δένδρον (dendron)
dendron
tree
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word dendron simply means "tree." It is a common noun used throughout the New Testament to refer to trees in their natural state, whether as part of the landscape or as objects with specific characteristics. The sources indicate it appears eighteen times, with notable occurrences in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, as well as in Revelation.
This term carries rich symbolic weight when applied to people or moral states. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses dendron to distinguish between good and bad trees, linking their nature directly to the fruit they produce (Matthew 7:17-18; 12:33). Similarly, in Luke’s account of the mustard seed, the word describes how something small grows into a large tree where birds can nest (Luke 13:19), illustrating growth and shelter. The contrast between a good tree bearing good fruit and a rotten one being cut down serves as a vivid metaphor for inner character.
Its etymology likely connects to drus, an oak, suggesting a sturdy, established plant. Translators consistently render dendron as "tree," preserving its straightforward imagery while allowing the context to convey deeper theological points about judgment, growth, and righteousness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dendron simply means tree, yet it carries a quiet weight in Scripture. Jesus used this everyday image to speak about the heart. In Matthew 7, He pointed out that a tree’s nature shows itself in its fruit. A healthy tree does not need to try hard to produce good apples; it simply grows as it is meant to. This offers comfort when we feel our spiritual growth is slow or imperfect.
God looks past the surface of our actions to the root of who we are. When life feels unstable, like a branch swaying in the wind, this word reminds us that true stability comes from being rooted in Christ. We do not manufacture goodness through sheer willpower. Instead, we abide in Him, and the fruit follows naturally. This process is gentle, steady, and deeply personal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- tree10×
- trees7×
- a tree5×
- trees.1×
- tree.1×
- tree,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δένδρον15×
- δένδρων4×
- δένδρα3×
- δένδρον.¶1×
- δένδρον,1×
- δένδρα.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 7:17
Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
Jesus uses this term to show that good character naturally results in good actions, just as a healthy tree yields good fruit.
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Luke 13:19
It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”
This verse illustrates how something small can grow into a place of shelter and rest for others through God's power.
-
Revelation of John 7:3
saying, “Don’t harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!”
Here the word marks those who belong to God, serving as a protective boundary during times of judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dendron mean in the Bible?
Why does Jesus talk about trees so much?
How is this word different from other plant terms?
Every Occurrence (18 verses across 5 books)
Matthew 7 verses
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and…
Matthew 7:17Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
Matthew 7:18A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
Matthew 7:19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 12:33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by…
Matthew 13:32which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that…
Matthew 21:8A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.