Revealing the Symbolism of Rabbi as a Fig Tree

Gospel of John (pt. 21b)

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In this lesson, we explore the rich Hebrew idiom “to sit under a fig tree”—a phrase that, in ancient Jewish culture, came to mean sitting under the teaching of a Rabbi.

But how did a fig tree come to symbolize a Rabbi?

We begin with Proverbs 27:18, which draws a comparison between tending a fig tree and attending to one’s master. In both, the goal is the same: to cultivate fruit.

In Luke 8:24, the disciples refer to Jesus as “Master,” echoing this same dynamic.

The Hebrew Bible often uses trees as metaphors for people—Jesus himself says, “you will know them by their fruits.” This symbolic relationship between humanity and trees is not only poetic—it’s profound.

We'll trace this symbolism further through Psalm 1:3, where the one who meditates (Hebrew hagah) on the Torah is described as a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season.

In the first century, it was the Rabbis who hagah-ed the Scriptures—ruminating, growling over, and digesting the text in order to pass on insights to their students.

​In this context, the Rabbi becomes like a fig tree, cultivated for the sake of producing fruit in others.

Join us as we uncover the layered beauty of this ancient imagery, and see how sitting under a fig tree becomes a powerful metaphor for discipleship, wisdom, and spiritual nourishment.

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Lesson Handouts

Note:  These are the same lesson handouts as Week 21a

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Human Beings as Fruit Trees Metaphor

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