Elah - more tree symbolism

You will see some of my recent posts are about trees. It is frequently used as a symbol in the scriptures. I'm not by any means an expert in the Hebrew language but very fascinated by it and try to use whatever online resources I can to learn. The common word for tree is "etz" in Hebrew. But there is another word, אלה "elah", usually translated as terebinth or oak. It appears more times in the Hebrew Bible than "etz", but this is because it is also used as a personal and geographical name.

I just can't help but see an interesting structure here. In Hebrew, we have
adam - adamah
el - elah

Translated to English:
Man/mankind - earth/ground
God - oak/terebinth (tree)

I searched but haven't found anyone else pointing out this pattern, so I hope I don't read too much into this, but I cannot unsee this now. One thing I have learned about the Hebrew language is that it is very structured and contains a multitude of connections like these. I find this particular connection very interesting and the Book of Mormon enhances it. I'll get to that in a moment.

Another important fact is that the noun "elah" comes from the verb, "alal", which means to protrude. I'll get back to that as well.

The relationship between adam and adamah are subject to word-plays in the Old Testament and quite well-known. I had to dig a bit further to find anything on the el-elah relation. It turns out "elah" became the Aramaic word for God and even the Arabic, Allah. It is assumed that the oak tree with its strength and durability characterizes God and is therefore a name for God. But the specifics about the origins and evolution of these words are probably associated with some uncertainty. It is, however, interesting to note that the tree is associated with

• God the Father, through the names, El and elah
• The divine feminine, being symbolized by trees
• Christ through his parable in John 15 ("I am the vine")

What is the meaning of this connection and structure? I think the difference between God and man is beautifully symbolized by the difference between tree and ground. The ground is two-dimensional and the tree is three-dimensional. The ground itself only contains dust but it can also become the soil for a seed growing into a tree producing fruit. Similarly, God lives in a higher dimension (literally or figuratively) than us. We are merely dust but at the same time we have a divine potential and can grow into becoming like Him. How do we achieve that?

the Lord God sent our first parents forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence they were taken (Alma 42:2)

When man tills the very ground they are made of, I see that as symbol for overcoming the natural man and shaking off the dust that we read about in the scriptures. (See this previous post). Here the protruding comes in. By tilling the ground and planting a seed, a tree starts extending above the ground. It breaks forth from the two-dimensional ground into the three-dimensional realm. Like that tree rises up from the ground and produces fruit, so can we, thanks to the atonement, break out of this telestial state and death that binds us and ascend to become Gods. Notice the wording in Genesis 2:9

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree

Alma 32 adds depth to this symbolism as it shows how to till the ground

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me...

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

Here the heart of man (adam) becomes the soil (adamah). The word of God (el) is what can cause this growth into a tree (elah). This article shows how Alma is using creation and Garden of Eden imagery in this chapter. This connection demonstrates to me that Alma was familiar with and related to the symbolism in early Genesis, where trees is a major theme.