The Biblical Meaning of “Fruit”

Fruit is an integral part of a plant’s reproductive system. (Not only does the fruit house the seeds, the fruit is designed to attract creatures that distribute the seeds.) To the writers of the Bible, however, the word applied not just to plants but to human reproduction.

Just as the New Testament Greek word sperma was used not only for plant seed but human seed (sperm or children), so it was with the Greek word for fruit.

Here’s irrefutable biblical proof: in the following verses, the same Greek word used for the fruit of the Spirit is clearly used to refer to human offspring:

Luke 1:42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”

Acts 2:30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne.

(Emphasis mine.)

Consider also the following Old Testament examples (the Old Testament considerably influenced New Testament Greek):

Genesis 30:2 Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of your body . . .

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalm 132:11 The Lord has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body [“descendents” – NIV] on your throne.”

Micah 6:7  . . . Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

(Emphasis mine.)

More Examples