The world tree is a widespread ancient Near Eastern image of a single great tree standing at the center of the world. Its top reaches into heaven and its roots descend toward the underworld, making it the axis that connects the realms of the cosmos. Mesopotamian texts often place this tree on a divine mountain inside a sacred garden watered by life-giving springs. Hebrew Bible authors draw on the same imagery when they describe Eden, the cedar of Lebanon, the towering tree in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and the temple river that nourishes fruit-bearing trees on its banks. Later Jewish texts such as 1 Enoch, the Aramaic Targums, and Genesis Rabbah develop the tradition further by enlarging Eden's tree of life into a cosmic tree at the very center of the earth.
‘This is what my master has spoken, this is what he has said.My king is like a huge mes tree, ... son of Enlil; this tree has grown high, uniting heaven and earth; its crown reaches heaven, its trunk is set upon the earth.He who is made to shine forth in lordship and kingship, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, has given me a clay tablet.
This tree reaching heaven rose from earth to heaven, an immortal plant setting itself firmly between heaven and earth: the foundation of everything, the support of the universe, the brace of the whole inhabited world, the cosmic bond holding together the varied substance of humanity, fastened with the Spirit’s invisible nails, so that, joined to the divine, it might never again be dissolved.He touches the highest summits of heaven, holds the earth firm with his feet, and embraces the great intervening expanse of the air’s spirit on every side with immeasurable hands. He was wholly in everything and everywhere.Having filled the universe through himself, he stripped naked to wrestle against the powers of the air.
‘This is what my master has spoken, this is what he has said.My king is like a huge mes tree, ... son of Enlil; this tree has grown high, uniting heaven and earth; its crown reaches heaven, its trunk is set upon the earth.He who is made to shine forth in lordship and kingship, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, has given me a clay tablet.
10 Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed. “While I was watching, there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was enormously tall.11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land.12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.
‘This is what my master has spoken, this is what he has said.My king is like a huge mes tree, ... son of Enlil; this tree has grown high, uniting heaven and earth; its crown reaches heaven, its trunk is set upon the earth.He who is made to shine forth in lordship and kingship, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, has given me a clay tablet.
2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his hordes: “‘Who are you like in your greatness?3Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached into the clouds.4 The water made it grow; underground springs made it grow tall. Rivers flowed all around the place it was planted, while smaller channels watered all the trees of the field.
7 Its lofty battlements, where the doves rest,8 are like Eridu upon its terrace,9 where the princess sits.10Eninnu offers rest to the doves:11it is a sheltering tree of wide branches and pleasant shade,12where swallows and other birds chirp loudly;13it is like Enlil’s Ekur14when a festival is celebrated within it.15The temple’s great awesomeness settles upon the land,16and its praise reaches to the highlands;17the awesomeness of Eninnu18covers all lands like a garment.
9 saying, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation!10 Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed. “While I was watching, there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was enormously tall.11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land.12Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.13 “While I was watching in my mind’s visions on my bed, a holy sentinel came down from heaven.
4 Where Ḫumbaba came and went there was a track,5 the paths were in good order and the way was well trodden.6They were gazing at the Cedar Mountain,7the dwelling of the gods, the throne-dais of the goddesses,8[on the] very face of the mountain the cedar was offering its abundance,9sweet was its shade, full of delight.10 [Thick] tangled was the thorn, the forest a shrouding canopy,11 cedars and gum trees, [all entwined,] left no way in.12 For a league on all sides cedars [lifts up] saplings,13 cypresses [grew thick] for two-thirds of a league.
3Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached into the clouds.4 The water made it grow; underground springs made it grow tall. Rivers flowed all around the place it was planted, while smaller channels watered all the trees of the field.5 Therefore it grew taller than all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches grew long, because of the plentiful water in its shoots.6All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth; in its shade all the great nations lived.7 It was beautiful in its loftiness, in the length of its branches; for its roots went down deep to plentiful waters.8The cedars in the garden of God could not eclipse it, nor could the fir trees match its boughs; the plane trees were as nothing compared to its branches; no tree in the garden of God could rival its beauty.9 I made it beautiful with its many branches; all the trees of Eden, in the garden of God, envied it.
4 Where Ḫumbaba came and went there was a track,5 the paths were in good order and the way was well trodden.6They were gazing at the Cedar Mountain,7the dwelling of the gods, the throne-dais of the goddesses,8[on the] very face of the mountain the cedar was offering its abundance,9sweet was its shade, full of delight.10 [Thick] tangled was the thorn, the forest a shrouding canopy,11 cedars and gum trees, [all entwined,] left no way in.12 For a league on all sides cedars [lifts up] saplings,13 cypresses [grew thick] for two-thirds of a league.
