Original Word: אֵב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: eb
Pronunciation: ayb
Phonetic Spelling: (abe)
NASB: fruit
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H3 (אֵב - blossoms)]

1. fruit

fruit

(Aramaic) corresponding to 'eb -- fruit.

see HEBREW 'eb

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to eb
Definition
fruit
NASB Translation
fruit (3).

Living fruitfulness

The word conveys luxuriant freshness—produce so verdant and plentiful that it becomes a vivid emblem of life that God alone sustains. In Scripture, lush fruit is repeatedly linked with blessing, provision, and the flourishing that flows from divine favor (Genesis 1:29; Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Occurrences in the Book of Daniel

1. Daniel 4:12 – The tree’s “fruit [was] abundant” and “food for all,” reflecting the wide-reaching benefits of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign under God’s grant.
2. Daniel 4:14 – The heavenly watcher orders the tree’s fruit to be scattered, signaling judgment that strips away what was once life-giving.
3. Daniel 4:21 – The king recounts the same vision, again highlighting the copious fruit that had nourished every creature.

Symbolism and interpretation

The “abundant fruit” represents the prosperity, security, and welfare that Babylon enjoyed while God upheld Nebuchadnezzar (cf. Proverbs 11:28). Its removal shows that every earthly power is contingent on the Most High. The imagery echoes Ezekiel’s lament over the cedar of Lebanon (Ezekiel 31), reinforcing the theme that no empire can stand apart from the Lord’s decree.

Sovereignty of God and human pride

The rise and fall of the tree illustrate God’s absolute sovereignty: “the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wishes” (Daniel 4:17). Abundant fruit becomes a test of humility; when Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself, the God who supplied the fruit removes it (Daniel 4:30-32).

Biblical theology of fruitfulness

Old Testament writers present fruit as both gift and mandate. Israel was to bear fruit through covenant obedience (Deuteronomy 28:4; Hosea 14:8). Prophets foretold a future age of unparalleled fertility under the Messiah (Amos 9:13-15). The New Testament continues the theme: Jesus declares, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8), and Paul describes the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). Though the vocabulary changes, the concept of Spirit-empowered productivity fulfills the ideal prefigured in the verdant tree of Daniel.

Historical background

Babylon boasted hanging gardens and irrigated abundance fed by the Euphrates. Ancient travelers saw the city as an oasis of wealth. Daniel’s vision would resonate strongly in such a context, confronting the assumption that imperial ingenuity alone produced prosperity.

Connections to Wisdom literature

Proverbs contrasts the righteous, whose fruit is life-giving (Proverbs 11:30), with the wicked, who bear nothing enduring. Psalm 92:14 promises that the righteous “still yield fruit in old age,” demonstrating that true greenness is not seasonal but rooted in God’s faithfulness.

New covenant fulfillment

Jesus Christ embodies perfect fruitfulness: “in Him was life” (John 1:4). His death, like the felled tree, seemed to scatter fruit, yet through resurrection He became the firstfruits of those who sleep (1 Corinthians 15:20). Pentecost’s harvest language (Acts 2:41) shows God’s unbroken purpose to feed the nations through the flourishing of His kingdom. The picture culminates in Revelation 22:2 where the tree of life “bears twelve kinds of fruit.”

Pastoral and discipleship applications

• Prosperity should breed gratitude, not pride; God can withhold or multiply resources at will (James 1:17).
• Spiritual leaders are trees in a garden not their own; their task is to provide sustenance, shade, and safety to God’s flock.
• Believers facing loss may anchor hope in the One who restores greener fruitfulness after pruning (John 15:2).

Worship and prayer

The imagery of lavish fruit invites worship that acknowledges the Giver of every good harvest (Psalm 67:6-7). Prayer for revival often employs this theme—asking that the Lord would “revive us, and we will call on Your name” so that the land may once again yield its increase (Psalm 80:17-19; Psalm 85:6-12).

אִנְבֵּ֑הּ אנבה וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ ואנבה ’in·bêh ’inbêh inBeh veinBeh wə’inbêh wə·’in·bêhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts