Figs in the Bible include references to both the tree and its fruit in the Tanakh and the New Testament, which are sometimes symbolic.
The fig tree is the third tree to be mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible. The first is the Tree of life and the second is the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve used the leaves of the fig tree to sew garments for themselves after they ate the "fruit of the Tree of knowledge" (2:16-17 ), when they realized that they were naked (Genesis 3:7).
In Deuteronomy, the Promised Land is described as "a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything;" (Deuteronomy 8:8-10). During Solomon's reign Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man "under his own vine and fig tree" (Kings 4:25), an indicator of national wealth and prosperity. Kings 18 states that Hezekiah rebelled against the King of Assyria, of whom he had become a vassal. In response, the Assyrian commander attempted to sway the army of Jerusalem by offering deserters each his own vine and fig tree.
Proverbs 27:18 likens tending a fig tree to looking after one's master.There was a fig tree in the garden of the Song of Solomon, and in the year of love the tree formed its fruit early (Song 2:13).
The fig tree and figs are featured in the Book of Jeremiah and mentioned briefly in the Book of Micah.
Another species of ficus, the Egyptian sycamore fig is occasionally mentioned as well, for example Kings 10:27.
The parable of the budding fig tree is found in Matt 24:32–36, Mark 13:28–32, Luke 21:29–33 as part of the Olivet Discourse. The fig tree could be understood as symbolic of Israel Joel 2:21–25.
The parable of the barren fig tree is a parable of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Luke 13:6–9. A vinekeeper holds out hope that a barren fig tree will bear fruit next year.
Mark 11:12–20 includes an account of Jesus cursing the fig tree:
A parallel is found in Matthew 21:18–22, but the fig tree withers immediately and is noticed at that time by the disciples.
When the apostle Nathanael first encounters Jesus and asks how Jesus knows him, the answer is that He has already seen Nathanael sitting under the fig tree (John 1:47–51).