Revelation 22:2
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Original Language Analysis
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῦ
of it
G846
αὐτοῦ
of it
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 33
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 33
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ποταμοῦ
of the river
G4215
ποταμοῦ
of the river
Strong's:
G4215
Word #:
8 of 33
a current, brook or freshet (as drinkable), i.e., running water
ἐντεῦθεν
side
G1782
ἐντεῦθεν
side
Strong's:
G1782
Word #:
9 of 33
hence (literally or figuratively); (repeated) on both sides
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
10 of 33
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐντεῦθεν
side
G1782
ἐντεῦθεν
side
Strong's:
G1782
Word #:
11 of 33
hence (literally or figuratively); (repeated) on both sides
ξύλου
of the tree
G3586
ξύλου
of the tree
Strong's:
G3586
Word #:
12 of 33
timber (as fuel or material); by implication, a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance
ποιοῦν
which bare
G4160
ποιοῦν
which bare
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
14 of 33
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
κατὰ
every
G2596
κατὰ
every
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
17 of 33
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
ἀποδιδοῦν
and yielded
G591
ἀποδιδοῦν
and yielded
Strong's:
G591
Word #:
21 of 33
to give away, i.e., up, over, back, etc. (in various applications)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῦ
of it
G846
αὐτοῦ
of it
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
24 of 33
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
25 of 33
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
28 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ξύλου
of the tree
G3586
ξύλου
of the tree
Strong's:
G3586
Word #:
29 of 33
timber (as fuel or material); by implication, a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance
εἰς
were for
G1519
εἰς
were for
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
30 of 33
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
θεραπείαν
the healing
G2322
θεραπείαν
the healing
Strong's:
G2322
Word #:
31 of 33
attendance (specially, medical, i.e., cure); figuratively and collectively, domestics
Cross References
Revelation 22:1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.Revelation 2:7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.Genesis 2:9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.Revelation 22:14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.Proverbs 3:18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.Revelation 22:19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.Revelation 21:24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.Ezekiel 47:1Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.Revelation 21:21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Historical Context
John wrote from exile on Patmos (circa AD 95) during escalating Roman persecution under Domitian. His apocalyptic vision drew heavily from Ezekiel 47:1-12, which depicts a river flowing from the temple with trees bearing fruit monthly and leaves for healing. Jewish readers would immediately recognize this imagery from prophetic literature promising restoration after judgment.
The tree of life appears only three times in Scripture: Genesis 2-3 (access forbidden after sin), Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12, 15:4 (wisdom metaphors), and Revelation 2:7, 22:2, 22:14 (access restored). This literary inclusion brackets redemptive history—what was lost in Adam is restored in Christ, the Last Adam.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the restoration of the tree of life demonstrate that God's redemptive plan not only forgives sin but fully reverses the curse of Genesis 3?
- What does the continuous twelve-month harvest reveal about eternal life—is it static perfection or dynamic abundance and ongoing discovery of God's goodness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life (ξύλον ζωῆς, xylon zōēs)—John's vision completes Scripture's arc from Genesis to consummation. The tree of life, lost in Genesis 3:22-24 when God barred access after the Fall, is now freely accessible in the New Jerusalem. The Greek xylon (tree/wood) is the same word used for Christ's cross (Acts 5:30, 1 Peter 2:24), suggesting the Cross is the means by which we regain the tree.
Twelve manner of fruits (δώδεκα καρποὺς, dōdeka karpous)—The twelve monthly harvests signify perpetual abundance and satisfaction. Unlike Eden's single tree bearing one kind of fruit, this tree produces continuously, each month yielding different fruit. The number twelve echoes the twelve tribes and twelve apostles (21:12-14), symbolizing the fullness of God's redeemed people from both covenants.
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (θεραπείαν τῶν ἐθνῶν, therapeian tōn ethnōn)—Not healing from disease (21:4 says no more pain), but therapeia suggests ongoing health and wholeness. The curse of Babel's scattered nations (Genesis 11) is reversed—the nations walk in the light of the Lamb (21:24), no longer divided but unified in worship. Ezekiel 47:12 prophesied this very image of healing leaves.