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The primary meaning of the word that gives us "upward" (le-malah) is "to ascend".
Here there is definite and intentional correspondence between the firm, spreading, root
underneath, and the blossom and fruit that appears above, and what is true in the realm of
nature is true also in the realm of grace.
Further association of root and fruit is found in such a passages as,
"Their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust" (Isa. 5: 24).
The earlier verses of this chapter have likened Israel to a carefully tended vine:
"For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His
pleasant plant; and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness,
but behold a cry" (Isa. 5: 7).
Again, Hosea uses the figure,
"Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit" (Hosea 9: 16).
One of the complaints made against Israel by Hosea was, "Israel is an empty vine, he
brought forth fruit unto himself" (Hosea 10: 1).
To complete our survey we now turn to the N.T. Here is our Lord's own statement:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they
are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them"
(Matt. 7: 15-20).
This reiteration of the truth is emphasized by the Apostle in Romans, "If the root be
holy, so are the branches" (Rom. 11: 16).
Both in the Epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians, the Apostle speaks of the
rooting of the believer:
"Being rooted and grounded in love" (Eph. 3: 17).
"Rooted and built up in Him" (Col. 2: 7).
and from this root, and this blessed soil, the "fruit" of the Spirit or (the Light) was
expected to grow (Eph. 5: 9), and the "fruits" of righteousness to form (Phil. 1: 11), and
be "brought forth (Col. 1: 6). Paul sought fruit as a result of his sowing and planting
(Rom. 1: 13), and it was as such that he looked upon the offering made by the Gentile
church to the poor saints at Jerusalem (Rom. 15: 28); it was also his prayer for the
Colossians, who had been "rooted" in Christ, that they should be "fruitful in every good
work" (Col. 1: 10).