12 “Son of man, sing a lament for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the sealer of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.13You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering, the ruby, topaz, and emerald, the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl; your settings and mounts were made of gold. On the day you were created they were prepared.14I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.15 You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you.
“Let Utu stand in heaven.From the breast of Nanna,From the mouth from which the waters of the earth flow,Bring sweet water from the earth.Let him bring the water up into your great canals.Let him make your city drink from the waters of abundance.Let Dilmun drink from the waters of abundance.Let your well of bitter water become a well of sweet water.Let your furrowed fields and farms bear grain.Let your city become the house of the riverbank.”Now Utu stood in heaven.From the breast of Nanna,From the mouth from which the waters of the earth flow,
1Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar.2 He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side.3 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep.4 Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep.5 Again he measured 1,750 feet, and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.7 When I had returned, I noticed a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides.8 He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the rift valley; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh.9 Every living creature that swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh, and everything will live where the river flows.10 Fishermen will stand beside it; from En Gedi to En Eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.11 But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty.12On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed.9The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)10 Now a river flows from Eden to water the orchard, and from there it divides into four headstreams.
8 Before the creation of the world, a garden had been planted by the Memra of the Lord God from Eden for the righteous, and He made Adam dwell there when He created him.9And the Lord God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable to see and good to eat, and the tree of life in the middle of the garden, whose height was a journey of five hundred years, and the tree whose fruit enables those who eat it to distinguish between good and evil.10 A river goes out from Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four river-heads.
“The Lord God grew from the ground every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9). “The Lord God grew from the ground [...and the tree of life]” – it is taught: [The tree of life is] a tree that spreads out over all the living. Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai said: [The extent of] the tree of life is a walking distance of five hundred years and all the waters of creation branch out from beneath it. Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai: It is not merely that [the extent of] its branches are a walking distance of five hundred years, but even [the extent of] its trunk is a walking distance of five hundred years.
8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed.9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)10 Now a river flows from Eden to water the orchard, and from there it divides into four headstreams.
2 And from there I went over the summits of all these mountains, far towards the east of the earth, and passed above the Erythraean sea and went far from it, and passed over the angel Zotîêl.3And I came to the Garden of Righteousness, and beyond those trees, I saw many large trees growing there, fragrant, large, very beautiful, and glorious, including the tree of wisdom, from which they eat and gain great wisdom.
8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed.9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)10 Now a river flows from Eden to water the orchard, and from there it divides into four headstreams.
2 And I saw all the sweet-flowering trees and saw their fruits, which were sweet-smelling, and all the food they produced bubbling and giving off a sweet fragrance.3And among the trees was the tree of life, in that place on which the Lord rests, when he goes up into paradise; and this tree is so good and fragrant that words cannot describe it, and adorned more than every existing thing;4 and on all sides its form is gold-looking and vermilion and fire-like and covers all, and it has produce from all fruits. Its root is in the garden at the earth’s end.
11 He reached a certain place where he decided to camp because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones and placed it near his head. Then he fell asleep in that place12 and had a dream. He saw a stairway erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it13 and the Lord stood at its top. He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on.
45 And Jacob, when he went into Mesopotamia, saw Him in a dream, standing upon the ladder, that is the tree which was set up from earth to heaven; for thereby they that believe on Him go up to the heavens. For His sufferings are our ascension on high. And all such visions point to the Son of God, speaking with men and being in their midst. For it was not the Father of all, who is not seen by the world, the Maker of all who has said: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me, or what is the place of my rest? And who comprehendeth the earth with his hand, and with his span the heaven—it was not He that came and stood in a very small space and spake with Abraham; but the Word of God, who was ever with mankind, and made known beforehand what should come to pass in the future, and taught men the things of God.
1 In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the Lord’s message came to me:2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his hordes: “‘Who are you like in your greatness?3Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached into the clouds.4 The water made it grow; underground springs made it grow tall. Rivers flowed all around the place it was planted, while smaller channels watered all the trees of the field.5 Therefore it grew taller than all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches grew long, because of the plentiful water in its shoots.
