The Fruit of the Respiratory Tree

As explained previously, in the anatomy of marriage, the family tree is represented by the respiratory tree that stems from the neck and branches into the lungs. The branches of this tree grow and produce fruit, which are the offspring of the union, represented in anatomy by alveoli (the air sacs of the lungs). Both the father and mother are represented by this tree, each branching off into a lung and continuing their lineage through the offspring. As such, God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Mother) are represented in the human body via the lungs. The fruit of the respiratory tree, the alveoli, represent figs. 

The fig is a symbol of peace and prosperity (Zec. 3:10). It is a collective fruit, meaning that it forms from a cluster of flowers that each individually produce fruit that form a single body, much in the way grapes form on a vine (and family units form through marriage and children). In this way figs resemble the alveoli of the lungs. 

A fig starts off as a hollow vessel lined with flowers inside that develop into ovaries. These flowers are pollinated by tiny wasps called fig wasps, who crawl through the ostiole, the small opening of a fig, to deliver the male counterpart that allows the flower to become fertilized. The fertilized egg of each flower develops into a seed, therefore one fig will contain multiple seeds that line the inside of the fruit once it matures. These seeds develop into druplets, where the flesh of the edible fruit surrounds the seed. Therefore the fig, like humanity and all of Creation, was designed to reproduce.  

Israel as Figs 

All who have accepted Jesus as their Savior are the children of God (Gal. 3:26). Before the new covenant, this was exclusive to the descendants of Abraham, as they were the descendants of the child born by faith (Rom. 9:8). As the children of God and the Holy Spirit, they were likened to figs. 

Here are the words of the prophet Hosea: 

10 The Lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you, it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season. But then they deserted me for Baal-peor, giving themselves to that shameful idol. Soon they became vile, as vile as the god they worshiped. 

~Hosea 9:10 (NLT) 

God also likened them to figs while speaking to Jeremiah, His prophet. He gave him a vision of two figs, one good and one rotten. Both represented the descendants of Abraam, but the good figs represented the Israelites who had been exiled to Babylon, while the bad figs represented the king of Judah, his officials, and those who remained in Jerusalem and Egypt. They were rejected by the Lord and His judgment would include war, famine, and disease (Jer. 24, 29:15-19). 

Israel as a Tree 

As trees represent family in Bible imagery, and they also represent nations (Isaiah 10:33; Ezek. 31:10-12). The nation of Israel was referred to as the tree of Abraham (Rom. 11:17), and spoken of as an olive tree (Jer. 11:16). Therefore, when prophets spoke of coming judgment, they warned of trees being cut down (Isaiah 10:15-19, 33). John the Baptist used such imagery when he rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees. He warned them: 

9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 

~Matthew 3:9-10 (NLT)

Jesus echoed this while explaining to His disciples that He is the true vine. He said: 

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

~John 15:5-6 (NLT)

The unfruitful tree and branches in these scenarios represent the descendants of Abraham. Though they were chosen by God to be His representatives to the nations, they failed to remain loyal to Him and continuously disobeyed Him. The ripe figs of Hosea 9:10 did not reproduce godly seeds (Micah 7:1-4). 

This unfaithfulness may have had something to do with why Jesus cursed the fig tree. Shortly after clearing the Temple, He came upon a fig tree. The Gospel of Matthew reports:

18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. 

~Matthew 21:18-19 (NLT) 

The tree, like Israel at the time, appeared to be fruitful but was not. Isreal had their covenant and a beautiful Temple, but still their worship was an offense that did not produce faith, the real qualification of being a child of Abraham (Gal. 3:7). Therefore, the cursing of the fig tree was a prophetic act of judgment against the family tree of Abraham. 

This aligns with the parable of the barren fig tree found in the Gospel of Luke. 

6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ 8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’ ” 

~Luke 13:5-9 (NLT) 

The three years in this parable represent the three years of Jesus’s earthly ministry. Though some people believed, He was mostly rejected by Israel. But this rejection made way for the church (Rom. 11:15). God’s pruning of Abraham’s tree made room for the rest of the world to be joined to the tree and experience salvation. 

In conclusion, the fruit of the respiratory tree of marriage is children, represented by the fig.