Tree of Life

There is a piece of liturgy that is recited every week in many assemblies, both Jewish and Messianic alike: Etz Chaim. Etz Chaim (Hebrew: עץ חיים) means "tree of life." Or perhaps more literally, "Tree of Lives" as chaim is plural. This liturgical prayer is said weekly in relation to the Torah. Yet there is a specific reason for this.

In Genesis 2:9, we have a mention of two trees: the Tree of Life (etz chaim), and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. For many millennia scholars and laymen alike have debated the significance of these two trees. Are they literal, or allegorical? What do they represent? Scripture contains hints, but seldom has there been a generally accepted answer. This particular study will focus on the Tree of Life. 

After Genesis, we find another mention of the Tree of Life in Proverbs, where it begins to get defined. 

1 My son, do not forget my Torah; but let your heart preserve my commands: 2 for length of days, and years of life,and peace, will they add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of Elohim and man. 

5 Trust in YHWH with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear YHWH, and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. 

9 Honor YHWH with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:  10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. 

11 My son, do not despise the discipline of YHWH, neither be weary of His reproof: 12 for whom YHWH loves, He reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. 

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. 14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her. – Mishle / Proverbs 3:1-18 (SQV)

Verses 17 and 18 are part of the etz chaim liturgy mentioned above. But notice after verse 14 the feminine forms of words. These pronouns (she, her) are feminine, so they must be applied to a feminine word. The word appearing right before it starts in verse 14 is the word תבונה (tevunah) meaning "understanding" which is a feminine word. Of course, so is the word חכמה (chokmah) which means "wisdom." But we find a very interesting parallel throughout this entire section. Namely, that we started with a feminine word: Torah. 

In Hebrew writing, there are always numerous wordplays, puns, parallelisms (sometimes called "doublets") and so on. If you've read many of my writings, you see a lot of this explained. Throughout this entire chapter of Mishle / Proverbs, we find the following words all paralleled with each other:

• Torah (instruction, "law")

• Commands

• Kindness

• Truth

• Wisdom

• Understanding

This is important, because, as we find all throughout Scripture (especially the Psalms) these terms all refer back to a central source: the Torah. (Read Psalm 119 for clarification).

So the Torah, then, is the "Tree of Life." But let's examine a couple more Proverbs and see a little more on the subject.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins beings. – Mishle / Proverbs 11:30 (SQV)

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. 13 Whoever despises the word will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded. 14 The Torah of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death. – Mishle / Proverbs 13:12-14 (SQV)

Again, the Torah paralleled with a Tree of Life, with "the word," with a "command" and with a "spring of life." As well as, as witnessed in 11:30, the "fruit of the righteous." 

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly. 3 The eyes of YHWH are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father's correction, but he who guards reproof shows prudence. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. – Mishle / Proverbs 15:1-7 (SQV)

Just as above in 3:11,12 we saw the mention of the Torah being used for "reproof" and "correction," here again we see mention of reproof and correction. Consider also Paul's words to Timothy:

16 Every Scripture is breathed out by Elohim, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.– Timotheos Beta / 2 Timothy 3:16,17

When Paul wrote this, the majority of the Shelichim Writings (what is commonly called the "New Testament") were not yet written, and none of them had been compiled and "canonized" yet. So what "Scripture" is Paul talking about? The Tanakh ("Old Testament"). 

So as we can plainly see, the Torah is the Tree of Life. But what is more, is that Torah is the very foundation of all other Scripture. All Scripture is hinged on it, and dependent on it. Not merely because it is the "beginning of the book" but also in content itself. Allow me to explain.

Immediately after the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) we have the Book of Joshua. 

• Joshua: continuing the mission of the Exodus, leaving Egypt (physical and spiritual) and entering the Promised Land (promised in the Torah).

• Judges: due to the increased sin the land, and everyone doing what was right in their own eyes (thus breaking Torah), judges (as ordained by the Torah) were raised up to judge the people of their sins (according to the Torah).

• I & II Samuel: through continued transgression and disregard for the Torah (and the judges), the people demanded a king, to make them like the nations around them (as was prophesied in the Torah, Deut. 17). Samuel the prophet (and judge) then anoints the first two kings: Saul and David.

• I & II Kings: the kings continue to rebel against the Torah of YHWH, and therefore cause the people to continually fall deeper into sin. Periodically there are brief respites from the consequences of their rebellions when they turn back to following YHWH under the rule of a righteous king. However, when the next evil king rises up, he leads them again into sin (which is the breaking of the Torah).

