Apple vs fig

[Brenda Creech]

[youtube][/youtube]

Interesting question. I also remember learning it was an apple.

I think most people grew up on that fact. Me too. I don’t remember a fig in this context other than a fig leaf, or was it a fig leaf? : D

Indeed, a fig leave to cover their nudity. This brings back memories from Catholic school .

I'm pretty sure it was a fig leaf but I will have to go back and look because it has been awhile since I have read the story of Adam and Eve.

[wendilou49]

I guess that's a question for when we are face to face with God. The Bible doesn't tell us anywhere what the fruit was, other than to say it was the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Somehow, tradition has made it an apple.

Maybe because most of us were taught the story of Adam and Eve as children. As a child I knew what an apple was by just seeing a picture, but I certainly would not have known what a fig was at a young age!

Good comment!

[Brenda Creech]

I guess that's a question for when we are face to face with God. The Bible doesn't tell us anywhere what the fruit was, other than to say it was the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Somehow, tradition has made it an apple.

Maybe because most of us were taught the story of Adam and Eve as children. As a child I knew what an apple was by just seeing a picture, but I certainly would not have known what a fig was at a young age!

Good comment!

Thanks!

[Leen282]

I guess that's a question for when we are face to face with God. The Bible doesn't tell us anywhere what the fruit was, other than to say it was the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Somehow, tradition has made it an apple.

Maybe because most of us were taught the story of Adam and Eve as children. As a child I knew what an apple was by just seeing a picture, but I certainly would not have known what a fig was at a young age!

Good comment!

Indeed, makes total sense.

[Kenesha Latoya Fowler]

Actually, I have heard that the sin involved sexual relations, and that Cain might be Satan's son. The stories we tell, eh? And I was surprised to read about the figue. I didn't make any connection with it being mentioned in the NT though. Honestly, I'm not sure it matters much what fruit they ate, just that they were disobedient.

That's true, it doesn't really matter what the fruit was, it's just fun to speculate! I had never heard that about Eve having sexual relations with Satan, and that Cain might be his son. That is two now that heard that, that's interesting.

Goodness, I just realised I used the French spelling of fig! Hazard of being bilingual, I guess Yes, a bit of speculating can be fun. In fact, I think that the book provides a lot to speculate about...

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

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?

This is so interesting because I have always thought it was an apple, as well. I guess we can only speculate; we will never know for sure.

[Brenda Creech]

Actually, I have heard that the sin involved sexual relations, and that Cain might be Satan's son. The stories we tell, eh? And I was surprised to read about the figue. I didn't make any connection with it being mentioned in the NT though. Honestly, I'm not sure it matters much what fruit they ate, just that they were disobedient.

That's true, it doesn't really matter what the fruit was, it's just fun to speculate! I had never heard that about Eve having sexual relations with Satan, and that Cain might be his son. That is two now that heard that, that's interesting.

Goodness, I just realised I used the French spelling of fig! Hazard of being bilingual, I guess Yes, a bit of speculating can be fun. In fact, I think that the book provides a lot to speculate about...

I agree, this book provides a lot to speculate about! Because of that it prompts me to think, "Wait, I need to look that up!"

[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?

This is so interesting because I have always thought it was an apple, as well. I guess we can only speculate; we will never know for sure.

That is so true! It is one of those things meant to remain a mystery. However, it is fun trying to figure it out, and hearing what others think!

[Stephanie Runyon]

It doesn't say anything about what type of fruit was on the tree in the book of Genesis. It does say that they covered themselves with fig leaves though. A lot of scriptures are assumptions or teachings passed on over the years. The same goes with Jesus supposedly being a carpenter. I haven't found anywhere that he had a professsion of any type. His father was a carpenter so the assumption was that he was too.

[ohlendorfbe]

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.

[Jeff101]

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.

[Pretty giftee]

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.

[tieman55]

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.

[IchbineinBerliner]

Maybe because most of us were taught the story of Adam and Eve as children. As a child I knew what an apple was by just seeing a picture, but I certainly would not have known what a fig was at a young age!

Good comment!

Indeed, makes total sense.

I agree. Figs were an exotic fruit when I was growing up.
In Europe and America, on the other hand, apples have always been common.

[Brenda Creech]

It doesn't say anything about what type of fruit was on the tree in the book of Genesis. It does say that they covered themselves with fig leaves though. A lot of scriptures are assumptions or teachings passed on over the years. The same goes with Jesus supposedly being a carpenter. I haven't found anywhere that he had a professsion of any type. His father was a carpenter so the assumption was that he was too.

I think perhaps God inspired man to use assumptions at times in the scriptures so that when we read the Bible we will search for answers. But, you are right - a lot of things we were taught, such as the apple, were just assumed due to circumstances surrounding them.