1Open your gates, Lebanon, so that the fire may consume your cedars.2Howl, fir tree, because the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees have been destroyed. Howl, oaks of Bashan, because the impenetrable forest has fallen.3 Listen to the howling of shepherds, because their magnificence has been destroyed. Listen to the roaring of young lions, because the thickets of the Jordan have been devastated.4 The Lord my God says this: “Shepherd the flock set aside for slaughter.
2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his hordes: “‘Who are you like in your greatness?3Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached into the clouds.4 The water made it grow; underground springs made it grow tall. Rivers flowed all around the place it was planted, while smaller channels watered all the trees of the field.
This tree reaching heaven rose from earth to heaven, an immortal plant setting itself firmly between heaven and earth: the foundation of everything, the support of the universe, the brace of the whole inhabited world, the cosmic bond holding together the varied substance of humanity, fastened with the Spirit’s invisible nails, so that, joined to the divine, it might never again be dissolved.He touches the highest summits of heaven, holds the earth firm with his feet, and embraces the great intervening expanse of the air’s spirit on every side with immeasurable hands. He was wholly in everything and everywhere.Having filled the universe through himself, he stripped naked to wrestle against the powers of the air.
7 It was beautiful in its loftiness, in the length of its branches; for its roots went down deep to plentiful waters.8The cedars in the garden of God could not eclipse it, nor could the fir trees match its boughs; the plane trees were as nothing compared to its branches; no tree in the garden of God could rival its beauty.9 I made it beautiful with its many branches; all the trees of Eden, in the garden of God, envied it.
3 The seventh mountain was in the midst of these, and it was the tallest, resembling the seat of a throne, with fragrant trees encircling the throne.4Among these trees was one that I had never smelled before, unlike any other; it had a scent beyond all scents, and its leaves, blooms, and wood never wither; its fruit was beautiful and resembled the dates of a palm.5 Then I said: ‘How beautiful is this tree, and fragrant, with fair leaves and blooms very delightful in appearance.’
8 The cedars in the garden of God could not eclipse it, nor could the fir trees match its boughs; the plane trees were as nothing compared to its branches; no tree in the garden of God could rival its beauty.9 I made it beautiful with its many branches; all the trees of Eden, in the garden of God, envied it.10 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because it was tall in stature, and its top reached into the clouds, and it was proud of its height,11I gave it over to the leader of the nations. He has judged it thoroughly, as its sinfulness deserves. I have thrown it out.
10 Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed. “While I was watching, there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was enormously tall.11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land.12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.
8 He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the rift valley; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh.9 Every living creature that swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh, and everything will live where the river flows.10 Fishermen will stand beside it; from En Gedi to En Eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.
9 And again another prophet says: ‘And the land of Jacob was praised above the whole earth.’ He means He glorifies the vessel of His Spirit.10 What does He say next? ‘There was a river flowing from the right side, and beautiful trees were rising from it, and whoever eats from them will live forever.’11 This He says because those who descend into the water, carrying sins and defilement, come up with fruit in their hearts, trusting in Jesus through the Spirit. And whoever eats of these will live forever. He means: whoever hears and believes these messages will live forever.
10 Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed. “While I was watching, there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was enormously tall.11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land.12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.
This tree reaching heaven rose from earth to heaven, an immortal plant setting itself firmly between heaven and earth: the foundation of everything, the support of the universe, the brace of the whole inhabited world, the cosmic bond holding together the varied substance of humanity, fastened with the Spirit’s invisible nails, so that, joined to the divine, it might never again be dissolved.He touches the highest summits of heaven, holds the earth firm with his feet, and embraces the great intervening expanse of the air’s spirit on every side with immeasurable hands. He was wholly in everything and everywhere.Having filled the universe through himself, he stripped naked to wrestle against the powers of the air.
10 Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed. “While I was watching, there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was enormously tall.11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land.12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.
45 And Jacob, when he went into Mesopotamia, saw Him in a dream, standing upon the ladder, that is the tree which was set up from earth to heaven; for thereby they that believe on Him go up to the heavens. For His sufferings are our ascension on high. And all such visions point to the Son of God, speaking with men and being in their midst. For it was not the Father of all, who is not seen by the world, the Maker of all who has said: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me, or what is the place of my rest? And who comprehendeth the earth with his hand, and with his span the heaven—it was not He that came and stood in a very small space and spake with Abraham; but the Word of God, who was ever with mankind, and made known beforehand what should come to pass in the future, and taught men the things of God.
