Explore plants mentioned in the Bible through their common names, scientific identities, and biblical references.
Plants appear throughout the Bible in descriptions of agriculture, food, landscapes, gardens, medicines, fragrances, religious practices, poetry, and symbolism.
This collection presents biblical plant names together with their commonly proposed modern scientific identities and selected Bible references.
The identification of some biblical plants with modern botanical species is uncertain or debated. Ancient Hebrew and Greek plant names do not always correspond precisely to modern scientific classifications.
Where identification is uncertain, the scientific name shown should be understood as a proposed or commonly accepted identification rather than an absolute certainty.
Scientific name: Olea europaea
Genesis 8:11; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 9:8–9; Psalm 52:8; Psalm 128:3; Isaiah 24:13; Jeremiah 11:16; Hosea 14:6; Zechariah 4:11–12; Romans 11:17–24; James 3:12.
The olive tree is one of the most important plants of the biblical Mediterranean world.
Learn About Olive →Scientific name: Ficus carica
Genesis 3:7; Numbers 13:23; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 9:10–11; 1 Samuel 25:18; 2 Kings 18:31; Isaiah 36:16; Jeremiah 24:1–10; Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:7; Micah 4:4; Nahum 3:12; Matthew 7:16; Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–14; Luke 13:6–9; John 1:48–50; James 3:12; Revelation 6:13.
Fig trees were important food and agricultural plants in the biblical lands.
Learn About Fig →Scientific name: Vitis vinifera
Genesis 9:20–21; Genesis 40:9–11; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 9:12–13; Isaiah 5:1–7; Isaiah 65:8; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 17:5–8; Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:12; Amos 5:11; Matthew 20:1–8; Matthew 21:28–46; John 15:1–6.
Grapevines and vineyards occur frequently in biblical agriculture, poetry, teaching, and parables.
Learn About Grape →Scientific name: Phoenix dactylifera
Leviticus 23:40; Judges 4:5; Psalm 92:12; Song of Solomon 7:7–8; Joel 1:12; John 12:13; Revelation 7:9.
The date palm was an important fruit-producing tree of the ancient Near East.
Learn About Date Palm →Scientific name: Punica granatum
Exodus 28:33–34; Exodus 39:24–26; Numbers 13:23; Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8; 1 Samuel 14:2; 1 Kings 7:18–20; 2 Chronicles 3:16; Song of Solomon 4:3; Song of Solomon 4:13; Song of Solomon 6:7; Song of Solomon 7:12; Haggai 2:19.
Pomegranates were valued as fruit and also appeared in biblical descriptions of religious objects and agricultural abundance.
Learn About Pomegranate →Scientific name: Prunus dulcis
Genesis 30:37; Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Jeremiah 1:11–12.
The almond is associated with agricultural products, Aaron's rod, and prophetic imagery.
Scientific name: Cedrus libani
Judges 9:15; 1 Kings 4:33; 1 Kings 5:6; 1 Kings 6:9–20; 2 Kings 19:23; Psalm 29:5; Psalm 80:10; Psalm 92:12; Psalm 104:16; Song of Solomon 5:15; Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 31:3–18; Hosea 14:5–6; Zechariah 11:1–2.
Cedar wood was highly valued in the ancient Near East and was used extensively in construction.
Scientific name: Brassica nigra
Matthew 13:31–32; Matthew 17:20; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–19; Luke 17:6.
Mustard seed is used particularly in the New Testament in teachings concerning faith and the Kingdom of God.
Scientific name: Hyssopus officinalis
Exodus 12:22; Leviticus 14:4–6; Leviticus 14:49–52; Numbers 19:6; Numbers 19:18; Psalm 51:7; John 19:29; Hebrews 9:19.
The biblical term translated as hyssop is associated with purification and ritual practices.
The exact botanical identity of biblical "hyssop" is debated and may not correspond precisely to the modern species Hyssopus officinalis.
Scientific name: Boswellia spp.
Exodus 30:34; Leviticus 2:1–2; Leviticus 24:7; Numbers 5:15; Song of Solomon 3:6; Song of Solomon 4:6; Song of Solomon 4:14; Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20; Matthew 2:11; Revelation 18:13.
Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia and was important in incense and religious practices.
Scientific name: Commiphora spp.
Genesis 37:25; Genesis 43:11; Exodus 30:23; Esther 2:12; Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 1:13; Song of Solomon 3:6; Song of Solomon 4:6; Song of Solomon 4:14; Song of Solomon 5:1; Song of Solomon 5:5; Matthew 2:11; Mark 15:23; John 19:39.
Myrrh is an aromatic resin traditionally obtained from species of Commiphora.
Scientific name: Aquilaria spp. (traditional biblical identification; debated)
Numbers 24:6; Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17; John 19:39.
The biblical term translated as "aloes" may refer to an aromatic wood rather than the modern succulent plants of the genus Aloe.
Botanical identification is uncertain and varies among scholarly sources.
Scientific name: Linum usitatissimum
Exodus 9:31; Joshua 2:6; Proverbs 31:13; Isaiah 19:9; Ezekiel 40:3; Hosea 2:9; Matthew 12:20; Revelation 15:6; Revelation 19:8.
Flax was an important fiber crop used for producing linen.
Scientific name: Hordeum vulgare
Exodus 9:31; Judges 7:13; Ruth 1:22; Ruth 2:17; Ruth 3:15; 2 Samuel 14:30; 2 Kings 4:42; John 6:9; John 6:13; Revelation 6:6.
Barley was one of the important cereal crops of the ancient Near East.
Scientific name: Triticum spp.
Genesis 30:14; Genesis 41:5; Genesis 41:22; Exodus 9:32; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 6:11; Ruth 2:23; 1 Samuel 6:13; Psalm 81:16; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 13:24–30; Matthew 13:36–43; John 12:24; John 6:35; Revelation 6:6.
Wheat was a major cereal crop and an important food source in biblical agriculture.
Scientific name: Lens culinaris
Genesis 25:29–34; 2 Samuel 17:28; 2 Samuel 23:11; Ezekiel 4:9.
Lentils were a common pulse crop and food in the ancient Near East.
Scientific name: Allium cepa
Numbers 11:5.
Onion is listed among the foods remembered by the Israelites in Egypt.
Scientific name: Allium sativum
Numbers 11:5.
Garlic is mentioned together with other foods remembered by the Israelites.
Scientific name: Pistacia vera
Genesis 43:11.
Pistachio nuts are included among the products Jacob instructed his sons to take to Egypt.
Scientific name: Ficus sycomorus
1 Kings 10:27; 1 Chronicles 27:28; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 2 Chronicles 9:27; Amos 7:14; Luke 19:4.
The sycamore fig was an important tree in parts of the ancient Near East.
Scientific name: Acacia spp.
Exodus 25:5; Exodus 25:10; Exodus 26:15; Exodus 27:1; Exodus 30:1; Deuteronomy 10:3; Joshua 6:19.
Acacia wood is repeatedly associated with construction of important objects of the Tabernacle.
Scientific name: Quercus spp.
Genesis 35:4; Genesis 35:8; Joshua 24:26; Judges 6:11; Judges 9:6; 1 Kings 13:14; Isaiah 1:29–30; Isaiah 6:13; Isaiah 44:14; Ezekiel 6:13; Hosea 4:13.
Oaks appear in biblical narratives and descriptions of landscapes and sacred places.
Scientific names on this page are modern botanical identifications associated with biblical plant names. In some cases, the identification is well established; in others, scholars continue to debate the exact species.
The biblical references are provided to help readers locate the relevant passages in their own Bible translation.