Are the trees of life and knowledge two separate trees?

Question

Gramps,

So in the Garden of Eden, do you think that there are literally 2 separate trees being the tree of life and the tree of knowledge?

Devin

Answer

Dear Devin,

This is a good question as the the Lord does often use symbols to teach us.  In this case though, the Lord does appear to be speaking of two distinct and literal trees.  As we learn in Moses 3:8–17, after the Lord created Adam physically, He placed him in the Garden of Eden. He also planted two trees in Eden that were especially significant—the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Pay specific attention to verse 9.

8 And I, the Lord God, planted a garden eastward inEden, and there I put the man whom I had formed.

9 And out of the ground made I, the Lord God, to grow every tree, naturally, that is pleasant to the sight of man; and man could behold it. And it became also a living soul. For it was spiritual in the day that I created it; for it remaineth in the sphere in which I, God, created it, yea, even all things which I prepared for the use of man; and man saw that it was good for food. And I, the Lord God, planted the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and also the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

 10 And I, the Lord God, caused a river to go out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

 11 And I, the Lord God, called the name of the first Pison, and it compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where I, the Lord God, created much gold;

 12 And the gold of that land was good, and there was bdellium and the onyx stone.

 13 And the name of the second river was called Gihon; the same that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

 14 And the name of the third river was Hiddekel; that which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river was the Euphrates.

 15 And I, the Lord God, took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden, to dress it, and to keep it.

 16 And I, the Lord God, commanded the man, saying: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat,

 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 18 And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten, that it was not good that the man should be alone; wherefore, I will make an help meet for him.

So yes, I would say two distinct and literal trees.

Gramps