This tree reaching heaven rose from earth to heaven, an immortal plant setting itself firmly between heaven and earth: the foundation of everything, the support of the universe, the brace of the whole inhabited world, the cosmic bond holding together the varied substance of humanity, fastened with the Spirit’s invisible nails, so that, joined to the divine, it might never again be dissolved.He touches the highest summits of heaven, holds the earth firm with his feet, and embraces the great intervening expanse of the air’s spirit on every side with immeasurable hands. He was wholly in everything and everywhere.Having filled the universe through himself, he stripped naked to wrestle against the powers of the air.
2 For if He came Himself to bear the curse laid on us, how else could He have become a curse unless He received the death appointed for a curse? And that is the Cross. For this is exactly what is written: Cursed is he who hangs on a tree.3 Again, if the Lord’s death is the ransom of all, and by His death the dividing wall is broken down and the calling of the nations is brought about, how would He have called us to Himself had He not been crucified? For it is only on the cross that a man dies with his hands spread out. So it was fitting for the Lord to bear this also and to spread out His hands, so that with the one He might draw the ancient people, and with the other those from the Gentiles, and unite both in Himself.4 For this is what He Himself has said, indicating by what kind of death He was to ransom all: I, when I am lifted up, He says, will draw all people to Myself.
Timeline
Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta / Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11
2300 BCE
Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta
Ancient Near East, Sumerian
200–300 CE
Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11
Early Christian
Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta / Daniel 4:11
2300 BCE
Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta
Ancient Near East, Sumerian
200–101 BCE
Daniel 4:11
Hebrew Bible
Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta / Ezekiel 31:3
2300 BCE
Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta
Ancient Near East, Sumerian
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 31:3
Hebrew Bible
Gudea Cylinders A xxix 10 / Daniel 4:10
2125 BCE
Gudea Cylinders A xxix 10
Ancient Near East, Sumerian
200–101 BCE
Daniel 4:10
Hebrew Bible
Epic of Gilgamesh V 6 / Ezekiel 31:3
2100 BCE
Epic of Gilgamesh V 6
Ancient Near East, Babylonian
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 31:3
Hebrew Bible
Epic of Gilgamesh V 6 / Ezekiel 28:13
2100 BCE
Epic of Gilgamesh V 6
Ancient Near East, Babylonian
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 28:13
Hebrew Bible
Enki and Ninhursag / Ezekiel 47:1
1900 BCE
Enki and Ninhursag
Ancient Near East, Sumerian
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 47:1
Hebrew Bible
Genesis 2:9 / Pseudo Jonathan Genesis 2:9 / Genesis Rabbah 15:6
750–400 BCE
Genesis 2:9
Hebrew Bible
300–1200 CE
Pseudo Jonathan Genesis 2:9
Targum
500 CE
Genesis Rabbah 15:6
Rabbinic
Genesis 2:9 / 1 Enoch 32:3
750–400 BCE
Genesis 2:9
Hebrew Bible
300 BCE – 100 CE
1 Enoch 32:3
Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
Genesis 2:9 / 2 Enoch 8:3
750–400 BCE
Genesis 2:9
Hebrew Bible
1–100 CE
2 Enoch 8:3
Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
Genesis 28:12 / Irenaeus, Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching 46
750–400 BCE
Genesis 28:12
Hebrew Bible
175–190 CE
Irenaeus, Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching 46
Early Christian
Ezekiel 31:3 / Zechariah 11:2
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 31:3
Hebrew Bible
500–401 BCE
Zechariah 11:2
Hebrew Bible
Ezekiel 31:3 / Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 31:3
Hebrew Bible
200–300 CE
Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11
Early Christian
Ezekiel 31:8 / 1 Enoch 24:4
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 31:8
Hebrew Bible
300 BCE – 100 CE
1 Enoch 24:4
Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
Ezekiel 31:10 / Daniel 4:11
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 31:10
Hebrew Bible
200–101 BCE
Daniel 4:11
Hebrew Bible
Ezekiel 47:9 / Barnabas 11:10
600–501 BCE
Ezekiel 47:9
Hebrew Bible
70–135 CE
Barnabas 11:10
Early Christian
Daniel 4:11 / Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11
200–101 BCE
Daniel 4:11
Hebrew Bible
200–300 CE
Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11
Early Christian
Daniel 4:11 / Irenaeus, Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching 46
200–101 BCE
Daniel 4:11
Hebrew Bible
175–190 CE
Irenaeus, Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching 46
Early Christian
Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11 / Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word 25:3
200–300 CE
Pseudo Hippolytus, Easter Homily 51.9–11
Early Christian
335 CE
Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word 25:3
Early Christian