In the first chapter of Genesis God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food." (Gen. 1:29)
Then in the last chapter of Revelation it states: "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Rev. 22:1-2)
God has revealed His plan of nutrition for man. In the Garden of Eden before sin entered into man God gave him herb, seed and fruit. In heaven where there is no sin God also gave man fruit and leaves from the tree. This is an indication that God's nutritious diet for man is herb, seed, fruit and vegetables.
The Bible discusses a wide variety of foods within its pages.
"Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of the valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey." (Deut. 8:6-8)
Each one of these seven foods is of high nutritional merit.
Wheat
Of all the foods mentioned in the Bible, assuredly none holds a higher position of importance than wheat. Both the Bible and archaeology show that wheat was one of the main staple foods of ancient times and some form of it was probably eaten at every meal. Time and again in the Bible, a bountiful wheat harvest is portrayed as a blessing from God to His people.
"Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat." (Psm. 147:12-14)
Wheat was also used as a symbol for the dying and resurrecting Savior. Wheat is the symbol of eternal life. It doesn't really die. It goes into the ground and is transformed and reborn again.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (Jn. 12:24)
One wheat berry can be planted in the right soil and from that berry will sprout up a whole stalk of wheat that will contain some 30, 60 or 100 fold new berries. You can see the Lord Jesus Christ, like one wheat berry being planted into the ground by His death, burial and resurrection have produced a whole field of wheat grain over and over again. So it is with the Kingdom of God.
Wheat is a high-fiber grain, loaded with B-vitamins and folic acid, which can help prevent heart disease and certain birth defects. Nutritionally, wheat does seem to contain it all. It is an excellent source of protein, fat, and carbohydrates as well as vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Wheat truly is a special gift from God and every aspect of this sacred grain should be considered for good health.
Barley
Barley, like wheat, is a highly nutritious grain and is mentioned close to 40 times in the Bible. In ancient Israel, its growing season and harvest actually came before wheat and it was the first crop of the year.
In one of the greatest miracles ever performed our Lord Jesus Christ took five barley loaves and two small fish and multiplied the food to feed five thousand people (Jn. 6:1-14)
Barley is rich in in vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber.
Vines
Of all the plants mentioned in the Bible there is none more significant in symbolism of the Lord Jesus Christ than the vine. Our Lord Jesus Christ calls Himself "the True Vine." (Jn. 15:1) In the Holy Communion our Lord used "the fruit of the vine" to spiritually transform into His blood of the New Covenant. (Mt. 26:26-29) Grapes and wine are mentioned many times in the Bible, and are still an important part of Christian and Jewish ritual. Wine was used not only as a beverage, but also as a healing compound; it was used to disinfect wounds and, mixed with myrrh, acted as a painkiller. Grapes are a great antioxidant and grape skins contain a substance called resveratrol, which some researchers think can be beneficial in fighting cardiovascular (heart) diseases and cancer.
Figs
Throughout Biblical lands, the common fig (also known as Ficus carica) was a widely planted fruit tree. Possessing the capacity to live long (up to 200 years), it was often placed close to olive tree – another tree that lived a long time. When the tree grew, it produced many branches that started low on the trunk. The leaves were quite large, growing to about the same size of a human hand. In the springtime, the fig was the last tree to grow their leaves. This characteristic is noted in the Bible by Jesus in Mark 13:28 31: "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near" [English Standard Version].
The fig tree is also known to generate several crops in the span of just one year. There were different varieties of figs as well –producing black, green, and red fruits. Because of a high concentration of sugar, the people were able to dry figs and store for later use. This practice is additionally mentioned in the Bible. An example of this is found in Scriptures: "Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys" [New International Version; I Samuel 25:18]
The Bible places the fig in a medical light when a poultice made with fig was used to treat a boil. The importance of the fig is seen when the prosperity of the grape and the fig together is a blessing for Israel. An example of this reference is found in Micah 4:4: " Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The LORD of Heaven's Armies has made this promise!" [New Living Translation]
Pomegranates
With an attractive appearance, the pomegranate appears in the Bible, and is seen as one of the five species in Deuteronomy 8:8. During the first part of August, the fruits of the pomegranate start to reach maturity. The fruit is referenced when speaking of the garment of the high priest and within the temple, as bells and pomegranates alternate on the skirt of the high priest. This is mentioned in Exodus 28: 33: "And on the skirts thereof thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, round about the skirts thereof; and bells of gold between them round about." The pomegranate tree is also mentioned in I Samuel 14:2: "Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men," [New International Version]
The fruit tree was elevated in prominence when 200 pomegranates were engraved on the capitals of the two pillars that decorated the front of Solomon's temple. Lilies were found above the pomegranates. When taken into captivity, the fruit on the pillars is specifically referenced. This is seen in Jeremiah 52: 22-23: "The bronze capital on top of the one pillar was five cubits high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates above the surrounding network was a hundred. [New International Version]
In the Song of Solomon pomegranates were used to describe the beauty of his beloved. (Songs 4:1-3) King Solomon is reported to have cultivated a large pomegranate grove as a display of his wealth. (Songs 4:13) Eaten whole or juiced, these delicate fruits are potent antioxidants, and some studies suggest pomegranate juice may contain almost three times the antioxidant ability of green tea or red wine.
