Botanicals of the Bible - Pomegranate

Botanicals of the Bible – Pomegranate
By Jenny Komenda

“And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around. And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord and when he comes out…”
Exodus 28:33-35

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Few, if any, fruits have been as widely revered by the world’s religions as the pomegranate, its crown-like top and abundance of seeds symbolizing life, righteousness, and divine promise. In ancient Israel, pomegranates were also closely associated with temple worship. The fruit was depicted in ornaments, bells and embroidery throughout Solomon’s temple, and 200 pomegranates were carved into the two enormous bronze pillars that stood at the temple entrance. God likewise instructed that the hem of the high priest’s robe be adorned with 72 pomegranates. Even today, scrolls of the Torah are often decorated with the fruit. These sacred details weren’t ornamental alone; they symbolized fruitfulness, holiness, and the abundance of God’s covenant blessings.

Early Christians adopted the pomegranate as a symbol of resurrection and eternal life. Its tough outer rind conceals hundreds of seeds within—a powerful metaphor for hidden spiritual truths and the inner abundance offered by life in Christ. Christians also compared pomegranate seeds to individual believers, gathered into a single community of faith. The fruit’s red juice, too, reminded early believers of the blood of Christ and the life it brings. This is made even more poignant by growing evidence that the ancient Hebrew rites in use at the time of Christ required that the sacrificial lambs be roasted using a spit made from a pomegranate tree.

Botanically, pomegranates thrive in dry, harsh climates—yet they produce fruit that nourishes, heals, and refreshes. Rich in antioxidants and long associated with health and vitality, the pomegranate may even represent, according to some ancient Jewish and Christian traditions, the fruit of the Tree of Life. It’s no wonder that pomegranates are traditionally eaten as a part of the Jewish new year Rosh Hashanah celebrations—their seeds embodying the hope that the new year will be fruitful.

The Apostle Paul taught that the fruit of the gospel is joy and peace. The pomegranate, bursting with seeds, reminds us of that joy in abundance—the overflowing grace found in Christ. But, as Jeffrey R. Holland has explained, “for the fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached to Him, the Savior of us all.”

May we seek to be like the pomegranate: filled with countless seeds of faith, resilient in difficulty, and beautiful in our devotion. Let its rich symbolism invite us to remember who we are—disciples called to bear fruit worthy of our divine inheritance.

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