Is the forbidden fruit in the Bible an apple?

The image of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, standing by a lush tree as Eve reaches for a shiny red apple, is one of the most enduring in Western art and culture. From Renaissance paintings to children’s picture books, the forbidden fruit that brought about humanity’s fall from grace is almost always depicted as an apple. But is this faithful to the biblical account? What does the Bible actually say about the forbidden fruit, and how did the apple become its most recognizable symbol?

The Story of the Forbidden Fruit in Genesis

To understand the identity of the forbidden fruit, we must turn to the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Genesis chapters 2 and 3 recount the story of God creating the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, placing them in the paradise of Eden. In this garden, God provides every tree that is “pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9, ESV). Among these is “the tree of life… and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

God gives Adam and Eve a single prohibition: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16–17). Later, the serpent tempts Eve, suggesting that eating the fruit will make her “like God, knowing good and evil.” Eve takes the fruit, eats it, and gives some to Adam. Their eyes are opened; they become aware of their nakedness, and the story of the Fall unfolds.

But what exactly was the fruit that hung from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? The Genesis account does not specify. It simply calls it “the fruit of the tree.”

What Does the Bible Say About the Fruit?

A close reading of the Genesis text reveals something important: the Bible never identifies the forbidden fruit as an apple or any other specific fruit. The Hebrew word used in Genesis 3:3 for “fruit” is “peri,” a generic term for fruit or produce. The passage states: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…” (Genesis 3:6, ESV).

No mention is made of its color, taste, or species. The ambiguity is striking, especially given how iconic the image of an apple has become. This silence has led to centuries of speculation, artistic interpretation, and theological reflection. If the Bible does not say the forbidden fruit was an apple, where did this idea come from?

Early Interpretations: Pomegranates, Figs, and More

In the centuries following the writing of Genesis, Jewish and Christian thinkers speculated about the identity of the forbidden fruit. Several candidates were proposed, each with its own symbolic significance.

Pomegranate

Many Jewish traditions suggest that the forbidden fruit was a pomegranate. Pomegranates were abundant in the ancient Near East and symbolized fertility, knowledge, and life. The pomegranate’s many seeds were seen as a metaphor for abundance. In rabbinic literature, the pomegranate is sometimes associated with the commandments of the Torah and is considered a fruit of paradise.

Fig

Another popular candidate is the fig. Genesis 3:7 reveals that after eating the fruit, Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Some interpreters have reasoned that the nearest available leaves would have come from the same tree as the forbidden fruit, making the fig a plausible option.

Grapes

In some traditions, the grape has been suggested, especially considering the association of wine with both celebration and excess. The grape’s role in later biblical narratives—such as Noah’s vineyard—adds another layer to this interpretation.

Wheat and Citrus

Elsewhere in Jewish thought, the forbidden fruit has even been identified with wheat (which, as a “fruit of the earth,” symbolizes knowledge) or the etrog, a citrus fruit used in the festival of Sukkot.

The Apple Enters the Story: A Matter of Language

If Jewish tradition offered a variety of possibilities, how did the apple become the dominant image in Western Christianity? The answer lies in a linguistic twist that arose in the Latin translation of the Bible.

When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Latin (the “Vulgate”) by St. Jerome in the fourth century CE, the word for “evil” in “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” was rendered as “malum.” In Latin, “malum” can mean both “evil” and “apple,” depending on pronunciation and context. This pun offered fertile ground for medieval artists and theologians to associate the fruit of Genesis with the apple.

As Latin was the language of the Western Church for centuries, this wordplay took hold in theological and artistic circles. The apple’s symbolic association with temptation, knowledge, and the fall of humanity became entrenched in the culture.

The Apple in Art, Literature, and Popular Imagination

By the Middle Ages and Renaissance, artists regularly depicted the forbidden fruit as an apple. Albrecht Dürer’s famous engraving “Adam and Eve” (1504) shows Eve holding an apple; Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes do the same. In John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost,” the fruit becomes an apple, sealing its place in the English literary tradition.

This imagery made its way into children’s Bibles, stained glass windows, and popular storytelling. The apple, with its bright color and familiar form, became a powerful symbol—at once inviting and dangerous, ordinary and mysterious.

Symbolism and Theological Significance

Why did the apple prove so enduring as the representation of the forbidden fruit? Beyond the linguistic coincidence, the apple’s symbolism resonated deeply in Christian thought.

In classical mythology, apples were already associated with temptation and discord—the golden apple sparked the Trojan War in Greek myth. In the biblical context, the apple’s sweetness and beauty made it a fitting metaphor for the allure of sin: attractive on the outside, but with consequences once tasted.

The apple’s journey from a generic “fruit” to a loaded symbol is also a reminder of how theology and culture interact. The story of Adam and Eve is not just about the fruit itself, but about disobedience, curiosity, the loss of innocence, and the human condition.

Does It Matter What the Fruit Was?

Given that the Bible does not specify the fruit, does it matter what kind it was? For biblical scholars and theologians, the answer is often: not really. The focus of the Genesis narrative is not on the fruit’s species but on the act of disobedience and its aftermath.

The ambiguity of the fruit allows the story to function as a universal lesson. The forbidden fruit becomes a symbol of all things that are off-limits, yet temptingly within reach. The story’s power lies in its ability to speak to the human experience of desire, temptation, and the consequences of choice.

Lessons from the Forbidden Fruit

Whether apple, pomegranate, fig, or grape, the forbidden fruit remains a potent symbol for readers of the Bible and students of literature. Here are a few key lessons that emerge from a close reading of the text and its tradition:

1. The Nature of Temptation

The forbidden fruit represents the allure of what is prohibited. The Genesis account reminds readers that temptation often appears attractive, even harmless, but can carry deep consequences.

2. The Importance of Obedience

The story underscores the value of trust and obedience to God’s commands, even when reasons are not fully understood. The fruit itself is not described as poisonous or inherently evil; the act of eating it becomes significant because it is an act of defiance.

3. The Search for Knowledge

The tree is called “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” The desire for knowledge, when pursued apart from God’s guidance, can lead to trouble. This theme has sparked ongoing debates about faith, reason, and the limits of human inquiry.

4. The Evolution of Symbols

The apple, as a symbol, reminds us that religious ideas are shaped by language, culture, and history. Knowing the story behind the apple’s association with the forbidden fruit enriches our understanding of how traditions develop.

Conclusion: The Enduring Power of the Forbidden Fruit

So, is the forbidden fruit in the Bible an apple? Strictly speaking, no—the Bible never specifies what kind of fruit Adam and Eve ate in the Garden of Eden. The apple’s association with the story arose from a linguistic coincidence in Latin and became solidified through centuries of art, literature, and tradition.