• Major Prophets (Isa. Jer. Ezek.): now that the people have sinned and broken the Torah immensely, they are no longer allowed to live in the land, and thus must be thrown out of it (as designated in the Torah). However, there are still promises of the Messiah, who will come and restore them to their land (as also prophesied in the Torah).

• Minor Prophets: Numerous prophecies and judgments both on Israel as well as on the surrounding nations for their various transgressions (of the Torah). Yet still further prophecies of the Promised Messiah.

• Psalms: many psalms of exhortation for people to live righteously (which means, living according to Torah). Many psalms of David proclaiming the goodness and faithfulness of YHWH, and thanking Him for His wonderful Torah (such as Psalm 119). 

• Proverbs: dozens of parallels between "wisdom" and "understanding" and "righteousness" and "judgment" with the Torah, and with proper instruction and commandments. Again, exhortation for the following generation to keep the Torah.

• Job: story of a righteous and blameless man (meaning, he lived according to the Torah) who was tested and tried by the adversary. In the end, Job realized that regardless of his own righteous (according to Torah) it is all about the work of YHWH, and the faithfulness of YHWH.

• Song of Songs: an allegorical tale of a bride and bridegroom, deeply in love. Believed by many to typify the Assembly and our relationship to Yeshua, as His bride. According to Revelation 19:8, the wedding garment of the bride is made up of the righteous deeds of the saints. Righteous deeds are defined in the Torah. Furthermore, according to a traditional Jewish commentary, the phrase in 1:2 "let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine" is an allusion to YHWH speaking "mouth to mouth" (face to face) with Israel in giving them the Torah; it is also said that phrase "better than wine" is hinting at the joyous celebration of the Feasts, in which wine was consumed. This allegory is said to provide us with the image that His love for us is greater than even the most joyous time of the Feasts.

• Ruth: a story of a sojourner becoming an Israelite. In multiple places in the Torah (Num. 15 and Ex. 12 for example) we are told that there is one Torah for the sojourner and for the native-born. Ruth was a Moabitess, but was a sojourner in the Land, and typified all future "grafted-in" believers in her statement of "your people will be my people, and your Elohim will be my Elohim." Ruth also marries Boaz, who was the kinsman redeemer, thus fulfilling the law of levirate marriage of a dead relative's spouse and property (as outlined in the Torah).

• Lamentations: a further extension of Jeremiah, providing details of the impending doom for the inhabitants of Jerusalem for their continued transgression of the Torah.

• Ecclesiastes: consider by many to be a depressing narrative, it actually contains much wisdom. It explains that YHWH works in cycles ("what has been done will be done again" and "nothing new under the sun"), as well as explaining that in the end, there is only one duty in life: "Fear Elohim, and keep His commands [the Torah]."

• Esther: during the time of the Persian reign over the Jews (they were being ruled over because they continually rebelled against YHWH and His Torah), a brief respite and deliverance is offered to them, in a time that was almost as dark as the Holocaust. 

• Ezra & Nehemiah: during the Persian Empire, Ezra and Nehemiah both worked to rebuild and restore Jerusalem and the Temple, to have a dwelling place for Elohim in the "place where He chose to place His Name" according to Torah. They also read from the Torah publicly, and people were convicted by it of their sins, and many repented.

• I & II Chronicles: a simple retelling of the information found in the books of Samuel and Kings. Again noting the people being taken away captive due to their increased transgression of the Torah, and the heardheartedness of the people and their kings.

• The four Gospels: the telling of the first coming of the promised Messiah, Yeshua. Stories revolving around His 30+ years, particularly focused on His work in the last few years. Proofs that He meets the requirements of the Messiah, as well as eye witness accounts of the miracles He performed. 

• Acts: Yeshua's ascension into heaven from the Mount of Olives (the same place He will return to, per Acts 1 and Zech. 14). The mission of the apostles to take the news of the promised Messiah throughout all the earth, teaching them to be immersed in His Name. They continually went into synagogues on the Sabbath to teach and reason, and in Acts 15 it is even noted that BECAUSE the non-Jews were going to the synagogue on the Sabbath, they would hear "Moses preached" (Moses referring to the "law of Moses" or the Torah). Paul continually defends himself against those that claim he taught against the Torah, even going to the Temple to offer a sacrifice (Acts 21 and 24) after taking a vow to complete it. All of this done to show that he never taught against the Torah.