Olives
References to the olive are scattered throughout the Bible: The olive branch was a symbol of peace brought to Noah after the Great Flood, and olive oil was poured into the wounds of the man on the road by the Good Samaritan. Considered a fruit, olives were eaten whole as food and pressed to make oil for cooking and medicinal uses. Today we know more about the healing benefits of olives and olive oil: They contain monounsaturated fatty acids, which can lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Honey
In the Bible honey is mentioned quite often. It is most frequently used to say how sweet something is. "And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey." (Rev. 10:10) John the Baptist depended on honey for his survival: "And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey." (Mt. 3:4)."
Honey is a sweet fluid made by honeybees. The bees make honey to feed the baby bees (larvae). Also, they need honey in order to stay alive during the winter. It is stored in aged honeycombs by the bees.
There is no mention of beekeeping in the Bible, but wild honey was plentiful. It's a store house of natural energy. Honey contains boron, a vital mineral sadly lacking in the modern diet. It has tranquilizing powers, and can aid in healing wounds.
Apple
The Song of Solomon takes place within the setting of a garden. The person responsible for penning the Song of Solomon had an interest in plans and was accomplished in the science of plants (as told in I Kings 4: 33). Throughout the test, more than 20 different plants are mentioned, which is more than any other book in the Bible – with the exception of Isaiah.
In the Song of Solomon, the apple appears in the following places:
"Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste." [New International Version; 2:3]
"Who is this coming up from the wilderness Leaning on her beloved?" "Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; There your mother was in labor with you, There she was in labor and gave you birth." [New American Standard Version; 8:5]
The apple is also mentioned in Joel 1:12 ("The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree--all the trees of the field--are dried up. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away" – New International Version) and Proverbs 25:11 ("Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances" – New American Standard Bible).
The apple and apple tree is a popular plant in many parts of the world. It is respected for its beauty, fragrance, and ability to produce an abundance of fruit.
Other references to the apple in the Bible include:
"Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye." [New International Version; Proverbs 7:2]
"For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye." [New American Standard Bible; Zechariah 2:8]
Melon
When you think of the Bible, you probably did not envision melons being a part of the ancient diet. There is only one verse that mentions melons, and that is in Numbers 11: 5-6: "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick" [King James Version]. The melon in the reference may point to the common watermelon. In Biblical days, this melon was most likely much smaller than the fruit we see in today's North American crops.
Almond
The almond tree is a native of Syria and Palestine. Its blossoms are very pale pink and appear before its leaves. Its Hebrew name, shaked signifies “wakeful, hastening” because it blossoms so early, generally in February, and sometimes even in January. In Eccl. 12:5, it is referred to as illustrative, probably, of the haste with which old age comes. There are others, however, who contend for the old interpretation here. “The almond tree bears its blossoms in the midst of winter, on a naked, leafless stem, and these blossoms (reddish or flesh-coloured in the beginning) seem at the time of their fall exactly like white snow-flakes. In this way the almond blossom is a very fitting symbol of old age, with its silvery hair and its wintry, dry, barren, unfruitful condition.”
In Jer. 1:11 “I see a rod of an almond tree [shaked]… for I will hasten [shaked] my word to perform it” the word is used as an symbol of promptness. Jacobwanted his sons (Gen. 43:11) to take with them into Egypt of the best fruits of the land, almonds, etc., as a present to Joseph, probably because this tree was not a native of Egypt.
Aaron's rod yielded almonds (Num. 17:8; Hebrews 9:4).
Moses was directed to make certain parts of the candlestick for the ark of carved work “like unto almonds” (Ex. 25:33-34).
The Hebrew word luz, translated “hazel” in the King James Bible (Gen. 30:37), is translated as “almond” in the Revised Version, New King James Version, New International Version and the New Revised Standard Version. It is probable that luz means the wild almond, while shaked means the cultivated variety
