Today’s post concludes the 3-part blog post on my visit to The Biblical History Center in LaGrange, Georgia. As we’d strolled the archaeological gardens of the Biblical History Center, I noticed scriptural placards in front of several plants and herbs. Since my sister-in-law recently switched to a functional medicine doctor and is researching ways to be more targeted in using plants and herbs in her diet to take a more natural approach to her health, I took a stroll back through the gardens with the purpose of exploring what was planted there to note any scriptural references to the plants in the garden so that I could share them with her. Some had scriptures – others didn’t, but I found it all so fascinating to see the scripture-based plants. As she sat at her lake house posting on Facebook that she was exploring her new herbal medicine book, I was out admiring the plants that she was reading about on her porch swing that same day.
I’ve placed the Bible verses under each picture with a scriptural reference for today’s post.
But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
…12The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,…
That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
Surely caraway is not threshed with a sledge, and the wheel of a cart is not rolled over the cumin. But caraway is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod.
His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
If these plants interest you, there are many more links to exploring the spiritual symbolism and uses of plants in the Bible.
Genesis 1:12
The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Common Threads 
And so here is a place where I could spend hours and days in pure bliss, as I love symbolism and marvel continually at what a careful study of such things as Biblical plants can reveal. I think about all the knowledge of herbal medicine throughout the centuries vs. what’s out there today… wondering how much of what is truly good and healing is sacrificed, ignored, even lost, for the sake of the almighty dollar. On another note: My youngest son was obsessed with Nativity scenes when he was around three, especially with the wise men and myrrh, which is obtained from cutting specific trees so that they bleed or “weep” tears that become resin… used as an analgesic we well as in worship and most famously for anointing the dead… he is now a funeral director apprentice. How symbolic can it get?? I have absolutely loved this series of posts and plan to reread and reference it in the future. Thank you for this gift.
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