit Adam and Eve had eaten in the garden have been a fig as the author portrays? Or was it actually an apple? Or, will we ever know for sure?

Lol, it is not an apple nor is it a fig. Well, we'll probably never know. Maybe the fruit does not exist and is unique to that particular tree. Only television and paintings depict the fruit as an apple. The author was expressing literary creativity by hinting that the fruit was a fig. However, there is no bais to this.

[Alexandros92]

Well, it does not really matter. It is always useful to focus on the meaning instead of the shape and secondary details. Since it is not mentioned we can never really know Cool topic

[Usma Khann]

I don't know about the Bible, but the answer is given in the Muslim holy book- Quran where Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden after tasting the apple.

[Arohi Soren]

I was always told it was an apple, except the time I was told that the actual real sin was that Eve slept with Satan and that’s where Cain came from. Otherwise it was always an apple. Maybe that’s why apples are so delicious?

Wait, seriously? Is it mentioned anywhere in the Bible or somewhere I can confirm it from? I never knew about this. This is very interesting. Also, we can never know if it was really apple. I don't know why we as general public believed it was apple all along.