• Pauline letters: Paul working diligently to impress upon the people their need of the Messiah and His redemptive work (necessitated by their transgression of the Torah). He also works to dispel many false teachings about the Messiah and the Gospel, also impressing upon believers the need to understand the difference between mechanical "works" and faith-based "works." He also encourages believers to remember the orphan and widow, a principle of Torah.

• James: An exhortation to those that preferred to have merely the "word" of faith, but not the action of it, to understand that without righteous deeds (of Torah), mere faith alone is worthless. He further instructs believers to not forsake those that need to be fed and clothed, a mission which itself is outlined in the Torah.

• Petrine letters: Peter also encourages believers to stand firm in their persecution, and to await the salvation that is to come only through the Messiah. He also quotes the Torah, in reminding believers to "be Holy" and to live according to moral standards (which are outlined in the Torah).

• Johannine letters: John tells his followers many times that due to our great love for Messiah, we are to obey Him. He also tells his readers that the commands that the Master commands us, are NOT too burdensome. This is a reference to Deut. 30, where we are told that the commands of the Torah are not too difficult for us, neither are they far off.

• Jude: a reminder of the judgment for sexual sins, as well as a warning about "certain individuals" that had "slipped in" to the assembly. He reminds them of multiple stories from the Torah (such as Sodom and Gomorra and the "fallen angels").

• Revelation: the final book of prophesy and the apocalypse, it mirrors many other prophets in many of its writings. It tells of the return of the Messiah, thus fulfilling His Torah-mandated mission. It tells of the Millennial Kingdom of Messiah on earth, when He causes His people to again inherit then Land that was promised to Abraham our father. It further lists time and again that the true believers (usually called "saints") are those that KEEP THE COMMANDS of Elohim AND have the testimony of Yeshua. There are also many parallels between Revelation and the Exodus, including the "woman" fleeing into the wilderness, and the numerous plagues.

I think it is safe to say that every single book of Scripture is based around the Torah, in one way or another. This is definitely an over-simplified list, but I wanted to give you an idea of how important and central the Torah is to the entire Bible. And given that the entirety of Scripture should central in our lives as individuals, we need to understand how to live and apply Torah principles. 

According to Judaism, there are 613 commands in the Torah (I argue that this list is wrong and there are actually fewer, but we'll go with it for now). That being said, all of these commands can be broken down into the Ten Words (Ten Commandments). Further, all of these Ten can be broken down into two as follows:

1.     Have no other elohim before YHWH (1)
2.     Do not make an idol (1)
3.     Do not bring YHWH's Name to nothing (1)
4.     Remember the Sabbath and set it apart (1)
5.     Honor father and mother (2)
6.     Do not kill (2)
7.     Do not commit adultery (2)
8.     Do not steal (2)
9.     Do not bear false witness (2)
10.  Do not covet (2)

The number in parentheses next to the command shows which of the "two commands" it falls under. (1) is "Love YHWH your Elohim" and (2) is "Love your neighbor." Thus, we find the true meaning of Yeshua's statement in Matthew 22:

35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him, testing Him, 36 "Teacher, which is the great command in the Torah?" 37 And He said to him, "'You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.'  38 This is the great and foremost command. 39 The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  40 On these two commands depend the whole Torah and the Prophets." – Mattithyahu / Matthew 22:35-40 (SQV)

Remember that during Yeshua's time, the "Torah and the Prophets" encapsulated all of Scripture, as Paul mentioned to Timothy. 

So then, let us hear the conclusion of the matter: The Torah of YHWH IS a Tree of Life. In Deuteronomy 30 we are told that YHWH gives us a choice: life, or death. Blessing, or curse. We get to decide which way we go. Just as Adam and Eve were given the choice between the two trees (one leading to life, the other to death), so we are given the choice between two paths. The way to Life is lit by the lamp of the Word. Thus, let us "choose life" and choose the Torah of YHWH. Yeshua, as the Living Word made flesh, is the living Torah, and we are to follow His example. He perfectly kept the Torah, and we can to. 

Not in hopes of earning salvation, but in hopes of showing our Creator and Bridegroom how much we love Him. Yeshua said in John 14:15 "If you love Me, guard My commands." This is not a suggestion: IF we love Him, we WILL guard His commands (which are not burdensome).

I hope and pray that this study has blessed you. Be Berean. Shalom.